How to remove the back of a watch - Watch and Learn #22

In today's episode of Watch and Learn, we will show you how to remove the caseback from your watch. We cover the 3 major types; individual screws, solid screwdown and the snap/pop back. The reason for opening your watch could be to change a battery, or regulation, or even some other maintenance.
With a few inexpensive tools, removing the back of a watch is quite simple and hopefully you can save yourself a few dollars when you need to do your next battery change.
Please visit us at www.longisland...
For a link to some of the tools shown here, please visit:
www.longisland...

[@yolandadavila4110]

I had six watches with dead batteries but the sixth one is just too difficult. This blog helped me a lot. Wish me luck with this sixth and last. It’s hard.

[@n.h187]

Is it worth trying at home. I'm no pro and don't want to mess up my watch. But the guy at the store wants $10 and that's excessive for just a battery.

[@uleikchain3dolla935]

I just took out the back of the watch to replace the battery and I've never felt so powerful

[@lenlindathornton9553]

Was having difficulty removing the back of my old Timex using a tiny blade screwdriver. When I saw Mark using his special knife approach the case sideways I pulled out my old small Buck knife and held it that way and it popped right out. I couldn't find an indent on my case cover so this worked quite well. I had to push really hard to get the cover back on right, but it doesn't look as tight as it was. Anyway, thanks Mark for your clear instructions!

[@Lee_K_5555]

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! This is a fantastic series and I continue to be thankful for this great service you provide for free to the watch community. Oh yeah, I bought an SKX007 from you last month because I wanted to show my appreciation as a customer as well. :)

[@ragaetsenna2852]

Lee K what a grateful human being

[@islandwatch]

I appreciate that.

[@gesu1742]

I did too, but an SKX009 ;)

[@lemonpartyfan457]

Thank you for this. I was going to try to open mine, but you convinced me to go to a professional!

[@geraldmcglinchey2714]

I learn something from every single one of the watch and learn videos. Thanks for making them. As a side note, I love that orient watch. I know that it isn't anything "special", but it really appeals to me.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you

[@r.mercado9737]

Great voice, and presentation! My not being a professional watch repairer, have enjoyed, first, the theory associated with various watches, the application, and then how to remove the back of certain watches. I have a specialty working on delicate implements requiring special tools. Utilizing an improper device, that is one designed to carry out its function, will more than likely ruin the intended use. Even if a screw is scratched or dented can cause that device to go down in value. Creating damage that was not there previously is never good at all. My hat is off to you "Mr. Long Island." I am interested in knowing of the other watch repairers kit you had mentioned but did not show it in the video. Many thanks. Semper Fi

[@c.ramirez1866]

Worked! Thank you, my 87 yr old Dad was heart broken this worked changing battery and the pill top to close worked perfect, thx again Dad is a happy pops again ⌚👍

[@DynamicOwl13]

Great vid, thanks for the info. I did learn a little trick to snap the back on if it's stubborn and you don't have a press. Right now im trying to get one off that someone else pretty much wore off that little notch and scratched the heck out of it in the process.

[@jason4275]

You do know that 99% of people who owns watches don't have these tools, most just have a pocket knife or screwdrivers, but the video was very helpful I got 2 out of 3 watches open because of this video.

[@Caughtinthecrossfires]

Do you have any recomendations for one of the old style quartz pop backs? The ledge is soooo fine, that its really hard to find anything that will get under and pop off.

[@grettagamble4566]

It is probably a screw off type if it doesn't have any spot to pop it off at.

[@NeilSnapePhotography]

It shows you care about watches and how to do things right. Your video let me change the battery in a Fossil watch. What worked for me, was after seeing the ball you have is a cut off section of a silicone tube ( gun style) that had dried out a long time ago. The silicone tube section really grips the watch back and let me turn it without tools.

[@robert574]

Check your wrench. One of the bits is turned wrong. Just fyi. Someone else may have said the same thing, but I didn't read all the posts just watched the video. These videos are great, really helpful or we wouldn't be watching them :)

[@Kriegerdammerung]

It would be an impossible feat to achieve for any human being to have any kind of conflict with Mark, he is more kind than Ned Flanders.

[@islandwatch]

LOL, thanks.

[@floydburkett2749]

Way cooler though.

[@OptimaMrL]

You mean he is not the voice of Ned?!!!!! 😂

[@afrog2666]

He doesn`t even say diddly, which is a plus ;)

[@TheSamosaCritic]

Thank you. I just got some tools from amazon. I wanted to know how to use them and this helped.

[@SirBeauJangles]

On case replacement. If you backspin the backplate SLOWLY anti-clockwise until you feel/hear the threads CLICK that's the beginnings of the threads only just passing each other and normally if you carefully reverse the rotation, the thread will engage smoothly without getting crossed up.

[@donp2166]

Easy hack to replace a snap-back without a press: Find a plastic cap from a bottle of water or soda of a diameter to just slightly smaller than the back. Lay it on, and press with your thumb. The cap will apply equal pressure all around the case back and easily snap it back on.

[@donp2166]

@Mrry W. I just got tired of hurting my thumbs. You're very kind. Have a pleasant evening.

[@jamesbrown3965]

TY Marc for sharing your knowledge with us in a low key way !!!

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

That ball is great. Got the rest and practiced on a cheap watch. The screwback with undeep slots was really tricky. Easy to damage when you slip

[@rocfl59]

Your video are on watches are so in lightning have learned so much thank you .....

[@thomashom7514]

Rocky T learn to spell enlightening!

[@carcophan]

for pop-back, small screwdriver, nor a knife worked for me. i ended up using a pizza cutter/wheel. nice and big to hold onto, sharp enough to fit under the lip and broad enough to pop it. to put it back, i used a small 1x3 length of pine as a press. glass down on a glove and even, gradual pressure down till it popped in. use your own judgement on if you want to put your glass face down. mine glass is flush, maybe slightly recessed.

[@nac8836]

Mark thanks for providing so much information to the community another excellent video !!!

[@falconfeathers9454]

I have changed my variety of watch batteries for several versions of watch without trouble. But I have a mystery watch. Bought maybe 20 years ago, it is a ring watch. It has a huge synthetic sapphire and a cover that opens like a book to read the watch time. It has a stretchy metal band to adjust to fit. The metal battery cover plate is a "pop off". I can pop it on one side but only lift about 4 mm. The trouble is both sides where the metal band attach will not allow me to remove the plate to get at the battery. It lifts using a flat screwdriver. I am searching for videos for ring watch plate removal. I have even used a magnifier to see if there is something you push that lets go of the band.

[@stationplaza4631]

The battery for my Tudor Prince Quartz needs to be replaced, and being charged £80.00 for the privilege is something I find frankly obscene...This video is a great step forward to solving a rather expensive problem..Thank you Mark....I will look into obtaining a Rolex opening tool for this task.

[@islandwatch]

Thanks! The tool will last forever.

[@roklyninc.8755]

Special thanks for the trick with the ball

[@jakeb8298]

Cannot find link to that rubber like blue ball tool you used to remove back cover?

[@patrickiredale4359]

Fascinating. Really! Also enjoyed your chat with Tristan (TGV).

[@mayawagle974]

Love your thoroughness. Thanks.

[@DefaultAccount100]

One type that can be very deceiving are watches with a pop-off back that is molded to look like a screw-down. Had an old Wenger Swiss Army that was like that, caused a few headaches in its day.

[@islandwatch]

Yes, I know what you mean! Good point!

[@jfrschnell]

Happened to me few months ago opened a Watch with a snap/pop back. Putting back was really hard. Ended up going to a watch repair who happened to have a press. These are the easiest to open but the hardest to put back.

[@islandwatch]

Right. Easy off, hard to get back on!

[@1omarrr]

I did not see a battery in the last watch . how does it work ?

[@moneyfornothing3264]

All this is very well and good. The question is, can you hard reset an apple watch 6 series without any passwords or apple ID?? Anyone can change batteries. Are those watches for sale, and do they come in mens? Thanks for the video!!

[@mnsignr]

How about sizing a gasket for the back of the watch? Does it fit on the lid or on the watch itself?

[@GS-nx2iq]

I love learning new words that leave an engineer's mouth! Diametrically opposite is better than straight across by far! Now? To use that over beers. (Hell...that'll turn a German into an American.) Lol Great content!

[@robertofuentes9759]

Thanks Marc. Always educational. Love the side comments...(maybe you feel like ruining your watch forever). Curious about the square Orient ???

[@islandwatch]

It's a full calendar Orient. Not sure I ever really sold it.

[@robertofuentes9759]

Do they still make it? Just curious, it looks kinda cool.

[@sinesaii]

What was the flat-side watch next to it?

[@SeahorseWorkshop]

wow... who would have thought of using a rubber ball. nice work.

[@islandwatch]

Yup, works amazing.

[@genewisdom6478]

I'm glad I found this but the watches I'm trying to do this on (two of my wife's) snap into place and I'm not seeing a groove on one, not sure if I'm seeing a groove on the other. Getting under the groove? You were using a scalpel. Any other suggestions? Sharp kitchen knife not working.

[@islandwatch]

Take off the strap; sometimes its hidden there.

[@jkvcrdr]

explained so well finally got the bugger back off

[@Bscott-390]

Great vid as usual Marc.

[@islandwatch]

Thank you.

[@LA_Viking]

I thought you said you were going to show two tool kits?

[@ROSSBOSS0711]

Do you know what it means if if the hands are dangling

[@godthegod4491]

I'm a tinkerer and wanted to see what made a Rolex tick. I believe it's the Submarine model so I was curious of the water resistance. Plus it was an old watch, I think passed down from my great grandpa so I figured it couldn't be worth much. Didn't have the tools you mentioned so I used a box cutter blade to pry it open. I think it was the type that screws on because it was very hard to remove and now it won't go back on. Doesn't matter much since I screwed up the gears. Oh well, at least it was just an old piece of junk. Good video!

[@kracksmith4ejm1]

where did you get that black 3 point tool

[@63jmjk]

How about a screw that may be stripped ? Any way to get it out ?

[@joeljoseph7js]

Will the back case fit back, if the o ring gasket is not placed right or is removed?

[@buxtriad]

what kind of battery does the watch take? nixon ss corporal

[@vergers1]

Hi Marc, I really like this channel! Also like the new Red Star pieces. Maybe you can do a video on this brand? What's the relation between Red Star and Seagull 1963? (If any). Many greetings from the Low Country

[@islandwatch]

I will, eventually. Red Star is the company that makes the Seagull 1963 recreation we carry.

[@kimchee94112]

I have a few of those cheap pop back watches. Problem is not removing the back but putting it back without cracking the glass. So far I've been 50/50 as some needed a lot of force resulted in cracked glasses.

[@geoffduke1763]

I have three Michael kors watches with notches in the screw casing that are very shallow. I originally bought a tool to open them but not the spanner kind this one just has two movable parts to lock into the notches to open the back up. It has failed and infact it broke with the pressure I was applying to try and open the back of one. I have applied ice cubes to the cases to try and get them to budge as this worked on a previous watch but these just wont open. Have you any tricks of the trade that you use with backs like these? TIA

[@davidvalens3337]

who makes the black watch case remover?

[@marshallgordon1732]

I have a round watch, no notch. Cannot open it. Help.

[@Ammar23217]

I had the experience with a problem to open the watch (3rd type in the video). I have a pulsar watch which I opened and I am unable to find the orientation in which I have to put the case back on the watch. The watch is round (unlike the rectangular watch shown in the video). The watch is open right now and in the box. It feels like 60$ are wasted. I have another opened watch and I tilted its back cover while trying to put the case back on the watch. I do not know if it can be repaired. Both watches are brand new.

[@islandwatch]

Look for the notch underneath that them stem passes under. That might help you align it.

[@Ammar23217]

Thanks. I understand it now. Actually, I had tried it before seeing your videos or instructions. Thanks for help. I just want to know if it is possible to get the back lid of my watch repaired as it is tilted now and is no more a plain smooth lid? or you think that the watch is gone now. The back lid is tilted because I applied force on it. Sorry for being stupid. Thanks

[@denisparanormal2790]

Is funny when you have the right tools.

[@j246802]

So, without a spanner wrench handy, is it a bad idea to use a mini flathead to open since it's only one point of contact (not counting resistance from other hand when holding the watch in place)?

[@islandwatch]

Yes, considering you have a high chance of slipping and scratching the watch, or breaking skin.

[@megenberg8]

show how to use, and where to obtain a press. i'm so upset that every time the battery needs a change, it cost extra time/money and a precious trip (i don't drive) to get something taken care of that i could easily do at home practically free and in a couple of minutes!

[@iansigal74]

I love that Orient. What is it called, and where can I buy one?

[@islandwatch]

Don't know, never sold it. Just had it "in the bin".

[@nrs6956]

Might try using tape, scotch, duck tape to protect the back. It's a bother but worth it.

[@ddkim619]

No need for press. 'C' clamp works like a charm😎

[@jcity2708]

i have a breitling navitimer 1884 need battery replacement and clean up. i have been looking around for a dealer but i live in long island and it seens like the only dealer is in the city.. if you know some where in long island please let me know.

[@hktjia]

Hi Mark, nice instructional vid. May I know what jaxa wrench that you used in the vid, and where I can get one? Thanks

[@joestokesbary7343]

Try opening a e Howard atomic watch. Even a watch repairman couldn't open mine I just wanted to change the battery

[@berryj.greene7090]

Excellent video. Now I don't mind it being a little difficult to remove the back. I understand that it must be secure & water/dust proof. However, I do think that the Rotary ladies series is just ridiculous. A snap back with a lip you cannot get under! Which material is rigid & strong enough to slip under a 0.003" gap and pry? Why should you need a press to get that back to snap back on complete with jigs to prevent you from breaking the crystal? !!! For goodness sake this is a battery watch. A customer SHOULD be able to change batteries himself. Without unusual or expensive tools. Without the bi-annual watchmakers charge just to change the battery which you can buy yourself so much cheaper than he can! Yeah it's a rant. Sorry! Your video is excellent. I said that!

[@islandwatch]

Thanks for sharing nonetheless! Love to read it.

[@rucbam]

I have been able to remove it with a caliper...has worked

[@crystalluv545]

How do i snap the back in place now. 🤔 it wont snap back in..

[@Beez187]

@12:43 I happen to have four screws on my Micheal Kors watch (MK 8316) and I got 3 out but one of them is now stripped. I can't get it out with nothing. Am stuck. With covid-19 around I can't take it to the repair shop. I just wanted to change out the battery which I bought. Any advice?

[@tlake1031]

Thank you!!!!! Great tutorial! 👏🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@jaileshchari1696]

Very nice I am watch repairing thanks for the great

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Probably not a good idea to wear knit gloves! It's so easy for a piece of thread or fluff to migrate into the watch movement.

[@lazaritoaponte3267]

How do you change batt on a stauer

[@GoldenGateNum9]

Thanks, beautiful watches too 🌹

[@soundknight]

What do you do if it is not screw back, not screw back, and it has no notch to pop off, not on the front nor the back.

[@bobjohnstone5703]

Have you ever encountered a Rue Du Rhone 88?

[@davidnorth9390]

Dang, you are a good teacher. Thank you

[@martin4374]

What's that second watch with the screws on the back? The one that's made in Germany.

[@highdownmartin]

I've always used a cold chisel with an 4!pound club hammer. Which I'd seen this earlier

[@dlighted8861]

Man how could you use a cold chisel? Always warm it up.😉

[@galepipe1678]

Has anyone popped off the backing on a Joe Fresh watch? I see an arrow on the back but still can't find that notch. I have all the tools too.

[@zohaandrabi9159]

I have esprit chronograph...I want to open it but I couldn't find any notch ..... please help

[@UpstateDem57]

Have a Victorinox Swiss Army watch 241309--when you open watch, the compoments sit in a white plastic piece and a part of the plastic covers the battery--no obvious way to remove the battery. Any suggestions?

[@richardfay8298]

Kevin Bruns - I have several Swiss Army watches, the plastic piece should lift right out with tweezers, getting it all lined up right including the notch for the stem on the watch back is tricky when going back together, a mark with an ultra fine sharpy on the outside of the back where the stem cut out is helps.

[@Etrueyeei]

the pop out case are the worst type because in particular the big sized case they tend to warp and to not snap in easly. a press i hightly raccomendet but anyway its difficult to snap in. do you know some methods to make it easiers. i put it in the freezer to srink a bit and try to snap, but you must be very quick and also there is the problem of humidity in the freezer

[@islandwatch]

Just use a press, that's easiest!

[@Etrueyeei]

thanks

[@operasinger2126]

Thanks for taking the time to make video .

[@imhappystudent9760]

Very interesting video.

[@vprdlj]

I would like you to make similar piece on watches that require opening through crystal (like old Seiko Lord Matic 5606-7070).

[@jackbteaching]

Thanks, that was helpful!

[@maksemsic6521]

That Stovard Jürgenson looks beautiful, even though I am a round watch only guy. I love roman numerals on watches.

[@islandwatch]

Was a favorite of mine when we sold them.

[@matthoffman6962]

The screw back case is easy. The indent lift off type is pretty good. But for the life of me I cannot get off a case with screws

[@elizabethstallings3876]

I,ve got 12 watches that need batteries square as well as round no screws in any of the watch backs but I cant get the backs off what do I do

[@Puzzledrev]

Cry. I've got the same problem.

[@ivan_navidoo]

Good content!

[@rokokoko123]

Why nobody uses vostok type back? No wear​ on gasket and great water resistance.

[@afrog2666]

Because nobody heard of it, or because they believe in standardizing or make their own parts, or because everyone else uses the systems they use so they keep doing what they do, or because nobody except you complains about it.

[@afrog2666]

"why nobody use what I like, based on MY nationalism" pffh..

[@zixianyong1995]

Hi Marc, do you think It is ok to adjust your watch time backwards rather than forward? I do realise on my seiko 5 snkl23 that when I adjust backwards, the second hand move back also. is it ok for the watch?

[@islandwatch]

Yes, but I wouldn't go entire days. Just a few hours is fine.

[@zixianyong1995]

thanks for the fast response:)

[@jayneerindefranco3085]

wonderful vid thank you you are wonderful

[@OthmanAlikhan]

Thanks for the video =)

[@margaritajimenez3454]

how you change the batery for invicta reserve 17374

[@imwastedhere]

Does any one know what orient model he is using

[@GotterVibez]

My experience with tissot: it is 100 times easyer to remove the back of the watch than to put it back. ... Lesson learned: go to a service

[@kcmn0089]

You need a watch press to put it back.

[@davidshaw3374]

I did this then bought a watch press for like £10😂

[@freethinker585]

thnks 4 sharing ❤

[@Cleiss]

Where can you get the ball?

[@timcarson8146]

Search Amazon for "watch back removal ball". I found quite a few.

[@bunberrier]

Thanks Mark!

[@islandwatch]

Welcome

[@fernandoguerrero2895]

great video!!

[@islandwatch]

Thank you!

[@valueink]

Hey Marc is that Seiko solar on your wrist the SSC508?

[@islandwatch]

Indeed it is!

[@mrmajestyk594]

great video

[@islandwatch]

Thank you!