This method of testing can help diagnose some common problems with quartz watches. Without opening the watch, you will not have a definitive test for battery health so the tester shown in this article includes a battery tester. If you watch is not working and after checking the “pulse” of the watch with no signal (without having to open the watch) the watch would then need to be opened and the battery tested for complete diagnosis.
Before you even open a watch case to replace the battery, you should always test the watch to make sure that the existing battery is actually the problem. Sometimes a battery will still be good, but the watch will stop working because of a problem with the movement. This guide will help you test watch batteries while they are still in the watch case, without opening the back.
Tools Needed:
Step 1
Set the watch tester on your workbench and make sure it is on. Then, turn the switch to the pulse test reading.
Step 2 
Place the watch to be tested with the crystal face up on the tester panel in the area designated. Soon after the watch case makes contact with the testing surface, the tester should begin beeping if the battery is in good condition.
Step 3
Making sense of the tester reading:
- A watch movement should beep anywhere from 5 to 60 seconds – if the battery is working
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- And if there is no beeping, the battery is possibly dead
Other possible trouble points of a watch that are giving no pulse reading:
- Watch Coil
- Watch Circut
- Drivetrain (broken parts, worn wheels, dirt or debree stuck in watch)
Finished
At this point, if you need to replace the watch battery, you can learn How to Replace a Watch Battery here.
Very helpful and interesting.
Thanks 😊 to all.
I really appreciate the help and the knowledge the Esslinger team puts forth, thank you. I’m looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship for both of us.
Alan Iorg
Hi Would like to know if in case the battery shelf life is only remaining say 6 months can this device be used to test and detect this?
i am looking for the back of a seiko watch 8m32-8030 do you have one or one that will fit?
Unfortunately, we are unable to source or supply watch backs. You will have to contact the manufacturer of the watch to find the part, or you could try eBay.
I have a INVICTA Quartz with a MYIOTA MOVEMENT #2415,the cell is good cell SR626SW energizer 377/376.the watch works,BUT it fell at time, the second hand STOPS for about 10 to 15 seconds.is this something that has to go to a watchmaker or Is it something minor I could do?.
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So, basically after all you just explained above, you don’t know much more than when you started. If the watch tester beeps, the battery may be good or it may be so low that it can’t drive the gears. Solution: open the watch and check further. If the watch doesn’t beep, it could be a bad battery, a bad coil, or a bad circuit. So again, the watch has a problem which needs to be opened and diagnosed. Really, the tester is good for diagnosing a problem further after you have opened the watch. 1.) Open the case back. 2.) Test the battery. 3a.) If it measures good, the watch movement has a problem. 3b.) If it’s bad or low, replace the battery and see if the watch beeps and works! 4.) If it is now working, run it a while and see if it keeps time, or use a watch analyzer to time it. If you decide to put in a new battery, just to be sure about the bad movement, and the watch doesn’t run, then the movement needs to be replaced or repaired. Most of them nowadays are a quick replacement and fairly inexpensive. The job requires only a few tools, and some practice! Go for it! Soon, you’ll be an expert!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up plus the rest of the website is also really good.