Do Citizen Watches Have Batteries? [And Why Many Don’t]


Citizen watches are popular with many, as they have excellent features and designs at an affordable price. However, Citizen also uses multiple watch movements, which can be confusing to some at times. Do Citizen watches have batteries?

Many Citizen watches have batteries. However, many don’t. Citizen’s quartz movement uses a button cell battery, while their lines of automatic watches do not need a battery. Citizen also has a unique technology called the Eco-Drive that is quartz, but powered by light instead of a battery.

Do Citizen Watches Have Batteries

In this article, lets look at the movements Citizen uses, the batteries it uses, and also the process of changing the battery like.

We have also covered many topics on Citizen watches, so feel free to check them out if you are keen.

ALSO READ: Citizen Watch Review
ALSO READ: Do Citizen Watches Hold Value?

What Kind Of Battery Do Citizen Watches Use?

Citizens use button cell batteries for their quartz watches. However, they are of multiple sizes, depending on the quartz movement. These movements usually require battery replacement every few years. 

There are several ways to determine the correct type of battery for your watch. The first is to refer to your user manual. The manual should specify clearly the proper kind of cell battery for your watch.

You can also check for the serial number of your watch and go online to search for the correct battery for your quartz movement. 

The easiest option is to just take your watch to a watchmaker and request a battery change. Your watchmaker will open the watch up and immediately tell the button cell battery type. Every button cell battery has its size printed on it (e.g., CR2032). 

Citizen also has quartz watches that do not need a battery, such as those that run on Eco-Drive movement.

Why Do Eco-Drive Watches Not Need A Battery?

Citizen Eco-Drive watches do not need a battery, as they are powered by the light instead of a battery. Eco-Drive uses a film of solar cells directly underneath the watch dial to absorb light (natural or artificial) and convert it into energy to power the watch. 

The converted energy, if not used, is stored inside a rechargeable battery. This battery has a lifespan of 10 years. 

Unlike quartz, you do not have to change the battery every few years on watches with an Eco-Drive movement. 

If you try to drain the battery, you will need a pretty long time, as the power reserve is up to six months. 

How Long Does The Battery Last In Citizen Watches?

In general, the batteries in Citizen’s quartz watches can last from around three to five years. The longevity of the battery depends on its use and operating condition. If the watch has complications or is worn outdoors in extreme temperatures, the battery will have a shorter life span. 

To keep your watch battery lasting longer, you can do several things. The first is to not wear it under extreme temperatures. 

This is because batteries have a shorter life span when used under abnormally high or low temperatures. 

Another is to reduce the usage of complications in the watch. Some quartz Citizen watches come with complications such as a chronograph, alarm, backlight, or stopwatch. 

Using these complications will drain the power inside the battery faster and reduce its lifespan.

 

Does Pulling Out Watch Crown Saves Battery?

In their quest to prolong watch battery life, some people pull out the crown to stop the watch. They think that if the watch’s hands do not move, the watch is not drawing any power from the battery.

However, pulling out the watch crown does not help save the battery on your watch. This is because it only stops the watch hands from moving even if you have pulled out the crown. The movement still draws power and is still operating. 

In fact, it is a bad idea to pull out the crown and let your watch hands stop. When the watch hands are left standing still, the gear trains in the watch movement also do not move. 

This means it is more likely to suffer from premature aging or might become very difficult to restart after stopping for too long. Idleness is terrible for many things, including watches too.

How To Know If My Watch Is Running Out Of Battery?

To tell if your watch is running out of battery, observe if the watch is keeping time well. If it consistently loses accuracy, it’s time to change the battery. You can also observe the second hand. If it ticks inconsistently or ticks every two seconds, you should change the battery. 

For automatic watches, usually, you can roughly tell if they will run out of power. You do this by calculating backward from when the watch was placed down and not wound. 

Some automatic watches also have a power reserve indicator on the dial that we can look at and quickly tell if it’s the time to wind the watch or not. 

For quartz, you might not have a clear indicator. In many cases, people simply wear their watch until the watch’s hands stop moving. Then they will take it to a watchmaker to change the battery and continue wearing it.

The problem with this approach is the uncertainty. Once you reach the three-year mark, for example, you know your watch will stop at some point, but you do not know when. 

Every day you anticipate that, and you worry that it might happen at the wrong time. 

Fortunately, there are several tell-tale signs of your quartz watch running out of battery. First, your watch may not be keeping time well. Suppose you notice your watch has been consistently behind or ahead of time after several adjustments. In that case, it is a sign that the battery is due for replacement. 

Another is to observe the movement of the second hand. If it does not operate at a consistent tick or ticks once every two seconds, that could signify the watch is in limp mode and needs a battery replacement soon. 

Finally, just check the watch for indication of the battery change date. You could find that on the documents that come with the watch, or it could be stamped right on the watch’s caseback. Not all watchmakers do this, but Citizen does, making our lives much easier. 

How Much Does It Cost To Change Citizen Watches’ Battery?

A battery replacement for Citizen watches should cost around $10 – $45, depending on location and battery type. For more high-end watches with hybrid quartz or chronograph movement, the cost may be $65 – $95. This price includes the battery itself and the labor.

Battery replacement should not take long, as the process can be completed quickly, often within a few minutes. 

The watchmaker will first observe the dial to see if signs of battery needing replacement. He will then open up the caseback to reveal the movement.

Once opened, the watchmaker will use tools to eject the button cell battery from its holder and take note of the battery’s shape and size. 

Most button cell batteries are round in shape and carry a series of letters and numbers to indicate their type, diameter, and height. 

Do Citizen Watches Have Batteries

For example, on a button cell battery that prints’ CR2032′:

  • CR means a non-rechargeable lithium battery. 
  • The first two digits (20) denote a 20mm diameter battery
  • The final two digits (32) denote a height of 3.2mm.

The watchmaker will then find a new battery of a similar type and install it back into your watch. 

Your watch should be ticking along nicely and running well by this time. The watchmaker will observe the movement to confirm this before closing the caseback. He will also reset the time on your watch before handing it back to you. 

Suppose the watch is still not running smoothly after battery replacement. In that case, you might have a bigger problem with your watch that needs further servicing. 

Can I Change A Quartz Watch Battery Myself?

You can change a quartz watch’s battery, provided with the right tools. You will need a watch repair kit to open the caseback and remove and reinstall the button cell battery. You also need some silicone grease to lubricate the gasket to help maintain the water-resistance of your watch.

Do Citizen Watches Have Batteries

Depending on the type of caseback you have for your watch, you may need different tools. A watch repair kit should have everything you need.

If your caseback is secured with screws, you just need a watch to remove the screws, and you can then open the caseback. 

If your watch’s caseback has a screw-down case, you will need a caseback opener. A caseback opener locks itself to the grooves on the caseback. It uses them as an anchor to slowly twist open the caseback. 

You might need a tweezer to remove the button cell battery from the movement. It is advisable not to use your fingers as you might introduce static electricity into the movement and leave fingerprints on the movement. 

Also, avoid using steel tweezers as they might scratch your watch movement. Wooden or plastic tweezers would do well in this situation.

Once you have replaced the battery, observe and confirm that your watch is not running well and properly. Then take out the gasket, put it into a silicone grease box and apply grease. 

This will keep the gasket soft, which will better protect your watch from water or moisture entering it. 

Place the gasket back to its original position, reinstall the caseback, adjust the time, and you are done. 

Nigel Ignatius

Nigel is the principal creator of WatchPursuits.com, a website dedicated to watches. Inspired by the dedication and effort of watchmakers now and old, Nigel has a passion for watches and looks forward to share his passion with the world.

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