Finally, you have acquired (or are thinking of acquiring) a new timepiece, but wait, this one says something on the face: “quartz.” For the average consumer, this may not mean much, but for people who take their timekeeping and watches seriously, this could be the make or break when deciding whether or not a certain watch is for you.
Japanese movement watches, also known as quartz movement watches, require batteries. The quartz which powers the ticking of your watch’s time requires electric pulses to vibrate rapidly and consequently cause the dial train to turn the hands of your watch.
Watches help us make the best of our time and stay on top of our game in daily life. Interested in finding out more about the fascinating nature of this groundbreaking watch technology? Feel free to read on, as the information below will give you tips regarding everything related to quartz movement watches.
Do Japanese Movement Watches Need Batteries?
Before tackling whether Japanese movement watches need batteries, it is important to distinguish which movement exactly we are talking about. Similar to other mechanical contraptions, watches have a special movement mechanism that keeps them ticking and on time.
There are automatic movement watches, which generate their power from the kinetic energy of your basic daily movements – specifically, the movement of your watch arm. A rotating weight inside the timepiece uses these movements to wind itself and power the watch. One downside of an automatic movement watch is that it eventually loses power if it isn’t worn daily.
Next, we have mechanical movement, the original type of movement used to power watches. These watches generate their power through a spring (the mainspring) which needs to be wound up regularly using the crown on the side of the watch. Mechanical movement watches are known to be durable (depending on the craftsmanship) and do not require batteries to run.
Finally, it is time to discuss quartz movement watches (also known as Japanese movement watches). The power source of a quartz movement watch will always be a battery; therefore, Japanese quartz movement watches do indeed require batteries to run.
How Does The Japanese Quartz Movement Work?
The battery within a Japanese movement watch carries its electrical charge along a circuit to the quartz crystal. Quartz naturally vibrates whenever it comes into contact with electricity; in fact, the quartz vibrates at an astonishing 32,768 pulses per second. These vibrations are often called oscillations.
The stepping motor transforms these pulses into mechanical power, and every 32,768th pulse gets sent to the dial train. The dial train, as with other watches, is the physical component of the watch that makes it tick (literally, by moving the hands of the watch).
What Battery Is Used In Japanese Movement Watches?
Generally, quartz watches use tiny 1.55V silver oxide batteries; however, some models have been found to use other types of batteries, such as lithium batteries or silver peroxide. Solar-powered batteries are used in a few cases (some Casio models, for instance).
It is best to check your watches’ user manual (or the battery itself) to find out which batteries you need since every manufacturer decides on different power sources for different reasons. A simple google search on your watch, make, and model will usually provide you with the right answer.
How Long Before I Should Replace My Watch Battery?
Different batteries have different spans of life. Some watches are also more energy-efficient than others. Therefore, there isn’t a set amount of time before you should replace your watch battery, but a good rule would be to get a new quartz watch battery about once every year or two.
Although some watches are extremely user-friendly and the average user should be able to replace their batteries, it would be smarter to refer to an expert for advice. It is especially important for more expensive, delicate, and intricate watches. Search for online tutorials or go the safer route and take your watch to a local jeweler or watch repair shop.
Tell-Tale Signs That Your Watch Battery Needs Replacement
Simply looking at the face of your watch will often give you the necessary information about how much power your watch has left to run on. However, even though your watch may still be working, it is best to replace batteries regularly to prevent any leaking of battery acid and risk of damage to your watch. That being said, the following may help you decide exactly when to replace the battery.
Your watch is no longer ticking. It is likely the first sign that your watch battery has run out of power. When the hands are no longer moving, your watch most likely needs a new battery unless it has sustained serious damage, in which case a complete repair would be in order.
Your watch’s hands are jumping a couple of seconds at a time. Some watches have a nifty characteristic that warns you that your battery is due for replacement soon. The second hand will jump about 5 seconds at a time (every 5 seconds). The watch still works, and this feature consumes less battery power, which helps it stay on time for the final stretch of battery life.
Your watch is experiencing difficulty adjusting the time and date. With quartz watches, the watch’s crown adjusts the time and date your watch displays. When these adjustments are inaccurate as you work with it, it can be taken as a sign that your battery’s life is ending.
Your watch is not displaying the correct time and is losing seconds. Sometimes you cannot perceive that the second hand isn’t moving correctly, but over time you perceive that the watch is slowly losing time. It is also a sign that your watch battery is almost dead.
Condensation is starting to form underneath the face of the watch. Suppose you can see moisture starting to form underneath the glass display of your watch. In that case, you urgently need to replace the battery, as a dead battery often follows this moisture, and it can also lead to serious damage to the internal mechanisms watch. Seek expert advice as soon as possible when you see this problem.
How To Prolong Your Watch’s Battery Life?
The greatest gift is your time, but the best gift you can give your watch is strict precaution and gentle care. Good practice will inevitably lead to a healthier battery and, consequently, a healthier watch. If you truly care about the condition of your watch and how long it will last into the future, it is a good idea to read up on how to preserve your watch in the best possible way.
If the watch in question is not your daily choice of timepiece companionship, pulling out the crown or movement stem gently until you hear a perceivable click will stop the watch from ticking. It will prevent the battery from running dry too quickly.
Servicing your watch regularly (bi-annually) is a good idea since this will keep the watch in optimal condition and prevent any faulty or inefficient mechanism from draining too much power. If this is too expensive of choice for you, you can also read your watch’s user manual to see if the manufacturer includes any tips for keeping your watch in pristine condition.
Certain environmental factors can also damage the watch and its battery. Constant exposure to direct sunlight, extreme heat, and cold can drain the battery faster than usual. Water leaks can also damage the battery and your watch’s internal workings (check your watch’s water resistance level before risking exposure to moisture).
Replacing Your Quartz Watch Battery Yourself
First and foremost, when replacing your quartz watch battery by yourself, remember to work as cleanly and neatly as possible. Oils and salts found on the skin of your fingers may corrode or rust the internals of your watch, so wearing gloves and using forceps is highly recommended.
Different watches have different ways of opening up, but you will need to use a screwdriver to gently pry open the backplate of the watch. Be extremely cautious with this step, as you do not want to damage or scratch any of the parts inside the watch. As soon as you have done this step, you will be able to see what battery you need for the replacement.
Some people believe it is cheaper to see what battery you need yourself since some jewelers and watch repair shops will charge more for a battery depending on the watch’s value. Therefore, you can be quite frugal even if you order the battery yourself and then take the new battery and the watch to your preferred source of maintenance.
The next step is to raise the battery out of its socket using either a screwdriver or plastic tweezers. The forceps are recommended, as they allow you to be gentler and more precise with this step, but whatever you feel most comfortable with will work. Be aware that you may touch the internal mechanism (depending on how fragile it is) but ensure that you wear clean plastic gloves.
After that, you will take your new battery from its packaging and pop it into place exactly in the little cavity where the previous battery was. Remember to place it the right side up (as batteries have two poles, with a positive and a negative side). Use the position of the old battery as a reference or see whether the watch indicates how you should insert it.
The battery will often make a clicking sound when it is locked into place, but sometimes it will just be quiet. In this case, ensure that it is securely in place, and then you can place the back cover over the internal mechanism, remembering which side the watch’s crown is as the back cover will have a slight indentation to let the crown’s pin pass through.
After ensuring that the back cover is secure over the internal mechanism, your watch should be working again. Check if it is ticking correctly and adjust the time accordingly. If your watch is still not working, it may be better to take it to the repair shop. Furthermore, if you are handling an expensive timepiece, take it to the repair shop immediately without trying to replace it yourself.
A Brief History Of Japanese Quartz Movement Watches
Quartz watches had two primary predecessors. The Swiss pioneers of wristwatches first developed the mechanical movement watch, which dominated the industry for a long time (and still does in the eyes of some connoisseurs). At the dawn of the 20th century, however, a new competitor rose to fame: the ingenious automatic movement watch that could charge itself.
Quartz watches only came out at the very end of the 1960s, when the legendary Japanese watch manufacturer, Seiko, presented 100 limited-edition gold-case watches – powered by quartz movement technology. These watches sold for around ¥450,000 (roughly the same as a Toyota Corolla at that time), so, on 25 December 1969, the quartz watch revolution started.
The fascinating thing about the quartz movement watches at that time was their accuracy. Never before had a watch been able to keep time, and the oscillating quartz crystal had allowed it to. As the revolution started taking flight, manufacturers were also able to put these watches out faster and cheaper, to the point where people can now buy quartz watches for $5 or less.
Eventually, American watchmakers started using quartz technology for their digital display watches. Still, this market quickly fell apart due to the short battery life caused by the LED display as well as the fact that consumers had to use two hands at once to tell the time (they had to press a button on their watch with one hand while the other wrist is wearing the timepiece).
While Seiko is still the leader in the Japanese watchmaking industry, the entirety of the Japanese market adopted the quartz movement technology. Some Swiss firms also started introducing quartz watches to the market (at a higher price than is necessarily fair, but they do have brand names to back it up with).
Japanese Movement Watches Compared To Competitors
While Swiss mechanical watches are praised for their craftsmanship, it comes at a price and risk. Swiss watchmakers don’t make all mechanical watches with the same skill level; therefore, some of the watches lack durability. However, they carry the tradition of original watchmaking within their cases.
Another downside of Swiss mechanical watches is that they are not as accurate as quartz movement watches. Paying a higher price with less effectiveness has turned a lot of consumers off from buying handmade Swiss watches.
Conversely, Japanese movement watches are generally much more affordable and are indisputably the most accurate of all watch movements. Furthermore, they are also convertible into digital watches (usually with LCD as LED drains too much battery power). The only downside of Japanese quartz watches is that they require batteries to work.
Conclusion
Japanese quartz movement technology was groundbreaking then, and it is still astonishingly good at what it does. It does require batteries, but how many appliances and tools in our modern world don’t? If you require an affordable and more effective wristwatch, you will likely opt for a quartz watch. You can always go mechanical if you want something more old-school.
