So, how DO you get the back off the new Aquaracer?

Aquagraph

Well. Its not just the Kirium... maybe I just need a better clamp...

Aquagraph

I've asked this several times and no one has given me an answer, but today I managed to find out. I would say anyone care to guess but since some people have the new model already I'm guessing they already know.

So on closer inspection the back has no lugs because the back does not come off the watch! The back is part of the case, this is how they've managed to get the helmet perfectly straight. The movement is accessed through the front of the watch, you take the bezel off and then remove the whole movement to get at it. Interestingly it was suggested that this will be the same for quartz models when they arrive, which means watches will have to go back to TAG for battery changes - unless you feel brave?

I wonder if the fakers will still give it a regular screw down back?

T Tim8888

To change battery, 1/ remove bezel (I found best to push my thumbnails behind bezel while turning); 2/ lift out the thin uni-direction ring under the bezel to expose 6 screws; 3/ use 1mm screwdriver to remove screws to release back; 4/ with back open, battery is exposed under a small contacts ring. Change battery, de-dust, then reassemble in reverse being uber careful to maintain in position the sealing O-ring that fits into a groove in the back. There is no need to remove mechanism from case. Hope this helps.

U usamee

Hi, thanks for this advice. I have the new aquaracer and am planning to buy a bezel removal tool to change the battery myself. There is a cheaper version of the tool, and a more expensive one by Bergeon that I was considering, so I was intrigued that you managed to remove the bezel without a tool. Was curious to find out how difficult it was to do this manually using fingernails, roughly how much force did it take? I trying to find out as much info on this as possible before attempting to remove my watch bezel just to ensure I do it right as I was very worried about warping or distorting the bezel.

T Tim8888

I bought tools on amazon but found them useless - basically hard plastic levers. I then saw somewhere on line a short You-tube of someone removing a bezel from a different watch and so tried that.... and it worked. You do need a hard thumb-nail, a very tight grip (non-greasy fingers), and a very firm squeeze if the thumb. I pushed my thumb nail hard into the grove behind the bezel, and turn the bezel slowly (in the right direction) until it popped off. The Aquaracer I have has a good solid steel bezel and I wouldn't have thought if could be so easily distorted. I do think better to do by hand than risk using sharp tools - much easier to judge the force you are using. In the end I've now done it 3 times - the first 2 times I didn't see the screws that are hidden by a thin uni-direction ring that sits under the bezel that needs to be very carefully lifted off.
I'll look for the You tube clip I found and try to post it.

U usamee

Thanks, very useful to know. To clarify, this is my aquaracer:
https://www.tagheuer.com/gb/en/time...er-aquaracer/40-mm-quartz/CBP1113.BA0627.html

and this is the cheap tool I saw:
https://www.hswalsh.com/product/watch-bezel-remover-hb102024

and this is the more expensive tool I was considering (but will need larger insert for it so may cost extra). Looks more effective than the cheaper one as it has a lip which gets forced under the bezel to lift it when the tool is squeezed, whereas cheaper one seems to not have a lip so will require more compression and lifting force:
https://www.hswalsh.com/product/watch-bezel-extractor-30mm-bergeon-7052-30-hb7052-30

from the research I did, the main point of the tool is to apply even lifting force all over the bezel to ensure no distortion. Was it either one of these tools you tried?