$25 Watch Repair Kit: What Worked, What Didn’t

If your watch stops or doesn’t fit right, a cheap kit can save the trip to the jeweler—but only if the tools actually work.

What you’ll get: quick wins for battery swaps, bracelet sizing, and O-ring replacement, plus where budget tools fall short.

First wins: battery swaps

A thin caseback pry tool worked on small case backs, while a thicker pry tool didn’t bite on ladies’ watches. Keep a steady hand and remove the plastic movement cover with tweezers before dropping in the cell. If the watch starts ticking, you’re done—don’t overwork tiny parts.

Practical tip: inspect the caseback O-ring as soon as it’s off. If it’s intact and supple, leave it. If cracked or missing, plan to replace it after the battery.

Bracelet sizing: arrows matter

For link pins with arrows, remove the pin in the direction of the arrow. A screw-style pin pusher with lots of slop struggled and bent, so a simple pin-and-hammer approach finished the job. Expect friction-fit pins to need solid support under the link and light, square strikes.

Warning: cheap pushers can bend or snap. Back up the bracelet properly and work slowly so you don’t mushroom the pin or mar the links.

O-rings: fit first, not force

An assorted pack with one thickness required trial sizing. Start near the measured diameter and adjust up or down until the gasket seats without stretching. Once the new O-ring is in, press the caseback evenly—finger pressure first, then controlled pressure from a case holder if needed.

Tip: a fresh O-ring won’t make a watch dive-ready, but it helps with hand-washing and splash resistance.

What the kit got right—and wrong

Worked: thin caseback pry tool, tweezers, small hammer with pin set (after the screw pusher failed). These handled basic battery swaps and a single link removal.

Struggled: thick pry tool on small cases, sloppy screw pin pusher, a rough-feeling caseback wrench that wasn’t needed here. Expect compromises in feel and durability across the board.

Bottom line: this budget kit can handle occasional battery replacements, simple bracelet adjustments, and basic gasket swaps. If you’re doing this more than once a year, upgrade individual tools—especially the pin pusher and precision drivers—for less frustration and cleaner results.