How to Take Watches Apart
If your watch is not working properly, it may be necessary to take it apart to see why it is not working right. To do this properly you must be very careful to make sure that all components are removed and replaced correctly.
Things You'll Need:
- Watch manual
- Eyeglass screwdriver
- Tweezers
- Piece of paper
- Find a manual for your make and model of watch. This will make it much easier to take your watch apart and put it back together again. This will also provide you with information on what the various parts of your watch are for.
- Locate the screws on the back of your watch and carefully remove them with a screwdriver from an eyeglass repair kit. This type of screwdriver works best because the screws on your watch are very small. Put the screws in a safe place once they are removed so that you do not lose them.
- Take the backing off of the watch and locate the battery. The battery should be right at the top of the watch. Remove the battery carefully and put it aside.
- Examine the components of your watch carefully to see how it is put together before you continue taking it apart.
- Start removing gears and springs from the back of your watch with a pair of tweezers as carefully as you can so that you do not bend or damage any metal. If a piece does not come loose right away, do not force it. Place all watch pieces on a piece of paper on a flat surface in the same order that they have been removed. To keep track of how you have removed components you should write numbers on your paper next to the parts to indicate how they were removed.
- Reassemble your watch after you have repaired or replaced the broken pieces. Put all pieces back in the opposite order that they were removed and placed on the piece of paper. Put back the battery and screw the screws back into place.
- Make sure that you have put back all the pieces correctly by testing your watch to see if it still works.