How to Properly Select Button Cell Batteries for Quartz Watches

With the development of quartz electronic watches, consumers are wearing an increasingly diverse range of styles and brands of quartz timepieces, making the correct selection of button cell batteries a practical issue of considerable concern to the general public.

     There are currently many fitted button cell batteries on the market. They are labelled with designations such as ag3 and ag1, feature gold-plated yellow negative terminals, lack any trademark, place of origin, or production date code on the battery casing, and only display the model along with the English and Japanese words for "button cell" or "watch battery" to impersonate imported foreign batteries. In reality, these are all low-grade, inferior alkaline-manganese batteries. These cheap and poorly manufactured batteries feature low capacity, short lifespans, and unstable voltage, and they are prone to leakage or swelling, which can damage the watch. Batteries of this type are generally only suitable for low-end calculators and low-end digital electronic watches; using them in mid-to-high-end analogue quartz watches is counterproductive, so consumers should exercise caution when selecting them.

     It is clear from this that correctly selecting a battery is a crucial matter in ensuring the operating precision and lifespan of a quartz watch. Consumers should fully appreciate this issue and avoid using poor-quality button cells to prevent unnecessary damage to their watches. So, how should button cells be used correctly?

     First, one must properly understand the special requirements that analogue quartz electronic watches have for button cells:
     (1) Good leak-proof performance is essential; once the battery is inserted into the movement, it should last 1-2 years or even longer before needing replacement.
     (2) The voltage must be stable. Quartz watches require a power supply with a 1.5v voltage to maintain normal operation and accurate timekeeping.
     (3) The service life must be long. Frequently opening the case back to replace the battery will compromise the watch's sealing performance, so high battery capacity is required. Furthermore, the exterior must be of good quality, and trademarks, models, production dates, and codes must be clearly marked in compliance with relevant regulations.

     In addition, here are a few recommendations for button cells with relatively good performance and quality. Based on the aforementioned special requirements of analogue quartz electronic watches for button cells, you can choose these with confidence. Domestic options include the "Dali" silver oxide button cells produced by the Changzhou Battery Factory, while renowned foreign button cell brands include maxell and Toshiba from Japan, Varta from Germany, and ucar from the United States.