How do I tell if my watch needs a battery?

Watch the second hand. If it ticks once per second, your watch is quartz and needs a battery. If it sweeps smoothly, your watch is automatic or mechanical and does not need a battery.

Does an automatic watch need a battery?

No. Automatic watches have no battery. They run on wrist movement. If stopped, wind the crown 30-40 turns.

How do I start an automatic watch that has stopped?

Wind the crown clockwise 30-40 turns, set the time, and wear it. Wrist movement keeps it wound.

Why Has My Watch Stopped? New Battery Needed?

Q: Why is my watch second hand jumping every 5 seconds?

This is an end-of-life (EOL) indicator. When the battery is running low, the watch makes the second hand jump in 5-second intervals instead of ticking every second. It is telling you the battery needs replacing soon. The watch is still keeping accurate time but using less power. Get the battery changed promptly as a dead battery can leak and damage the movement.

Q: Why has my watch stopped?

A quartz watch stops when the battery runs out. An automatic or mechanical watch stops when it hasn't been worn or wound - it has no battery. A solar or Eco-Drive watch stops when it hasn't had enough light. A kinetic watch stops when it hasn't had enough wrist movement.

Q: My Citizen Eco-Drive stopped. Does it need a battery?

No. Citizen Eco-Drive is solar powered. Place it face-up in bright light for several hours.

Q: My Seiko Solar second hand is stuck at 15 seconds. Is it broken?

Not broken - power-save mode. Place face-up in bright light and it will restart automatically.

Some watches don't use batteries at all. Type your brand below for an instant answer - before you buy anything.

Not sure? Take the 30-second test

A quick way to find out if your watch needs a battery - no tools required.

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Watch the second hand for 10 seconds

If there's no second hand, skip to step 3.

Does it tick or sweep?

Ticks once per second - quartz watch, needs a battery.
Sweeps smoothly - automatic or mechanical, no battery. Needs winding or wearing.

Check for these words on the dial

Look for Eco-Drive, Solar, Tough Solar or Kinetic. If present - no battery to replace. It needs light or movement.

Try winding the crown

Pull the crown out and turn it. If it winds with springy resistance and the watch starts - it's mechanical and just needed winding. No battery required.

🔋 Needs a battery

Second hand ticks once per second. Casio, Timex, Fossil, Sekonda, Rotary, Accurist, most fashion watches.

⚙️ No battery needed

Second hand sweeps, or watch marked Solar / Eco-Drive / Kinetic / Automatic. Needs winding, wearing, or light.

The five types of watch

Needs a battery

Quartz

Casio, Timex, Fossil, Sekonda, Rotary, Accurist, most fashion watches

Second hand ticks once per second. Powered by a coin battery lasting 2-5 years (Casio digital up to 10 years). When it stops, the battery is almost always the cause.

Often these can be done at home. There are two types of caseback:

Snap-on caseback being opened with a case knife

Snap-on back

A small notch on the rim lets you prise the back off with a case knife. Most everyday watches (Casio, Timex, Fossil, Sekonda) use this type.

Screw back

Small notches or slots around the rim need a wrench-style opener. Common on water-resistant watches (Seiko, Citizen, G-Shock). Needs resealing properly.

Use the right tool to avoid scratching the case. Inexpensive kits are available:

🔧 Case back knife on Amazon 🔧 Screw-back opener on Amazon

Fix: Replace the battery. Any jeweller can do this quickly (typically £10-£20), or DIY with the right tools.

No battery

Automatic

Seiko 5, Orient, Citizen Automatic, Hamilton, TAG Heuer, Rolex, Omega

Second hand sweeps smoothly. A weighted rotor winds an internal spring from wrist movement. Power reserve 38-48 hours. Stops if not worn for a day or two.

Fix: Wind the crown clockwise 30-40 turns, then wear it daily. Wrist movement keeps it wound.

No battery

Manual / Mechanical

Vintage watches, some dress watches, Tissot heritage models

Second hand sweeps. No battery, no rotor - you wind it every day or two by turning the crown. The oldest and most traditional type of watch movement. Most vintage watches are this type.

Fix: Wind the crown clockwise until you feel firm resistance (~30-40 turns). Don't force it past that point.

Solar watch charging in sunlight on a windowsill

No battery to replace

Solar / Eco-Drive / Kinetic

Citizen Eco-Drive, Seiko Solar, Casio Tough Solar, Seiko Kinetic

Solar: Charges from any light source - even indoor light. A full charge can last months. Seiko Solar parked at 15 seconds = power-save mode, not broken.
Kinetic: Generates electricity from wrist movement and stores it in a rechargeable cell.

Fix (solar): Place face-up in bright light for several hours. Fix (kinetic): Wear it or shake gently.

Rechargeable - no replaceable battery

Smartwatch / Fitness Tracker

Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Huawei, Xiaomi, Amazfit, Polar

Touchscreen or connected to your phone. Has a built-in rechargeable battery - there is nothing to replace. Charge using the cable or cradle that came with the device.

Not holding charge? If the battery no longer lasts after a full charge cycle, contact the manufacturer for a battery service.

A note from our watch expert

Professional watchmaker's workbench with precision tools

After nearly 40 years in the jewellery trade, the conversation I have most often goes like this: a customer arrives certain "the battery's gone." I look at the watch - it's a Seiko 5 automatic, or a Citizen Eco-Drive that's been in a drawer since Christmas.

The watch isn't broken. It doesn't need a battery. It just needs wearing, winding, or a bit of light. And the fix takes 30 seconds.

Before you do anything else: pull the crown out and try winding it. You might be surprised.

Brand quick reference

Tap to expand - or use the search box above for an instant result with a buy button.

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Brand / Model	Type	What it needs
Casio F-91W, A158, A168, B640W	Battery	CR2016
Casio AE-1200, AE-1000, W-800H	Battery	CR2025
Casio G-Shock GA-100, GA-110	Battery	CR1220
Casio G-Shock DW-6900, DW-9052	Battery	CR2016
Casio Tough Solar (GW, GWM series)	Solar	Place in bright light
Casio MQ-24 analog	Battery	SR626SW / 377
Seiko 5 Sports, Seiko Presage	Automatic	Wind or wear daily
Seiko Solar (SNE, SUT series)	Solar	Place in bright light (15s position = power-save)
Seiko Kinetic (SKH, SRN series)	Kinetic	Wear or shake
Seiko SUR209, SUR312	Battery	SR626SW / 377
Citizen Eco-Drive (all models)	Solar	Place in bright light - no battery replacement ever
Citizen Automatic (NH series)	Automatic	Wind or wear daily
Citizen Promaster (non-solar quartz)	Battery	SR920SW / 371
Timex Indiglo, Easy Reader, Weekender	Battery	SR626SW / 377
Timex Expedition analog	Battery	CR2016
Fossil analog (ES, FS series)	Battery	SR626SW / 377
Swatch Irony	Battery	SR626SW / 377
Swatch Originals Gent	Battery	390 / SR1130SW
Sekonda, Rotary, Accurist analog	Battery	SR626SW / 377
Hugo Boss analog	Battery	SR920SW / 371
Michael Kors, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange	Battery	SR626SW / 377 (standard); SR920SW / 371 (chronographs)
Invicta quartz	Battery	SR626SW / 377 (most) - check caseback
Invicta Pro Diver automatic	Automatic	Wind or wear - no battery
Orient Bambino, Orient Mako	Automatic	Wind or wear - no battery
Hamilton Khaki, Jazzmaster	Automatic	Wind or wear - no battery
Rolex, Omega, Breitling, TAG Heuer	See a pro	Automatic - take to authorised dealer for service

When to see a professional

Many quartz watches have snap-off casebacks that can be opened with a simple case knife - and replacement batteries are inexpensive and widely available.

However, for luxury, water-resistant, or warranty-covered watches, we strongly recommend using a qualified watchmaker. Opening the caseback yourself can invalidate your manufacturer's warranty, and improper resealing can compromise water resistance. A professional battery change typically costs £10-£20 and can usually be done quite quickly - a small price to protect a valuable watch.

If your watch is water resistant, ask your jeweller about a water resistance test after the battery change. This is a pressure test using specialist equipment - it confirms the watch is sealed properly at the time of testing. It's not the same as a waterproof guarantee, and seals do deteriorate over time, but it gives you peace of mind that your watch left the workshop properly sealed. Expect to pay around £45 for the test - your jeweller will usually provide a printed certificate.

Watch box with international warranty card

These situations always need a professional:

⚠️Luxury mechanical watch not professionally serviced for 5+ years
⚠️Water has got inside the case - corrodes movements quickly
⚠️Hands fallen off or crystal cracked
⚠️Solar watch fully charged but still won't hold charge - rechargeable cell needs replacing
⚠️Automatic loses more than 30 seconds per day - needs regulation or service
⚠️Any watch still under manufacturer's warranty - DIY battery changes will void it

In the UK, look for jewellers who are members of the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) for professional watch servicing and battery replacement.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my watch second hand jumping every 5 seconds?▼

This is an end-of-life (EOL) indicator built into many quartz watches. When the battery is running low, the watch deliberately makes the second hand jump in 5-second intervals instead of ticking every second. It is telling you the battery needs replacing soon. The watch is still keeping accurate time - it is just using less power to squeeze the last few weeks out of the battery. Don't ignore it - get the battery changed promptly, because a completely dead battery can leak and damage the movement.

Should I ask for a water resistance test when getting my battery changed?▼

If your watch is water resistant and you are likely to get it wet, yes - it is well worth asking. Every time the caseback is opened, the back seal is disturbed, so there is no guarantee the watch will reseal properly without testing. A qualified jeweller can carry out a pressure test using specialist equipment, which typically costs around £45. You should receive a printed certificate showing the test results. It is important to understand that this confirms the watch was water resistant at the time of testing - it is not a waterproof guarantee for swimming or diving. Seals deteriorate naturally over time and will eventually need replacing.

Why does my automatic watch stop overnight?▼

Most automatics have a power reserve of 38-48 hours. If the watch isn't fully wound when you take it off, it may run out before morning. Wind it 30-40 turns before putting it on, or use a watch winder if you rotate between watches.

Can I put a battery in an automatic watch?▼

No. Automatic watches have no battery compartment - they run entirely on mechanical energy from wrist movement. If someone says an automatic needs a battery, they're mistaken.

My Citizen Eco-Drive stopped. Does it need a battery?▼

Almost certainly not. Eco-Drive watches charge from any light. If stopped, it has run out of stored charge - usually from being in a drawer or under a sleeve. Place face-up in bright light for several hours. If it still won't hold charge, the rechargeable cell may need replacing by a service centre.

My Seiko Solar second hand is stuck at 15 seconds. Is it broken?▼

Not broken - power-save mode. Seiko Solar watches park the second hand at 15 seconds when charge is critically low. Place face-up in bright light. After a few minutes it will advance the hands to the correct time and resume normally.

How do I start an automatic watch that has completely stopped?▼

Pull the crown out and turn it clockwise with slow deliberate turns - about 30 to 40 rotations until you feel light resistance. Push the crown back in, set the time, and wear the watch. Wrist movement will keep it wound from that point.

How long does a watch battery last?▼

Most quartz watches last 2-5 years. Digital Casio watches (F-91W, AE-1200) are rated 7-10 years. Heavy use of backlights, alarms, or chronographs drains faster. Some quartz watches give an EOL warning - the second hand jumps every 4 seconds instead of every 1, telling you the battery is low but the watch is still running.

Find the right watch battery

If your watch is quartz and needs a new battery:

SR626SW / 377 - most analog watches CR2016 - Casio digital CR2025 - Casio AE-1200 etc SR920SW / 371 - chronographs Full battery cross-reference →

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