Quartz watch running slow

[apotek]

Hi everybody After a few years unused we had a battery put into my wifes watch and whilst it is running it has lost 90 minutes in 15 hours.It`s a cartier tank and we were giving it to our sons girlfriend,can they be regulated or put right in some way.Anyone have any experience of this?
thanks in advance, John

[daveenty]

Possibly a duff battery fitted? Try holding the watch vertically and see if it struggles when the second hand moves uphill.

My first thing would be to swap the battery out. I don't know who did the battery change for you, but I'd be taking it to a reputable watchmaker given the value of the watch, though not an AD as I know their prices for these models. (£120 + for a battery is scarey)

Alternatively, a battery can damage a movement/circuit board after being left for a while to leak/rot which, as you say it's been left a few years, could have happened. Hopefully not in this instance.

[apotek]

I had the cell replaced at a local quality jeweller(rolex omega) with a proper repair/watchmaker who I do trust but like you say it could be duff.There is no second hand to check as you said so I am considering someone like watch lab if the price is right,have it serviced and see how that goes.Have you any idea on cost of sevice on a quartz?

[daveenty]

Not much more than the cost of a battery change on the high end stuff as, unlike a mechanical, there's not a major amount to do unless the circuits are damaged.

In reality it's just clean, lube and pressure testing (if relevant), though replacing parts could add up.

Your local guy should be able to give you an estimate on it.

I'm guessing here as I have very limited experience with quartz watches. All my quartz stuff is mostly cheap and nasty, and if a battery doesn't fix it it goes in the drawer of doom.

[apotek]

When it was a few minutes slow the word yesterday at the jewellers was approx £160 which seemed a bit steep for basically a quick clean and lube so I suppose I am looking for a cheaper route