How To Open A Watch Case

Every now and then, you may need to open a watch case to perform a quick repair, clean your watch, or change the battery. Two of the most common repairs are changing a watch battery or replacing a watch gasket. You might even want to clean out some dust from your watch or get some liquid out after a spill. For more advanced repairs and modifications, you can replace the entire watch movement.

But opening a watch case can be quite a daunting task, especially if you have a relatively expensive watch. While most cheaper watches have backs that are easy to remove, expensive watches usually have very small mechanisms and other considerations to keep in mind like waterproofing. As such, opening a watch case can be a completely different task on two different watches.

Common Watch Case Backs and How to Open Them

Screw-Off Watch Back

These typically have notches around the edge of the back of the watch. As the name suggests, you’ll have to screw off the back by rotating it. This usually involves the use of tools such as a watch case ball or a case wrench. You likely won’t be able to screw the back off with just your hands unless it’s already fairly loose.

One of the most accessible options for a screw-off watch case is a case opening ball. These are slightly sticky and use friction to open up a watch case. You simply apply a bit of pressure with the ball onto the back of the watch case and then twist. However, some older watches and higher-end watches may be too tight for a friction ball to open.

This is where the pin openers come in handy. These devices have pins that are inserted into the notches around the watch case. You then turn the device once the pins are securely inside and then the watch case will turn and open up. Closing a screw-off watch case is simple; you just do the same in reverse. Having more pins on your case opener usually means more leverage, and some of them come with different pin tips for different watch brands.

Screws Watch Case

Another common watch case style uses four screws on the corners of the case. This is more common for square or rectangular watch cases and you’ll need a mini Phillips head screwdriver to open these.

To open a watch case with screws, you’ll typically want a watchmakers screw driver and also a small parts tray to keep the four screws secure.

Tweezers can also help if the screws are particularly small. We also recommend setting your watch face-down on top of a cloth to prevent it from scratching as you work on it. If possible, you should also consider removing the watch band for more space.

A Phillips head screwdriver is usually what you’ll need to open these cases. Make sure you use a screwdriver that fits comfortably in the screw or else you’ll risk stripping the head, making it much more difficult to remove the screw in the future. Once it has been loosened enough, you can use your tweezers to grab the screw and pull it out. Place it in a parts tray (or something similar) to ensure you don’t lose them. Once all screws have been removed, you can open up the watch case and perform the maintenance or repairs that you need to.

Putting the back on is easy as well. Make sure it lines up with the screw holes, then use your tweezers to place the screws into the holes before screwing them down. Don’t tighten it too much and work on each screw a bit at a time to ensure even pressure on the watch case.

Pressure Fit Watch Case

The last type is a pressure fit watch case. These are usually completely smooth and there’s no sign of any notch or screw that can be used to open them. However, these typically have a small dent on the side of the watch case.

To open a pressure fit watch case, you’ll need to take a thin object such as the edge of a watchmakers knife or blade and wedge it under the tab or notch on the side of the case. Once the blade is in place, use the leverage to pop open the watch case. Now you can gently remove the back of the watch case. Using a blade like this can be dangerous as you might slip and cut your hand or even scratch the watch, so be extra careful when opening a pressure fit watch case.

To close a pressure fit watch case, you may be able to simply push it back on. However, if you can’t apply enough pressure with just your hands, you may need to consider using a watch press instead.

Warnings About Opening a Watch Case Yourself

Before you open a watch case back, you should understand the risks. Here are few things to consider before doing repairs on your watch:

• Most watch warranties include a clause about unauthorized service. Any unauthorized technician (that includes you) that performs work on the watch, can void the warranty.
• Opening the watch case back, could introduce new damage to your timepiece. Watches contain hundreds if not thousands of tiny parts. Introducing dust and debris into the environmenxt could cause damage.
• Waterproof watches need to have a water pressure test done to ensure they are resealed toghtly and correctly.

How to Open a Watch Case – Conclusion

There are a few reasons to open a watch case. The most common of course is to replace your battery. All in all though you should understand the risks and even more so if you have a luxury timepiece. When in doubt seek a professional watch technician to open the case.