Battery Replacement

Replace your SB Watch battery every 6 months to ensure reliable performance and connectivity.

For complete battery life information, including usage tips and expected lifespan, see our Battery Life guide.

When to Replace the Battery

Replace the CR2032 battery every 6 months for best performance.

Signs you need a new battery:

• Watch won’t connect to the TimeSmith app
• Connection drops frequently
• Hands stutter or move strangely
• Need to calibrate often
• TimeSmith app shows battery at 10-20%

⚠️ Connection problems? 90% of connection issues are caused by a dead battery. Replace it first before troubleshooting anything else. See Troubleshooting for other potential issues.

What You Need

Battery: Standard CR2032 button battery (widely available at department stores, electronics stores, drug stores, or online)

Our experience: Cheap batteries work just as well as expensive brand-name batteries. Buy the cheapest ones.

Pro tip: Buy a pack of batteries. Some “new” batteries aren’t fully charged if they’ve been sitting on a shelf for months. Having extras means you can test multiple batteries if needed.

Tools: See Opening/Closing the Back for the tools you’ll need to open your specific watch model.

Before You Start

1. Update firmware — Make sure your watch has the latest firmware before opening it
2. Have the TimeSmith app ready — You’ll need it to test the connection after replacing the battery
3. Work on a clean surface — Keep small parts organized and prevent scratches

Replacement Steps

1. Open the Watch

Follow the instructions in Opening/Closing the Back for your specific model:

• Steel models: Screw-back case (use watch case wrench or scissors)
• Modern/Pocket models: Snap-off back (use watch opener, screwdriver, or knife)

2. Remove Old Battery

Carefully remove the CR2032 battery from the movement.

3. Insert New Battery

Important: Make sure the three connectors around and beneath the movement are holding the battery properly.

The battery can be tricky to insert — check the video below for guidance.

4. Test the Watch

Watch hands should start moving immediately after inserting the battery:

1. Hands rotate around once
2. Hands move to show the current time

If hands don’t move:

• Try another battery (even “new” batteries can be dead)
• Check that battery connectors are making good contact
• Make sure battery is inserted with correct polarity

5. Check Alignment

Before closing:

• Watch dial aligned? 12 at top, 3 at right (not rotated)
• Button reaches movement? Button pin and plastic extension must reach the movement button

6. Close the Watch

Follow the instructions in Opening/Closing the Back to close your specific model.

7. Test Connection

1. Open TimeSmith app
2. Connect to your watch
3. Verify hands move correctly

If hands are stuck or moving erratically:

• Watch face and hands may be too close to glass
• Watch face plate might be slightly off-center, blocking hands

8. Calibrate

Calibrate the watch — it forgets hand positions when the battery is removed.

Video Guides

SB Watch Modern and Pocket Watches

Modern wristwatches (2020, 2021, 2022) and pocket watches use the same snap-back design:

SB Watch Steel

Steel models have a screw-back case:

Using scissors:

Using watch case wrench:

Professional Help

You can take your watch to a jeweler or watchmaker for battery replacement, but it’s important to explain how SB Watch works first:

⚠️ Critical information for watchmakers:

• The crown is non-functional — It’s decorative only and doesn’t wind or set the time. Some watchmakers have damaged watches trying to “fix” the crown.
• Test requires the TimeSmith app — They won’t be able to verify the watch works without connecting it to the TimeSmith app on your phone.
• Calibration required — After battery replacement, the watch must be calibrated using the TimeSmith app. The hands won’t show the correct time until calibrated.

What to tell them:

1. “This is a Bluetooth smartwatch with a decorative crown. Don’t try to adjust the crown.”
2. “After you replace the battery, I need to connect it to my phone immediately to test it.”
3. “I’ll need to calibrate the watch hands using my app — this is normal.”

Tip: In the UK, some watch chains offer lifetime battery replacement services for a one-time fee. Worth checking if you don’t want to replace batteries yourself.

Still worth reading this guide even if you use a professional, so you know what to expect and can guide them if needed.

Troubleshooting

Hands don’t move after battery replacement:

• Try a different battery (batteries can be defective)
• Check battery connector contact
• Verify battery polarity

Watch won’t connect to app:

• Battery may not be fully charged (try another)
• Check that watch movement is properly assembled

Hands move but get stuck:

• Watch face too close to glass
• Hands touching each other
• Watch face plate misaligned

For more help, see Troubleshooting.