Longines Watch Battery

[craft1948]

It's just cost me £60 to have the battery in my Longines watch replaced. I have tried to find a cheaper place to send it (I took it to the Watch Lab this time) but can't seem to find anywhere that is Longines approved......any ideas?

[tonyav]

How about here, crafty. Starting at £36.95.
http://www.bablas.co.uk/watch-repairs/longines-watch-repair

[Psybbo]

We take ours to the jeweller we bought the watches from, never cost more than £20 but we're in Northern Ireland

[craft1948]

Cheers Tony they won't even give you an estimate for replacing the battery until you have sent them your watch...

[craft1948]

Psybbo I used to do that but they have now closed..

[Buenchico]

I've been trying to remember where you are, Craft. Is it York? If so, Berry's on Stonegate is an authorised Longines dealer, so that should be able to do it.

[craft1948]

Cheers Chris, Berry's was over £100.

[tonyav]

These look fairly reasonable.
http://www.time-repairs.com/watchrepair/LonginesPriceGuide.htm

[Buenchico]

That's probably for exactly the same type of battery as the guy I use in Stowmarket for my watch batteries would fit - for a fiver!!!

Fraser Hart, on Coney Street, is the only other Longines dealer in York.

[gingejbee]

This is why buying something like a Seiko Solar, or Citizen Eco-drive, watch makes sense...no battery replacements ever.

[stuey]

Try "Cousins Clock Parts" (They are based in the UK) and see if they have suitable batteries, then do it yourself...It's quite easy. A watch maker wanted $25 to replace a Bulova battery for me. I bought a battery from the Canadian equivalent of Cousins for $6 and did it myself.

[craft1948]

Thanks Tony but they are not Longines approved.

Chris I never thought of them, I'll give them a ring...

I don't know why I've got this problem as the shop I bought the watch from only used to charge me a fiver.

[Psybbo]

Yes ginge, I loved my Citizen Eco-drive but OH decided to buy this one!

[Khandro]

When I bought my first battery operated watch (a Rotary Aquaspeed) 2 years ago, I bought a tool from the internet which should allow me to remove the back and replace the battery myself. I haven't used it yet but I think the time is probably getting near. There are lots of youtube demonstrations showing how easy it is.
£60 sounds outrageous!

[craft1948]

Stuey quite a few local jewellers/watchmakers won't touch a Longines, you apparently need a 'special tool' to do the job.

[craft1948]

I think it's outrageous Khandro, unfortunately I love the watch and it was quite expensive.

[stuey]

Craft1948, do they specify what this "special tool" is needed for? I've never worked on a Longines, but I can't see it being too much different than a Bulova.

[craft1948]

No stuey, my cleaner actually touted the watch around most of the jewellers in York and they all said the same thing to her..

[gingejbee]

stuey...is your Bulova one of their Precisionist models (UHF quartz)? I have two of these as well as an original Accutron (tuning-fork) model.
That's in addition to many, many other watches...it's been a "thing" of mine since I was about 5 years old!

[stuey]

OK, it sounds unusual; however, as I said, I've never worked on one.

[tonyav]

I'll bet the special tool is one of these things then.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Watchmaker-watch-case-opening-Tool-Longines-Brevet-Job-lot-/321768801199?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4aeaea43af