What is usually going on
- The movement is drawing too much current. Wear, old lubricant or a coil starting to fail. The commonest cause by a distance.
- Moisture got in at some point. Even a trace leaves corrosion on the contacts that keeps drawing.
- The contacts are dirty or corroded from a previous cell that leaked.
- The wrong cell was fitted — a smaller capacity that physically fits but does not last.
- Something is stuck on, like a chronograph hand that never reset.
What we do about it
Open it properly, look at the contacts and the cell that came out, and check what the movement is actually drawing. That tells us whether this is a clean-and-fit-a-proper-cell job or something deeper.
If it is the movement
We will tell you what we find and what it would take, and you decide from there. On some watches it is worth it and on some it is not, and we will give you our honest view including when that view is that you would be spending more than the watch is worth.
Our batteries carry a year
If we fitted it and it dies inside twelve months, bring it back. That is the point of the warranty and it is also why we would rather find the real problem than keep fitting cells.
Questions we get asked
Why does my battery keep dying?
Usually the movement drawing too much, or corrosion on the contacts. Rarely the battery itself.
Is it worth repairing?
Depends on the watch. We will tell you what we find and what it would cost you in time, and you decide.
Does your battery have a warranty?
One year. If we fitted it and it dies inside that, bring it back.
Could moisture be the cause?
Very often. Even a trace leaves corrosion that keeps drawing current.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.