Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: How to remove the snap-on lid using your fingernail or razor blade
• Method 2 of 3: How to use a rubber ball to unscrew the screw cap back
• Method 3 of 3: How to unscrew a tight lid or screw cap with scissors
• Tips
• What do you need

When you don't have special tools to open the back of your watch, you may not know how to replace a dead battery or fix a broken watch. However, there is no need to buy expensive tools to open the watch. In many cases, they can be replaced with improvised household tools. Depending on the specific watch model, you may only need your own fingernail, a razor blade, a rubber ball, or simple scissors.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: How to remove the snap-on lid using your fingernail or razor blade

1. 1 Try to pick up the lid of the simplest cheap watch with your fingernail. Some watches have snap-on covers that you need to grasp to open. Examine the back of your watch to see if this is your case. If the cover does not have any screws or slots for unscrewing, it is very likely that it can be opened with a thumbnail.
   • This method will only work if the cover is not secured with screws and does not apply to screw caps.
   • Any nail can be used, but the thumbnail is usually the largest and strongest.
2. 2 Locate the latch groove on the cover. On the simplest watches, the back cover latch looks like a small indentation on the edge. It is there that you need to insert a nail in order to pick up and open the lid.
   • Do not place the watch on a table to open it. Hold them in your other hand - this will be more convenient for you.
3. 3 Insert your thumbnail into the groove on the lid and lift it up. Lift the lid slowly to avoid bending or breaking the nail. With some effort and some patience, the lid should open. If the lid won't budge, do not use your fingernail to avoid damaging it.
   • This method is best for people with long, healthy nails.
4. 4 Alternatively, use a razor blade. If the latch is tight enough or your fingernail is too short to open the lid, a flat razor blade will help you. Slip the corner of the blade into the recess and start lifting the cover until it opens.
   • If there is no notch along the edge of the lid, but only a gap, you can also resort to using a blade.
   • If you don't have a razor blade, you can replace it with a small kitchen knife.

Method 2 of 3: How to use a rubber ball to unscrew the screw cap back

1. 1 Buy a soft, pliable rubber ball or ball. The rubber ball allows you to grip the watch cover securely enough to unscrew it. Choose a ball that is both soft and sticky enough so that it can snag on the back of your watch.
   • An anti-stress ball can be a cheap alternative to a rubber ball.
   • Do not use a hard rubber ball. The ball must be soft and pliable in order to grip the lid.
   • Another very cheap alternative is to wrap the new tennis ball with duct tape, sticky side out. The tape is very sticky and the tennis ball is comfortable to hold in your hand.
2. 2 Place the watch on a flat surface. Although you can hold them in your hand during the opening process, it is best to place them on a flat surface so that it will be more comfortable for you and you can handle it easier. For expensive or fragile watches, cover the surface with a towel and place the watch on top of it.
3. 3 Press down firmly on the back of the watch. The ball should press firmly against the watch back cover, especially against its unscrewing slots. Therefore, firmly press the ball against the watch lid to ensure a secure grip.
   • Increase the pressure on the ball a little to avoid accidentally damaging the watch.
4. 4 Roll the ball counterclockwise. The covers of most watch models are unscrewed counterclockwise and screwed clockwise. At the moment the ball turns, the watch cover should move from its place and turn. Roll the ball with a quick and steady motion to avoid losing grip on the lid.
5. 5 Use a ball to slide the cover out of place, but not completely remove it. Once the cover slides out of place, you can unscrew it all the way with your fingers. To do this, keep twisting it counterclockwise with your fingers until it comes off. Set aside the removed cover in a safe place to avoid losing it.
6. 6 Also use a rubber ball to replace the watch cover. After completing the required operation with the watch, the back cover will need to be screwed on securely again. Place the lid back in place and press down firmly with a rubber ball. Spin the ball clockwise quickly to tighten the watch case back.

Method 3 of 3: How to unscrew a tight lid or screw cap with scissors

1. 1 Use scissors to unscrew the very tight screw cap or screw cap. The rubber ball may not be enough if the case back is too tight or with screws. The ends of the scissors are usually small enough to insert into the special grooves on the back of the watch (or into the screw heads) and turn it (them) in the same way as with a special screwdriver.
   • Choose scissors with rounded ends to avoid injury if the scissors slip.
2. 2 Place the watch on a flat, hard surface. This will help you avoid injuring yourself with the scissors. If your watch is expensive or fragile, cover the surface with a soft towel and place the watch on top of it.
3. 3 Locate the slots for unscrewing the cover. The grooves on the edges of the screw-down watch lid (or in the screw heads) are specially designed for unscrewing. Unfold the scissors and then set the tips of the scissors into the two opposite slots in the lid to prepare to unscrew the lid. For screws, place one end of the scissors in the groove on the head of one of the screws. Be sure to press the scissors firmly into the grooves so you don't miss the grip as you turn them.
4. 4 Scroll the scissors counterclockwise. Similar to the rubber ball method, you need to twist the scissors in the grooves to move the cover or screw out of place. If the cover is secured with multiple screws, remove all of them one after the other.
   • When you are ready to put the cover back in place, secure it in the same way, only turn the scissors clockwise.
5. 5 To unscrew the cover on the screws, try using a precision screwdriver. If you're having trouble or don't want to use scissors, buy a precision screwdriver from a hardware store. Precision screwdrivers are usually small enough to fit and open the screws on a watch cover without the need for a specialized watch tool.

Tips

• Be careful when working with sharp knives or screwdrivers to avoid injury.
• If you have tried all the methods and still cannot open the case back, contact your watchmaker to help you figure out and solve the problem.

What do you need

• Rounded scissors
• Rubber ball / ball
• Scotch tape and tennis ball
• Razor blade (optional)
• Precision screwdriver (optional)
• Towel (optional)