Watch Batteries
Watches can play an important part as both a timepiece and a fashion accessory. Having the right watch batteries can help prolong the use of your watch for many years. Here are some questions that may come up when choosing watch batteries.
What types of watch batteries are available?There are three main types of batteries that can be used in most watches. While they look the same, their chemicals can differ. Here is a description of the different options.
- Alkaline coin cell - These will come in 1.5-volt capacity and gradually lose the voltage over time. These will typically be the batteries installed originally in a watch.
- Silver oxide coin cell - These will have the same 1.5 voltage as an alkaline battery. The main difference between the two is that the silver oxide battery provides a consistent voltage over the life of the battery.
- Lithium coin cell - These function similarly to the silver oxide batteries but have a higher voltage at 3 volts. You will want to check the watch to See what its voltage requirements are.
Finding the right watch batteries for your watch can Seem overwhelming with the different options available. Here are some tips that can help with the selection process.
- Select a brand. If you prefer to use a name brand you can select from manufacturers like Energizer, Duracell, or others. There are also several unbranded replacement options available as well.
- Select a size. You can find the size of the battery needed by looking at the old battery for the battery number, or consult your watch’s manual.
- Select a type of watch battery. Select from one of the chemical single cell options depending on how frequently you will use the watch. Special attention should be given to select the right voltage for your watch.
Most watches will typically use single cell, non-rechargeable coin cells to power them. With the addition of smart-watches, rechargeable options are becoming more common. Here is some additional information about the two.
- Single cell/button cell - These usually come in a package of multiple single cell batteries. While some of them can last a long period of time, they will eventually need to be replaced. This will be the most common watch-battery replacement.
- Rechargeable options - Most smart-watches will use a rechargeable battery. These watches are designed with a recharging feature that allows you to charge the watch battery up each day. Many of the rechargeable watch batteries will fit a specific brand of smart-watch so you will want to pay special attention on the rechargeable option selected.