Watch batteries: What are their differences?

Quartz watches are watches that require a new battery about every two years. There are different types of watches, but what type of battery to choose? In this article, we will help you choose the right type of watch battery. 

Which battery should I choose for my watch?

If you have a quartz watch, you should have changed the battery in your watch about every 2 years. The battery in your watch is necessarily a button cell, which, because of its shape, fits perfectly in a quartz watch.

There are 3 types of battery that you can find in your watch: silver oxide batteries, alkaline batteries and lithium batteries.

• The silver oxide batteries are recognizable because on the battery is engraved the letter S. This type of battery provides a voltage of 1.55 Volt.

• Alkaline batteries are the batteries that will look like silver oxide batteries. They are marked with the letter L and deliver a voltage of 1.5V

• Lithium batteries provide a voltage of 3V and are numbered by the letter C. These are often used for watches with more complications or chronograph watches that generally require more energy.

Finally there are different sizes of battery: their diameter is between 5mm and 20mm and the thickness is between 1 and 6mm.

While swapping a silver oxide battery with an alkaline battery on your watch is not a major hazard to your watch, it should be noted that you should never put a lithium battery in a watch that is not designed to hold this type of battery. This could permanently damage your watch.

How long does a button cell battery last?

It is hard to answer this question because the life of a battery will depend on the use you have of your watch, the type of battery it is made of and also the complications present on your watch. Generally speaking, you should renew the battery of your watch every 2 years, if you wear it daily. Factors such as the type of watch and the power requirements of the complications have an influence on the longevity of your watch.

Nowadays, there are about 50 different types of watch batteries. In most cases, they are button cells. These silver oxide batteries allow the watch mechanism to operate for 12 or even 18 months. Some watches indicate when their battery needs to be replaced, with the seconds hand jumping every five seconds.

When your battery stops working, it's important to change it as soon as possible because the battery can leak and damage the watch mechanism. It is best to have the battery changed by a professional who will not damage the case, preserve the power of the replacement battery and check for leaks. We recommend that you visit your local watchmaker to change your watch. If you are a fan of Quartz watches and their precision, you can now discover our watches for men and watches for women.