watch cuff | Native American Jewelry Tips

Hi Paula,

I have purchased 2 native american watch cuff’s. I would have had to have the batteries replaced in them every year . Is there a kit that I can buy to replace the batteries in thesewatch cuff’s my self. The jewelry stores in my area , now they do not want to replace the batteries in these watches.
Debra

Tommy Moore Cuff Watch showing the decorative wings that must be opened. Underneath the wings are tabs that secure the watch in place. They must also be opened so that the timepiece can be removed.

Hi Debra,

Just for sake of completeness in this answer, I want to point out that it is easy to replace the battery in a link or expansion band watch because the back of the watch is exposed so it is easy to access. Many people do it themselves or an ordinary jeweler can do it for you.

An expansion band watch showing how there is easy access of the back of the timepiece.

Similarly, there is easy access to the back of the timepiece in a link watch.

However, I know you are asking about cuff watches………..they are trickier because the watch face must be removed completely from the cuff bracelet so the back of the timepiece can be accessed. To do that the fans and anchor tabs must be opened and unless you do have the correct tools and know-how you could damage or break the fans or tabs.

My husband and I have both tried to replace the batteries in my watch cuffs. I have also taken them to local jewelers – all with varying degrees of success.

Now I mail all my cuffs to an experienced Native American jeweler when I need a battery replaced. (see the end of this article for contact information).

To extend the life of the battery, I always pull the watch stem out when I am not
wearing my watch cuffs. This stops the watch and the battery lasts longer.

Alternatively you could use a watch that doesn’t require a battery change such as a good old fashioned wind up watch, a kinetic watch (one that self winds in response to your normal everyday arm movements, sometimes referred to as a self-wind or mechanical watch), or a solar watch (also called eco drive watch).

A quartz watch requires a battery to run. A reader, Dun Jewelers, sent me this additional information, for which I am gratefull:

“The quarts mineral does not create electricity to run the watch. A power source (battery or cell) is still required. When electricity is applied to a thin quartz crystal in a watch (or any quartz crystal), the quartz vibrates at 60 hertz. This is how the watch “tells time”.

When you plug your clock into the wall, it knows how to measure time because electricity in the USA is supplied at 60 hertz. That means the positive and negative poles change 60 times per second.

With a quartz watch, the quartz crystal supplies the “heartbeat” at 60 hertz per second, but there has to be some type of power applied to make the quartz crystal vibrate.

So you will still have to change the battery in your quartz watch periodically.”

Thanks again to Dun Jewelers for this information !!!

Paula

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