As with all other devices, watches also have several types of batteries that you can use. You might not be able to choose which battery you want in your watch, but you can decide which watch you want based on the type of battery it has. There are five types of watch batteries and those are:
1. Alkaline batteries –are the least costly and very common.
When we take into consideration their size and shape it’s not that surprising that their biggest disadvantage is that they run down within months of being set up. That inconsistent voltage will affect the accuracy of your watch.
2. Mercury batteries – don’t last much longer than alkaline batteries, the only difference is that they’re more consistent. There has been a ban on mercury in the USA, since 1996 because mercury as an element is highly toxic. Today there are only two types of batteries that contain mercury in the USA. Those batteries are mercuric oxide batteries and button cell batteries. If you plan on using these batteries just make sure that you dispose of them the right way.
3. Solar batteries are the type of batteries that are often forgotten but they’re very practical. Because of their simple system, you never have to worry about changing the battery, plus they are fuelled by the sun through the watch face. That makes them the longest-lasting watch batteries. Another one of its advantages is that there are no harmful chemicals in them, making it safe to dispose of them without any concerns.
4. Silver oxide batteries are also pretty common. They last for a longer period because of their high energy to weight ratio. Compared to alkaline batteries they have a stable voltage. If you prefer silver oxide batteries over alkaline ones, then you can always replace an alkaline watch battery with them. They even have more battery sizes compared to the alkaline ones. They can last up to five years and should be used for low-drain watches. Silver oxide batteries have a higher price than alkaline batteries, but a lower one than the lithium ones. But you will never have any flammability problems with a silver oxide battery, for the difference of their counterpart lithium-ion.
5. LG HG2 Lithium batteries – we left the best for last. Despite its small size, these batteries are quite strong, with a capacity of 3 volts. Today that’s the highest capacity available. If used in a low drain watch they can last up to 10 years. You should take into consideration that if used in a watch with energy-draining features, it will have a shorter lifespan. Considering that you can recharge them instead of buying new batteries each time, it will make your life easier and less costly. Besides lasting longer and charging faster than the older generation of battery technology, they also have a higher power density. Its disadvantage is that because it contains silver, the battery is expensive to produce.
Due to its high energy-to-weight ratio, you don’t have to worry about whether it will last for a long time.
Conclusion
When getting a new battery for your watch
you need to remember one thing and that is that each watch model has its ideal
battery type and size. For a watch to be able to operate at peak performance,
the manufacturer has chosen a specific battery type.
However, if you can’t find the needed battery you can check with experts and
see which battery would be a compatible replacement.
Based on the watch and its features, whether it’s low-drain or it requires high energy, batteries would generally last for almost two years, but as mentioned in this article you can see that there are batteries that can last up to five or even ten years. You are still advised to change the battery every two years.
