How To Replace a Quartz Watch Movement 

Always wondered if it was possible to save a loved watch you have gave me hope thank you

Your welcome

Andy B thanks. The date wheel would have been changed if that plastic weld was not there

Hack the movement to start with then the second hand should be in it’s stopped position then it’s just a case of lining it all up when fitting.

wirdy1 hi, thanks for your comment. I figure cousins alternative would be right but their returns process is not easy.. figured changing the date wheel would be simple! I did not check the train but where the circuit goes and the battery the acid damage was isolated so I took a chance. If the date wheel would have changed then it would have been a new movement in the watch .

@@MyRetroWatches thanks, I've never had to return anything to Cousins, but I'll keep that in mind for the future if I need to source a 50/50 item. I think a complicated returns process means most can't be bothered & the part then sits in the spares box for yrs to come!

Keith Allanson that’s how it should be. I have a citizen two tone my dad got me for my 18th back in 1990. Still runs but I broke the second hand . Reading your post reminds me to dig it out and find a hand for it

@@MyRetroWatches I remember the day I bought it in Skegness on holiday with my kids, bought it in H Samuals think it cost me over £100 back then and the gold still not faded

David Webb I don’t honestly know. As then number would have been on its side it would look weird

Sorry no idea

Sorry I would have no idea. Your best bet is googling the model number of the watch and looking at the image search

@@MyRetroWatches Thanks so much for responding. I have tried that, but it is not a common watch, and the few images I did find did not show the movement or make any mention of it. Not to worry... I'll keep searching :). Thanks again.

Second hands are hard to master. Good magnification is the key

Not sure what I said in the video as this was years ago but it’s the date window position that is important when buying a replacement. Some watches are at 6 or 4 . Buy the wrong one and the date will not line up. Buy at date at 3 for a date at 6 movement the number will be on its side and not upright.

There is a crown release hidden on the back of the movement. It's normally near the stem, you press it down and the stem slides out. If you watch some of this RU-vidr's other videos you'll see it.

No I don’t…. I explain to find the codes on the modules and then you can purchase a replacement.

Russ B haha, yep over here we say it differently. Same a Nike the E is not it’s own syllable

How did it went?

Nice tip , thanks

Great tips. Are there any tricks on how to properly align the second hand with the dial indices other than trial and error? I must have set the second hand 20 times just trying to align the indices on the dial. I let the movement run and then place the second hand, adjust it slightly with light pressure to see where if aligns, try to adjust with tweezers, hack the movement then press firmly but it takes me multiple attempts to get it close. Maybe it partly depends on the quality of the movement. Swapped a Miyota 2035 last night. Maybe there is a better way? Trying to understand how it's done during mass production.

@@mtbbiker6401 Nope,I'm plagued with the same problem lol

I like pulsars or Seiko cheaper watches range! It's still going after 20yrs...

Steve Evans thanks Steve that’s great if you have learnt something !

Without seeing it I have no idea

cuz theres not to much to do to them ....most of the time all u do is end up replacing the entire movement as shown .....most of the time the old batteries sit in there and leak acid and end up destroying the movement ......most quartz movements are readily available and not expensive this one was like 10 quid...swap it out and good to go

Not sure where you get £8 from. This is my friends watch. The first one he ever bought so wanted it running again.

If you have a genuine Rolex to not replace it with a Seiko movement! Your Rolex movement , even quartz could be serviced to run properly.

A common question and not one I can answer. You would need to know the thickness of movements and if they align with the crown tube. Also then buying a plastic spacer. People have done it on watches just not me.

In theory it might be possible gig there are so many factors from thickness of movement stem alignment. Day date windows. Then diameter of a movement / finding a movement spacer to increase / decrease the fit. Something I have never done or had interest in doing. Same with converting a quartz to mechanical.

In all honesty I can’t remember now. Most likely one of those reasons. Sorry

Ian Watson this was my mates watch . Nice to see you have one too. As for tweezers I will only use Dumont they are pricy but man you get the best quality out there. I use a pair of 00 and I abuse them yet the show no sign. Think they might even be hardened steel.. Also have some hairspring tweezers also by Dumont . £25 a set minimum though

Ian Watson don’t forget £9 plus vat and then post. Also unless you buy the alternative you are faced with doing what I did and remove the circuit

See Sharp hello. So in theory yes. You would solder a new quartz crystal to the module . I have never done this though but know guys who have done them on digitals. Think you have to find one of a similar size and some vibrate at different frequencies.

Yesn't. It depends on how much space is available inside the case. Sometimes because it is a Quartz movement, the internal space is not big enough as quartz movements don't take up much space, most of it is plastic filler to keep it central and in position. Quartz watches can be thinner than automatics because they naturally take up less room inside. As long as you can source a mechanical movement that will fit the hole and matches with the diameter of the dial (and also permits the crown to align) there is nothing stopping you. Sometimes it is easier to change the dial face at the same time, that way you get a movement (with date window) that matches the dial and hands which can be a good modification. It is a tricky mod though, potentially. Also, if you are going to put a mechanical inside, you would want to get a clear/transparent case back that fits (so that you can see the jewels and balance), and if you are going to that trouble you may as well fit a sapphire crystal lens, replacing your old mineral crystal one. All of the equipment required for that costs money and patience. A good example of a watch that is both mechanical or quartz but essentially the same case is the Tissot Powermatic PRX 80 and its cheaper but equally luxuriant PRX Quartz variant. It can be done.

Bj Cundiff sorry I’ve not done one.

You’re welcome 😊

Hello, I did not polish but I did end up running it all through the ultrasonic. Its a mat finish, almost titanium looking so polishing anything would not have been the right thing to do. Thanks for watching.

There are a couple vids on this out there, you have to go in through the crystal side, I fixed my granddaughter's eta powered flip flop learn to tell the time watch from doing that.

Thanks Ian, your a top man I will have to check them out. Regards from John

Star Wars John I’ve never worked on a swatch...

It will do if you fit it correctly with a ticking hand it only ticks once a second so you just have to line it up as good as you can.

@@MyRetroWatches I agree, which is to your credit, certainly, but it seems many watch dials have the marks unevenly spaced, as the seconds hand sometimes does and doesn’t line up as it goes around.

Before you discredit my video understand your own question. Nearly every quartz movement ive worked on, and there is many have a different stem release and its not that difficult to work it out if you pay attention to the movement in front of you. If you are blindly assuming they are all the same then perhaps changin a module is not something you should be doing.

@@MyRetroWatches The most shocking is that like most low level RU-vidrs, you cannot take criticism. Since I have rightly left my comment, I watched another video with similar title to yours and the guy showed how to remove the stem. And from this I worked out how to do it in one watch and the second one, as I wanted to swap the movement from one watch to another. Thanks to him I have accomplished my task. You simply forgetting that you supposed to make video to help people. You make videos for self glorification. 99% of audience will watch your video but will not attempt to do anything, I actually did and left for you very valuable feedback. Your video is useless, so stop crying and make another one which will be helpful to youtube community. You are welcome.

@@isopticon How am I not taking critizsm? I explained to you that not all modules and movements are the same. You found your answer elsewere and isnt that great. You sould leave it there. I am too old to deal with reponses like you have just typed, seriously. You simply have no idea bout my channel or what I am doing you just didnt like this video because it did not show what you wanted. Had it shown the answer then your tone would be much diffrernt.

@@MyRetroWatches look, your watch repair skills are awesome, but this particular video titled "How to replace Quartz Movement" does not provide what it preaches. Sit back and look from the perspective of someone typing this question on you tube. One could not even take the movement, out of the case ;-). You are not too old to deal with my comments, you are just working your old ways. I wish you all the best, and if you will not make a proper video on "How to replace Quartz Movement" I will.