How to Open a Watch Case With Common Household Items Without Proper Tools 

Here is a remake with better audio tinyurl.com/ydgoal48

I know it may sound silly. But my Aunt who is 84 had a watch that her husband gave her that needed a new battery. It sat for years because no one could get the back off. This video saved the day. Thanks for it.

Thank you for sharing this. I have a Guess watch and I wasn't aware that the back was a "screw on" type so I thought I had to pry it off. Your video explained perfectly how to take the back off. I used a pair of needle-nose pliers and it worked great!

All these years later and this helped a lot! Thank you! ✌

Thanks for your video. I bought a special tool to remove a screw back/waterproof watch which was frankly useless but with your needle-nose pliers idea it worked perfectly and because you can grip with the pliers laterally you have less chance of scratching the back! I have now used this with two watches to great success - thanks!

I opened my Fossil with a pair of scissors that were a little square that fit right in the screw back. No scratches. But if you worry, you could put some tape on the back.

Great video. Thank you so much for the upload. It took me 20 minutes to do mine thanks to this vid also saved £10 in repair fees from a shop. Once again thank you.

Thank-you for your helpful video! I have a Timex (snap back) watch. I carefully removed the back with a small pocket knife. After replacing the battery, I placed the watch upside down on a thin foam pad. I then popped the back on with a small vitamin bottle, bottle cap on top of watch back. Luckily, I had a bottle lid that was virtually the same diameter as the watch back. I didn't think it would be so easy! All the best.

Thanks a lot mate. After a week of trying I can finally change this battery. It's such a small motion to lever it and quite a lot of force.

Followed your directions for the snap on back. Used a small pocket knife. The watch back had a little arrow pointing to the pry-point. Took a few tries, but finally worked. No cuts, no scratches, no errors. Thanks for the video.

PLEASE BE AWARE - Some watches appear to be screw-backs but are actually snap-backs. My was, I found out after nearly killing myself trying to screw the back I managed to get a good grip with the pliers but still could not budge it using all the force I could muster. However I then noticed a little ridge which looked like it was designed to take a knife under so I got my pen knife, put it under the ridge and flipped it open first time!! Please thumb me up as others might have the same problem, it might save some a lot of grief, I spent half an hour trying to screw the back off mine, but it snapped off easily in seconds!!

Thank you so much, this was very helpful. I used the slimmest blade I could find in the house and it worked like a charm...

You can also try hitting it with a sledgehammer but getting it back together again can be tricky.

thanks, very helpful. I used the small blade of a Swiss army knife to open a snap back. I also wore mechanic's gloves to prevent any injuries.

Brilliant! I did it - thank you for showing me how. I didn't know about the two types of watch backs. Now I changed the battery in an old el cheapo snap back type using a kitchen knife! Saved from the throw away :)

Was wondering how to open my snap back watch. I am so grateful for this video. 🌸 Thank you so much 💓

thankyou, you helped me straighten my watch face, for some reason it's loose in there and not held down by anything so it moves sometimes lol it was crooked for so long!

thanks a lot. Managed to change my watches battery with your help. Putting that lid back on my Casio was a real struggle...

Lots of views for your video and, 300 thumbs up! Great! Lots of people, including myself, really want to know how to change their watch batteries! Thanks for helping out a lot of people! :)

Nice video! I have scarred up the back of my watches by doing this wrongly...I wish I would have seen this earlier! Blessings, my friend!

Thank you! Walmart will not open watches that weren't bought from there. I'm glad to see that I don't need to buy any special tools!

Great you tube tip on using common household tools to replace a watch battery. The battery replacement took less than five minutes.. Thanks.....

Thanks for this, had 3 snap back cheap watches I use day to day and your technique worked perfectly!

i was having hard time opening my watch it has screw back i didnt know i need the tool key to open it i just find out by watching ur video now i will have to buy the tool thank you

Thank you! Your video helped me open up my watch. It was difficult though.

Thankyou.My tommy watch back wasnt closing..ur video helped me so much.Pressed it with a rolling pin and it snapped so easily.thnx a ton

this video deserves to be at the top of the list when i search for how to open my watch without tools....dope my G simple

Spot on mate I was trying with a small clock screwdriver , but no joy .so used a pen knife like on your vid . popped of straight away cheers mate 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks for posting! I didn't have needle nose pliers but your video gave me the idea to (carefully) use a pair of scissors which worked a treat!

Thank you! Took me less than 2 minutes to get the back off and my watch fixed! Wonderful tutorial!

With snap-backs it's a good trick to make a felt tip pen mark on the back and the frame side where you found the spot that allowed prising the back off. Then when you come to put it back, align the back to the same spot it was removed from (rotationally correct) and it will usually snap back more easily than if you try to get it to snap in in a different orientation around the frame.

Thanks. I've never opened a watch before and didn't have any special watch tools. I got it right open thanks to your video.

Thanks. This is just the information I needed to replace the battery on the watch I bought on clearance at Walmart for $3.

Worked perfectly on a snapback. Thanks!

Right on bro, a quick little video and I got exactly the info I was looking for, thanks!

i didnt opened my watch instead i opened my finger :(

Thanks , it worked with the pliers, cant believe i didnt think about that.

Thank you! Just 1:32 in and there was my answer. Five minutes later I'd opened the back of old watch been sitting in the drawer for years!

Thanks once again;before this video I was unable to open my Manhattan Watch with the snap- back.I was successful using a Super Sport Pocket Knife.I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of opening.Now all I need now is to go and buy a 1.5 volt Sony Battery. Thanks for sharing.I really appreciate it!!

Hey guys, thanks for this informative video! In the end I used a pair of sizors to open the back of the watch instead of pliers. My favorite watch had dead batteries for years, I changed the SR920SW battery ant it's working again! So happy XD

Awesome video, thank you. I got the back of my watch off with a butter knife and a kitchen towel in less than a minute. I found it helpful to hold/press the watch against the edge of the table, which made it easier to get the angle right to pop the back off.

Funny how RU-vid always happened to have at least one video of what I’m looking for specifically👌 thanks bro

Worked on a snap back as you were doing the demo - using a precision screwdriver! Thanks 😎

Thank you for this video. I was able to unscrew my watch back cover using your instructions.

Thanks for sharing. Not everyone wants to DIY and I don't begrudge a watchmaker fair due for his work. However, it's great to know how to do it.

I used "kitchen chopping board" to press closing the lid of watch with my bare hand, and it worked perfect. Off course I had a thick cloth underneat the watch to support against scratches or crackw when I did this

Well i am new and younger for a expensive watches but now i can open and see them huge thanks man huge thanks

Great video. Opened my Timex Indiglo with a knife after watching your video.

Super helpful! Thanks for this!

Good points! I’d be very careful using needle nose. Don’t know what Jaxa wrenches cost, bit I’d look into it first.

Thank you. After all that it's not the battery size of my last watch so off to the store I go but now I know.

Thank you! Very well done: clear, comprehensive, concise, verygood visual and sound quality.

Awesome video, man!! Thank you!

THANK YOU. I have a twist-back watch and kept trying to pop it off.

I found a watch opener at Amazon for € *0.95* ! Although the idea using flat pliers is brilliant, it isn't worth risking to scratch your precious watch.

Worked like a charm. And you wont scratch it if you have a normal degree of body control and a firm grip. :) Just changed the battery on my 33year old Seiko Quartz, Yiihaaa..

Goo job with the ideas...only thing I’d add when opening a case back is putting a piece of tape to help not scratching the back.And only a junk knife as you will eventually nick the blade.

Thanks mate, just saved me around £30 as Ive 2 watches needing batteries. One snapback the other screw on. Cheers.

Thanks. Got some needle nosed pliers and took the back off my watch and replaced the battery for the first time in my life.

Thanks mate, still useful in 2021. Cheers 👍🏾

Thanks Bro! All tickin' now!

Thank you so much brother!!!

thank you to the point and informative.

Very helpful, thanks!!

Thanks very much. This is so useful and will save me a lot of time and $$$.

thanks pal, worked LIKE A CHARM

Nothing worked for me until I heard you say "Use a caliper." I have a digital caliper measuring tool for automotive use and it worked perfectly! Thank you!

Thank you so much for this helpful video!

Thanks I found success the first time I used your video, and I am so happy!!!

That was helpful. Thank you.

thanks.Very useful information

Just wanted you to know ,after watching this video. I changed out batteries in three watches . Had a little trouble reinstalling the back on one of them, but with a little persistence it went back together. Thank you for sharing this. I used a small sharp knife as a tool. Thank You

Thanks for this video 😊

very helpful video thanks!!!

it worked!! thank you! 😁

Thanks it worked. ..😀

This video on how to open various watch cases without the proper tools was very informative. Thanks, I hope you'll doing fine.

Thank you for this! I needed this information!

worked great - especially the information on taking the back off and getting it back on (snap type).

its amazing video. a watch machanic tried open my watch back but he said that the back cant open and my watch is got useless now , but when i watch this video my watch,s back got open quickly . Really thanks for it

Very useful I open my watch in 1 attempt thankyou for this video ♥️♥️💖💖🥰🥰

Thank you so much, very helpful!!

F....cking great!!! Just wondered what tool I will need to opene it and old kitchen knife did the job. Never tought about it. Thanks buddy!!

Thanks man this was super helpful

awesome information my friend... worked out perfect..

Perfect! Thank you!

Thank you, sir!!! Simple, effective, and straight to the point.

Thank you your video was extremely helpful

If you are looking for blade to pop the back off, a wood chisel (bevel side down) works great!

Thank you...very useful

Very helpful, thank you.

Nice and helpful video. Thanks!

U really helped. Thanks 4 inspiring video.

Awesome! much help. thanks.

Your video gave me an idea and I used a cuticle remover tool to open the back of my watch..... I'm surprised that it actually worked and for the first time, I replaced a watch battery by myself... I wish I thought of this earlier and kept all the watches I threw away because the battery was dead...... DAMN IT!

To replace back I use an eyelash curler. It can be a cheap $ store one, just use the padded side on the face of watch. Size and curve are perfect and usually one snap on either side does the trick.

Thanks! It saved my watch.

Thanks man!!!

Tried it and it works!

Very helpful thanks