I brought my Rapide Quartz Chronograph to my local Watchmaker for a battery change. I heard them saying it had an unusual back. After the battery was replaced, I saw him use needle nose pliers to screw the back onto the case. After wearing the watch for a brief time, I noticed the back was loose enough to make sounds when the watch moved on my wrist.

This Watchmaker specializes in watch restoration, so I have had confidence in them.

Should I bring the watch back to them or try a different jeweler.

Thanks!

Needle nose pliers for that case back at a jewellers? That's not a great sign as that is also not that an unusual back.

I've got the tools myself, they weren't expensive. If you go back I'd ask if he has the correct tools to tighten it properly. If not either buy the tools yourself or find somewhere else.

I would run far away from this person and never let them handle a watch of mine again.

Seriously, a watch restoration specialist that doesn't have proper equipment and calls this an unusual case back is not someone I would trust for anything.

This type caseback has been used since the 1950's, at least. Many manufactures used to provide a special wrench that fit their brand but universal removers have been available since the 1960's.

Was that deep scratch on the caseback, on the 'SWISS MADE' text there before?

Also, no, don't use them again!

Chippytea wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 12:32 pm Was that deep scratch on the caseback, on the 'SWISS MADE' text there before?

Also, no, don't use them again!

I never noticed it.

Thanks for pointing it out

I’ve used a local Timpson (a high street key cutter, watch battery replacement etc shop in the UK) for my battery replacements. Timpson are nothing fancy but never had a complaint or issue about the back on my previously owned quartz C7 Rapide, C70’s, and C8 Flyer, or my (still owned) C12. Only issue many years ago when I went in with my first C70 was that the chap hadn’t heard of CW so had to look it up to check he could do it!

I’m not an expert so will defer to other comments about how straightforward this should be.

PGR101 wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 12:46 pm I’ve used a local Timpson (a high street key cutter, watch battery replacement etc shop in the UK) for my battery replacements. Timpson are nothing fancy but never had a complaint or issue about the back on my previously owned quartz C7 Rapide, C70’s, and C8 Flyer, or my (still owned) C12. Only issue many years ago when I went in with my first C70 was that the chap hadn’t heard of CW so had to look it up to check he could do it!

I’m not an expert so will defer to other comments about how straightforward this should be.

As a company, Timpson have a policy of recruiting staff who have an offending background and have sent time inside. I think that's an admirable thing to do and from a customer point of view you're going to be dealing with someone who has been through a corporately provided skill training course. I'd rather give my business to a bloke who wants to learn than to the high street jewellery/watch sales outlet where the focus might be on sales figures, targets and commission.

I've found that amost 100% of jewelers in my area offering restoration work (basically anything beyond a battery replacement or strap change) on watches will outsource the job to a proper watchmaker and charge a premium.

But wait... this guy is a watchmaker?...

Why use needle nose pliers instead of a proper watch caseback opener with the correct bit to match the indents?

There really isn't an excuse for someone that gets paid to work on watches to use needle nose pliers on a caseback. Like Kip noted, this isn't an unusual caseback & this style has been around for a long time. I wouldn't trust this person with any of my watches. Things can & do happen. I remember taking one of my watches to my local jeweler/watch repair shop to replace a battery. Unfortunately, I drew a new hire rather than the one of two experienced fellas that have worked in the shop for years. I figured that it was a simple job replacing a battery, so I didn't insist on someone else. As I was watching, I knew it wasn't a good sign when that person stopped & started looking around on the floor. Fortunately for me, one of the other guys checked to see what was the problem & took over. I knew immediately the problem was that a tiny screw had fallen out on the floor. Experience matters along with taking an ounce of prevention. As my experienced watch person explained with a smile, you don't take a watch apart over a hard counter without using a tray. He used a magnet to find the tiny screw that was almost impossible to see on the floor material. My point being good watch people know what steps to take & using needle nose pliers to replace & tighten a caseback isn't one of them!

Delmar

A needle-nose pliers to remove/replace a case back? Don't go back there. But you might want to think about finding a good watchmaker to check the condition of the waterproofing seal.

Is it a scratch across where it says Swiss Made?

The proper tools of good quality may cost more but even an inexpensive tool set from Amazon (about 30 USD) would be better than using the needle nose pliers. The case wrench is highly adjustable for a proper fit.

That scratch is typical of what can happen when the wrong tool is used to open a case back. Notice the anticlockwise direction from the slot outwards.