Why the Right Tool Matters
Watch repair looks deceptively simple from the outside. Open the case, swap the battery, close it up. In practice, every step involves components measured in tenths of a millimetre, surfaces that scratch with a fingernail, and fasteners that can be destroyed by applying force in the wrong direction. A screwdriver that's even slightly too wide will chew the slot. A case back opened with a coin can slip and gouge the case. A movement touched without the right holder can introduce oils from skin that accelerate corrosion.
Most of the damage we see on watches that have been "home repaired" is tool damage — scratches, bent components, stripped screws, and cracked crystals — not the original fault.
Common preventable damage: Scratched case backs from improvised opening tools, stripped battery compartment screws from wrong-size drivers, cracked crystals from uneven pressure when reseating the case back. These are not covered by any warranty and often cost more to fix than the original service would have.
Case Back Opening Tools
Most watches use one of four case back types, each requiring a different tool.
Snap-fit case backs are pressed on and opened with a case back knife — a thin, hardened blade that seats in the small notch machined into almost every snap-fit back. Using a coin or a flat screwdriver instead will slip, scratch the case, and potentially damage the gasket.
Screw-fit case backs have either two or multiple notches around the circumference and require a case back wrench — an adjustable spanner whose pins engage the notches. The wrench must be set to exactly the right pin spacing for the watch; a sloppy fit strips the notches.
Screwed case backs (more common on older or dress watches) use small screws at intervals around the case back. These require watchmaker's screwdrivers — a range of flat-head drivers in sizes from 0.5mm to 3mm, kept sharp and fitted exactly to the screw slot.
Glued case backs (found on some fashion and disposable watches) require a case back press or, occasionally, careful application of heat. Attempting to pry these open destroys the seal.
Movement Handling Tools
Once the case is open, the movement must be removed without being touched with bare hands. We use:
Movement holders — adjustable clamps that secure the movement in the correct orientation while work is performed. These prevent the movement from being knocked off the bench and allow it to be turned without being handled.
Anti-static tweezers — for handling small components. Standard metal tweezers can generate static that damages quartz modules.
Rodico — a sticky, non-reactive putty used to pick up small parts, clean pivots, and lift components without touching them with metal.
Watchmaker's loupe — typically 5× or 10× magnification, worn in one eye to allow both hands to remain free. A loupe is not optional; at movement scale, nothing can be assessed without magnification.
Battery Tools
Replacing a watch battery involves more than pulling out the old one. The battery must be the correct type (there are over 100 standard sizes), and it must be installed without shorting across the contacts. We use:
Battery tester — to confirm the existing battery is genuinely dead before replacement. A battery reading below 1.5V on a 1.55V silver-oxide cell needs replacement; one reading 1.4V may just be cold.
Insulated tweezers — for placing the new battery without bridging contacts.
Battery reference guide — cross-referencing movement calibre to correct battery type. Installing the wrong battery voltage (e.g., a 1.55V silver-oxide cell in a movement designed for 3V lithium) will either produce no output or damage the circuit.
Sealing and Water Resistance Testing
After any case opening on a water-resistant watch, the gaskets must be inspected and the case must be tested before returning it to the owner. We use:
Gasket inspection tools — the O-ring or die-cut gasket that seals the case back, crown, and crystal must be undamaged and seated correctly. A folded gasket will leak even if the case back appears tight.
Pressure tester — applies a controlled air pressure to the sealed case and measures whether it holds. This is the only reliable way to confirm water resistance after a service; visual inspection is not sufficient.
Magnification
Beyond the hand loupe, a watchmaker's bench microscope is used for any work on the movement itself — lubricating jewels, inspecting pivots, examining the escapement. At 20–40× magnification, faults invisible to the naked eye become immediately apparent: worn pivots, debris in the gear train, dried lubricant that looks liquid under lower magnification.
Leave It to the Right Tools
Every repair at Iglisi Watch uses the correct tool for the specific watch. No improvisation, no scratches. Walk in to our workshop on Rruga Aleksander Goga in Durrës — no appointment needed.
Rruga Aleksander Goga · Durrës 2001 · Albania · +355 67 636 0510
Published by Iglisi Watch · Durrës, Albania · April 2026. This guide covers professional watch repair tools and their correct use.