OysterQuartz battery replacement -

[shivayash]

Dear chaps,

Contrary to the general view, OQ battery changes are not free, unless of course you have the special booklet!

Rolex London charges £70 for a new battery and reseal, and I was told, included change of all the seals - four in total.

For what its worth, I think this is a pretty good price.

[TonyD]

When mine died a few years back my AD sent it in for an estimate. It came back recommending a full service and replaced the battery for free. It has been working perfectly ever since.

[shivayash]

Originally Posted by TonyD

When mine died a few years back my AD sent it in for an estimate. It came back recommending a full service and replaced the battery for free. It has been working perfectly ever since.

Presumably a full service includes the battery.


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[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by shivayash

Dear chaps,

Contrary to the general view, OQ battery changes are not free, unless of course you have the special booklet!

Rolex London charges £70 for a new battery and reseal, and I was told, included change of all the seals - four in total.

For what its worth, I think this is a pretty good price.

Normal price.

Q. How long did your battery last ?


I do a full service (without polishing) every second battery.

battery + seals / full service / battery + seals / full service.....and so on.

[shivayash]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

Normal price.

Q. How long did your battery last ?


I do a full service (without polishing) every second battery.

battery + seals / full service / battery + seals / full service.....and so on.

I'm not sure, this is my first OQ but I would imagine 3-5 years depending on the condition of the movement. I think £70 is a good price to ensure seals are replaced etc.

PS. Nice camera - I like the M6/M-A/M-P - digital less so but it has its place

[Kingsking]

Originally Posted by shivayash

I'm not sure, this is my first OQ but I would imagine 3-5 years depending on the condition of the movement. I think £70 is a good price to ensure seals are replaced etc.

PS. Nice camera - I like the M6/M-A/M-P - digital less so but it has its place

I’ve had my oysterquartz for 4 years and changed the battery 2 times

[Old Expat Beast]

Some RSC locations still do it for free. HK did mine free, and a few other TRFers around the world have said the same.

[Kiddodoc]

When not using the watch, you should pull out the crown, it will stop the watch and save your battery. My local AD gave me that advice and my battery has lasted so much longer.

[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by shivayash

I'm not sure, this is my first OQ but I would imagine 3-5 years depending on the condition of the movement. I think £70 is a good price to ensure seals are replaced etc.

PS. Nice camera - I like the M6/M-A/M-P - digital less so but it has its place

On average I do 3 years with a battery.

Thank you. Its a M6TTL much more interesting is the lens a Tri-Elmar 28-50-35 in Silver (chrome) I really paid very little for it. Leica almost went bankrupt (2002/03).Price increase Rolex / Leica is not such a crazy comparison nowadays.
Use a Leica M240 & M10. I keep the M6TTL.

[77T]

Originally Posted by kiddodoc

When not using the watch, you should pull out the crown, it will stop the watch and save your battery. My local AD gave me that advice and my battery has lasted so much longer.

Wouldn’t the 32Khz quartz oscillator continue to run, deplete the capacitor and thus continue to use battery power?


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[Kiddodoc]

Originally Posted by 77T

Wouldn’t the 32Khz quartz oscillator continue to run, deplete the capacitor and thus continue to use battery power?


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Good question but i am not sure of the mechanism but the the watch stops.

[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by 77T

Wouldn’t the 32Khz quartz oscillator continue to run, deplete the capacitor and thus continue to use battery power?


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That's right !
32 Khz quartz oscillator continue to run, but used very, very low energy !

A quartz oscillator needs 1/ 2 days (or more) to reach its stable frequency.

This was a problem with the very first (1977) Oysterquartz movements.

[shivayash]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

That's right !
32 Khz quartz oscillator continue to run, but used very, very low energy !

A quartz oscillator needs 1/ 2 days (or more) to reach its stable frequency.

This was a problem with the very first (1977) Oysterquartz movements.

But then moisture/ dust can enter the mechanism? If the crown is left open?

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by shivayash

Presumably a full service includes the battery.

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I should have been more clear. I declined the service but they returned the watch with a new battery with a note saying it was at no charge.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by shivayash

Dear chaps,

Contrary to the general view, OQ battery changes are not free, unless of course you have the special booklet!

Rolex London charges £70 for a new battery and reseal, and I was told, included change of all the seals - four in total.

For what its worth, I think this is a pretty good price.

The Oysterquartz uses a SR344 battery and it's not rocket science to change it yourself if you have the correct caseback tool.You can buy a pack of 5xSR344 batteries for around £8-£10 it's not like if its some special Rolex certified battery its just a normal run of the mill battery.But trouble today once you mention Rolex the price always escalates 10 fold, it's no different to change a battery in a Rolex as to changing one in say a Seiko.As for the seals cost less than £2 so £70 still expensive but anything with Rolex is expensive.And today I would expect a full service for a OQ would cost more than a service on a cal 3135 movement.There are a lot of mechanical parts in the OQ the drive train is from the cal 3035.

[shivayash]

Originally Posted by padi56

The Oysterquartz uses a SR344 battery and it's not rocket science to change it yourself if you have the correct caseback tool.You can buy a pack of 5xSR344 batteries for around £8-£10 it's not like if its some special Rolex certified battery its just a normal run of the mill battery.But trouble today once you mention Rolex the price always escalates 10 fold, it's no different to change a battery in a Rolex as to changing one in say a Seiko.As for the seals cost less than £2 so £70 still expensive but anything with Rolex is expensive.And today I would expect a full service for a OQ would cost more than a service on a cal 3135 movement.There are a lot of mechanical parts in the OQ the drive train is from the cal 3035.

Hmmm I'm not quite sure. How do you pressure test your watch post breaking the seal? IF water gets in after Rolex have changed the battery and seal, its guaranteed. For the sake of £2 per month... that is based on a three-year battery change, its not worth the hassle. £70 isn't about the material costs, its about the service you are getting... a qualified Rolex bod checking the watch. I personally think letting them clean the watch at the same time makes it even better value.

Buy cheap, buy twice.

[shivayash]

Originally Posted by TonyD

I should have been more clear. I declined the service but they returned the watch with a new battery with a note saying it was at no charge.

Nice.

[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by shivayash

But then moisture/ dust can enter the mechanism? If the crown is left open?

Some people unscrew the Twinlock to save batteries.
I don't'. If the watch is in a Rolex box, or safe, I'm not that scared for moisture/ dust. I am very happy with my new Peli Watch Case a crushproof, waterproof and dustproof case.

[SDDS]

I have changed the battery for free when I was visiting NY, I went to the RSC building, it was really nice

[shivayash]

Originally Posted by SDDS

I have changed the battery for free when I was visiting NY, I went to the RSC building, it was really nice

Good to know... I'll chance it in Berlin, next time I'm due. Lets see...

[SDDS]

Yeah why not

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[Andad]

Well it takes 5 minutes to change the battery on my OQ.

Pulling the crown does not significantly reduce battery consumption

The case back seal is good enough for me when screwing it back on as I don’t go diving much with it.

Check it out.

I don’t think I would have any problem at all but I have other watches that are more suitable.