What shops in the directory charge
These are prices shops list on their own websites, out of the 733 shops in the watch repair directory. Most shops don't publish a battery price at all, so call to confirm.
| Listed price | Shops |
|---|---|
| Under $10 | 6 |
| $10 to $19 | 19 |
| $20 to $29 | 8 |
| $30 to $49 | 7 |
| $50 and up | 1 |
The prices at the top end usually cover more than a cell: a pressure test, new gaskets, or a luxury watch that needs brand tooling to open. Prices under $10 tend to be the basic swap with no test.
What raises the price
- Water resistance. A dive watch should be pressure-tested after the caseback comes off, and the gasket replaced if it has dried out. That adds $10 to $30 at most shops, and it's the part worth paying for.
- The caseback. A snap-off back takes seconds. Screw-down backs need a case wrench, and backs held by tiny screws take longer.
- The brand. Shops charge more for Cartier, TAG Heuer, Omega and similar watches because a slip costs more. Brand boutiques charge the most and often send the watch out.
- The cell. Lithium cells for digital and solar watches, and the larger cells in some chronographs, cost more than the common silver-oxide sizes.
Where to get it done
- A watch repair shop or watchmaker. The right choice for anything water-resistant or valuable. They have the tools to open the case cleanly and can pressure-test it. Find one near you.
- A jeweler. Most do batteries at the counter. Ask whether they test water resistance before handing the watch back.
- Mall kiosks and big-box jewelry counters. Cheap and fast for an everyday quartz watch, but rarely equipped for a pressure test.
- Yourself. Possible on a snap-back watch you don't swim with; see how to change a watch battery.
Where the most shops say they change batteries
455 shops in the directory list battery replacement as a service, and 583 are open on Saturdays. The battery replacement page lists them by city.