Korean Job Discussion Forums

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

My genuine Swiss Army Watch battery died after 5 years of use. I went to a Korean jeweler to have it replaced. Worked ok for 1 month and then died again. This has happened to me in Korea every time I buy a small battery for a watch or heart rate monitor or calculator. Anyone else have this experience?

Bailsibub · Joined: 22 Dec 2006

Yeah dude, I had the same deal. I got one for my sports watch and it lasted like 3 or 4 months. My dress-watch battery is still holding strong (had it changed in the US right before I came last year).

I think I'll be heading to Walmart when I get back home this vacation.

Damn, 5 years is pretty good for a watch battery.

Korea Sparkling!

aaabank · Joined: 27 Feb 2007

I had my watch battery replaced at a jeweler in the Bangbae area and it's still working 18 months later.
Just the luck of the draw on these sorts of things.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

I think this is the case not just with watch batteries, but ALL batteries from Korea.

MarionG · Joined: 14 Sep 2006

Batteries also have a "life." If the battery has been sitting around in the jewelers for two years before it's put in your watch, it's already old. So, luck of the draw...

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

I have seven watches, only one of which takes a battery. The rest are automatics - like kinetic in that your arm movements wind them. The only problem with that is if you don't own a watch winder, you have to keep setting the watch every time you decide you're going to change watches. Watch winders cost a lot of money. Anyway, the one battery operated watch I have is a Seiko, and I've only changed the battery once in 9 years. I'm due for a new battery, but I'm pretty sure I'll be ordering one from Seiko online instead of getting here in Korea after reading this news...thanks for the info.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Ethan Allen Hawley · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

I think i remember hearing once - correct me if i'm wrong or confirm if you heard likewise - that when the battery is put into your watch or whatever, to maximise the life of that battery, it should not be touched by the human hand/ finger.

Could this be right?

(I was just thinking about all this too cos i got my battery replaced last week. It lasted only about a year, although I have used the alarm a fair bit since then.)

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

Funny, my Tag Heuer is still going fine on its 2nd battery (replaced in Korea 3 years ago.

I only go to an authorized dealer though.

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

Don't get a battery change in Korea if you can help it.

It will only last 3 months and the jeweller will claim that your watch's internals are responsible.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Don't buy "Rocket" brand batteries, either.

They work less than half as long as Energizer, but cost nearly the same.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Definitely noticed it. 2 years ago. I bought a new battery a couple of times for my Timex and it ran out each time after about a month. Also, the strap kept breaking. They'd fix it with a pin and it would break again.

Korea = bad service. Try to get them to adjust your glasses. Bunch of weetads. They dont' even look at them on your face. They take them from you and bring them out back and say, "Ok. Done." I don't fkg think so, pal. Look! They're still fkg crooked.