Our Step-by-Step Guide on Safely Opening Your Screw-back Watch Case

Caring for your watch means knowing how to dissect its parts and take them apart without harming it in the process. Part of the maintenance checks you need to know includes opening a screw-back watch case, be it to change batteries for your quartz watch or identify problems with a mechanical watch.

Either way, it’s a straightforward process that still requires a certain level of finesse. Without the right tools and patience, the simple action can do extensive damages to your watch – from scratching the delicate system to trapping unwanted hair, dust, and other forms of gunk.

To avoid running into complications, the step-by-step guide below should help get you started in the right direction:

Step #1: Gather All the Right Tools

The first step is to ensure you have all the right tools to get the job done. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get professional-grade tools, but it’s important to invest in a friction ball, case back wrench, case holder, and any standard shop vice.

The shop vice may come at a steeper price, but it’s worth every penny since it drastically drops the risk of scratching the case.

Step #2: Use the Friction Ball to Open the Case Back

You’ll want to flip the watch over and ensure the watch is steady before applying the friction ball against the case back. Carefully increase the pressure of the ball and gently rotate counter-clockwise to remove the case back.

It should work like a charm since it makes it easier to apply a good grip, plus the plastic friction ball is also guaranteed to open your watch case without any marks.

Step #3: Use a Case Back Wrench if the Friction Ball Fails

Some watches have a little more give, which means you’ll have to put more elbow grease to open it all the way. The friction ball would have to take a backseat in your workspace as a case wrench is a more ideal tool for this.

You’ll need to enhance the security of the watch by pinning the case holder using nylon pins to reduce the chances of marring the surface. The wrench comes with different types of chucks, so take your time finding the right groove that fits your case back.

The process also involves adjusting the size of the wrench, which you can do by lining up the chicks with the case back grooves.

Step #4: The Big Reveal

After you find the right size for the case back wrench, the next thing to do is to simply open the case back. Carefully open it by applying a mild, downward pressure as you move the wrench counter-clockwise.

It’s an easy step, but one that requires patience and extra care. Putting it all back together is easy once you get the hang of removing the case back since you only need to do the steps again in reverse.

The Bottom Line: Opening Screw-Back Watch Cases Without the Risk of Scratching your Timepiece

Opening a watch back is a skill all watch collectors should sharpen, particularly since most wearers will have to do it eventually for maintenance-related purposes.

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