Longines Hydroconquest Battery Change

[tannhauser]

Hi - I was wondering if anyone could advise me on how to change the battery on my Longines Hydroconquest please?

Are you supposed to remove the white plastic holding the mechanism in? If so, how? Is it the two screws that I have highlighted?

Also, does anyone know what type of battery it is, so I can order one beforehand?

Many thanks!

[Variomatic]

Yes, remove the two case ring screws and lift out the case ring.

Depending on whether or not there's a gap between the plastic "bar" and the back of the movement the cell will be a 395 / SR927SW (if there is a gap) or a 371 (SR920SW) if the bar is tight up against the back of the movement.

It looks from the photo like there is clearance between the bar and the movement, so would be a 395, but can't be 100% sure from that angle.

eta: before unscrewing the case ring screws, unscrew the crown from the case. Otherwise the crown spring will try to push the movement and dial across to the left and make refitting harder.

Edited by Variomatic on Sunday 12th June 13:39

[hedgefinder]

just a note, it will void your warranty changing the battery yourself...as I found out.

[Variomatic]

hedgefinder said:

just a note, it will void your warranty changing the battery yourself...as I found out.

Use a Renata cell and be careful not to leave any marks / finger prints etc and they'll never know

[tannhauser]

Thanks - this is all very useful

How do you unscrew the crown? Also, how long is the warranty? 24 months rings a bell?

Thanks again!

[Variomatic]

Just unscrew it as if you were setting the time (not particularly familiar with the model but assume it has a screw-down crown as a 300m rated watch).

There's an internal spring that you have to slightly push in against as you screw it down. Once it's screwed down that spring is pushing on the end of the stem and will push everything off to the side given a chance. When you remove the case ring it gets that chance and the movement can make re-seating the case ring awkward.

Over the years I've seen plenty of cracked case rings and several chipped (or even bent in a couple of cases!) dial edges from people trying to force a ring back onto a mis-centred movement. Even saw one where someone had snipped the opposite edge off the ring to "make it fit"!

[tannhauser]

Variomatic said:

Just unscrew it as if you were setting the time (not particularly familiar with the model but assume it has a screw-down crown as a 300m rated watch).

There's an internal spring that you have to slightly push in against as you screw it down. Once it's screwed down that spring is pushing on the end of the stem and will push everything off to the side given a chance. When you remove the case ring it gets that chance and the movement can make re-seating the case ring awkward.

Over the years I've seen plenty of cracked case rings and several chipped (or even bent in a couple of cases!) dial edges from people trying to force a ring back onto a mis-centred movement. Even saw one where someone had snipped the opposite edge off the ring to "make it fit"!

Thanks again everyone for the info.

So in unscrewing the crown, is it only so much as if you were adjusting the time, and no more? i.e. no need to completely remove the crown or anything?

[tannhauser]

NeMiSiS said:

OMG just get it done.....

How you got the case rear off on your own, I'll never know.

Ha ha

Just don't want to fk it up!

[Variomatic]

tannhauser said:

Thanks again everyone for the info.

So in unscrewing the crown, is it only so much as if you were adjusting the time, and no more? i.e. no need to completely remove the crown or anything?

Yes, you just unscrew it like you would when setting the time. That releases the spring pressure and then you just get on with it

Oh, and to spoil Nemesis' fun, don't short the battery to anything!

[tannhauser]

Hello again - it's a Renata 371 I need, but having looked on eBay and Amazon, I'm suspicious of fakes - which apparently, sadly do exist.

Can anybody recommend a reputable supplier? I'm aware of "Cousins", but I really don't need to buy a pack of ten....

Thanks!

[tannhauser]

Oh do fk off.

Apologies for not wanting to install a cheap stty Chinese copy in my watch, that'll no doubt piss out nasty chemicals in due course.

fk right off.

[marcosgt]

tannhauser said:

Oh do fk off.

Apologies for not wanting to install a cheap stty Chinese copy in my watch, that'll no doubt piss out nasty chemicals in due course.

fk right off.

Take it to your local jewellers.

M.

[tannhauser]

Very helpful indeed. Since when did this place become so chock full of s?

[Variomatic]

NeMiSiS said:

Please make him go away.

Ok.

OP, PM me your address and I'll drop one in the post for you tomorrow foc. It'll be Seizaiken (Seiko retail brand) rather than Renata because I saw a couple of leakage problems with Renata a couple of years ago so moved away from them.

[tannhauser]

Variomatic said:

NeMiSiS said:

Please make him go away.

Ok.

OP, PM me your address and I'll drop one in the post for you tomorrow foc. It'll be Seizaiken (Seiko retail brand) rather than Renata because I saw a couple of leakage problems with Renata a couple of years ago so moved away from them.

Thank you Variomatic, so long as you're sure this is no problem?

This is much appreciated - unlike the sneering and condescending tone from others. Clearly I have upset and annoyed at least one other poster with my questions, however I stand by my questions as:

a) I did not want to fk up removing the plastic retainer
b) I was advised to unscrew the crown, to not cause damage. Not immediately obvious.
c) I do not want cheap stty leaky batteries, counterfeit or otherwise

Furthermore Variomatic's insider knowledge of (genuine) Renata batteries having issues with leaking, is very useful to know. I'd heard similar things elsewhere.

So why the problem with me asking questions? Even if it is a comparatively "inexpensive" quartz watch?

Really, I've seen the best and worst of PH in this thread. It's like being back at school - it's pathetic.

[marcosgt]

tannhauser said:

Thank you Variomatic, so long as you're sure this is no problem?

This is much appreciated - unlike the sneering and condescending tone from others. Clearly I have upset and annoyed at least one other poster with my questions, however I stand by my questions as:

a) I did not want to fk up removing the plastic retainer
b) I was advised to unscrew the crown, to not cause damage. Not immediately obvious.
c) I do not want cheap stty leaky batteries, counterfeit or otherwise

Furthermore Variomatic's insider knowledge of (genuine) Renata batteries having issues with leaking, is very useful to know. I'd heard similar things elsewhere.

So why the problem with me asking questions? Even if it is a comparatively "inexpensive" quartz watch?

Really, I've seen the best and worst of PH in this thread. It's like being back at school - it's pathetic.

It was a bit...

To be honest, it was pretty clear you weren't confident of doing it, nothing wrong with that (it's a nice watch), hence my suggestion to go to a jewellers.

M.

[tannhauser]

marcosgt said:

tannhauser said:

Thank you Variomatic, so long as you're sure this is no problem?

This is much appreciated - unlike the sneering and condescending tone from others. Clearly I have upset and annoyed at least one other poster with my questions, however I stand by my questions as:

a) I did not want to fk up removing the plastic retainer
b) I was advised to unscrew the crown, to not cause damage. Not immediately obvious.
c) I do not want cheap stty leaky batteries, counterfeit or otherwise

Furthermore Variomatic's insider knowledge of (genuine) Renata batteries having issues with leaking, is very useful to know. I'd heard similar things elsewhere.

So why the problem with me asking questions? Even if it is a comparatively "inexpensive" quartz watch?

Really, I've seen the best and worst of PH in this thread. It's like being back at school - it's pathetic.

It was a bit...

To be honest, it was pretty clear you weren't confident of doing it, nothing wrong with that (it's a nice watch), hence my suggestion to go to a jewellers.

M.

Thanks for the reply, and the bit in bold wasn't so much directed at you. It's not so much a lack of confidence or inability - I'm a mechanical engineer, and happily take things apart in my spare time - I just didn't want to do anything silly, as I'm aware these are delicate, precision items. The point about unscrewing the crown a useful case in point.

I love the watch to be honest. I've had it 3 years and it's been exactly what I wanted - they're priced well too, I found, compared to other similar watches; though I wasn't particularly price sensitive on this purchase - it was brand, overall appearance and feel that appealed, but I had been considering slightly more expensive watches too (perhaps 2-3k).

I'm aware it's quartz, with a pretty generic Swiss mech and therefore doesn't have the appeal and provenance most watch fanatics like - but I'm happy with quartz as it's accurate and convenient. Actually the automatic versions weren't actually that much more, and I was tempted. Perhaps next time!

Oh, I've just gone and bought a stop-gap Casio F-91W "Bin Laden Special" today, to add to the collection, for all of seven quid. I think I like it almost as much!