My $300 two year old watch stopped, and I went to get the battery changed where I bought it.

[NNadir]

I was informed at the store that it would need to be sent out if I wanted it fixed for a battery replacement but the problem was easily addressed by leaving it in the sunlight for 10 days.

I had no idea of this, but it appears that it's solar powered; the watch face is a solar cell.

I wear long sleeved shirts at my job.

This explains why it would seem to restart and then fail.

This sort of thing is in store for the entire planet, by the way, but don't worry, be happy.

[spooky3]

1. I was surprised when I had a similar experience. Was advised to put it

On a sunny windowsill after taking it off or wearing a different watch daily. That has worked well.

[NNadir]

2. That is the crux of the real problem. Solar powered stuff requires redundancy.

This is OT in the Lounge, but this requirement for redundancy has a lot to do with the collapse of the planetary atmosphere.

[jpak]

27. Get a nuclear powered watch

Problem solved

[TwilightZone]

3. Would you prefer to have to replace a battery every couple of years?

If your concern is about the planet, using solar-powered cells instead of batteries that require replacement would seem to be a positive thing.

[getagrip_already]

5. it's a silly use case for a watch....

Not everyone is in the sun 10 hours a day. Certainly not every one who wears a $300 watch.

Indoor lighting is not enough to charge even a watch.

Just dumb engineering driven by marketing.

You want green? Use a spring wound watch. Your fingers are magical energy.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. And how much energy is required to wind a watch?

Please give answer in millidonuts or equivalent per full wind.

[dickthegrouch]

12. Millidonuts!

[getagrip_already]

13. Seriously? It probably took you more milidonuts to post that...

Than to wind a watch.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. Are we talking about the kind with the Pepto-Bismol coating?

Because now we’re down in the microdonut range.

[getagrip_already]

16. And sprinkles..... nt

[Easterncedar]

17. My solar watch has been good for 4 years now

I’m inside most of the time, never leave it on a windowsill or think about it at all. It just keeps going. Mind you, it wasn’t close to 300 bucks. Like half that. It’s a Seiko.

[NNadir]

9. I am very concerned for the planet and used to write about it here quite a bit.

Most of my writing in the science forum here is connected with climate change.

My concern is very much connected with my very negative view of solar cells in general.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Solar batteries like that are supposed to last 40+years

They are rather expensive to replace, like $75 AND UP

[Ptah]

6. They still make mechanical watches.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. I got a self-winding watch years ago that worked well.

It's still tucked away in a drawer waiting for a good cleaning but I haven't worn a watch in 15 years.

[getagrip_already]

14. I got a kick out of my discovery that they sell

Metronomes designed to wind self winding watches you don't wear much, or don't wear actively enough.

It's always something.....

[codfisherman]

10. Read the instructions

Haven't worn a watch since eighth grade. Time seems to have gotten along nicely without me being worried about it.

[NNadir]

11. That luxury is appealing of course, but it's not my life now. There was a point in my life where I referred to...

...to the watches as "manacles of time," which, in fact, they still are.

[Easterncedar]

18. I like wearing a watch

And getting a print newspaper.

And paying in cash.

I’m positively 19th century.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. I Do Too

I've got 2 really good ones, and a couple moderately priced watches.
I wear one everywhere I go. I take it off to play golf & to sleep.
It's utilitarian jewelry in my mind

[Chainfire]

38. I am ever worse. Since I retired, I no longer wear a watch or carry a phone around.

There is a smart phone on the shelf above my keyboard, but the battery has been dead for a week. If I need to make a call, I have to charge it. People have learned that if they need to contact me, leave an email and I will usually see it within a few days.

[codfisherman]

23. Not wearing a watch

Can't help but think that the Constitution does recognize our right to bare arms. And for what it's worth, I enjoy (but mostly skim) and generally agree with your posts on nuclear energy.

[NNadir]

29. Well, if I'd bought a plutonium powered watch with an old pacemaker battery they used in the 1960's and 70's...

...the watch would have ran as long as the Voyager spacecraft has been running on the same kind of battery, long irrespective of how long it was in the dark.

Voyager has been running nearly half a century, and never needs winding.

[Ponietz]

36. "bare arms" -- well done

[Conjuay]

19. Aren't self winding watches available?

I still want one of those.

[Wonder Why]

21. My $10 watch had an easily replaceable battery. Guess I missed out. 😀

[Stuart G]

22. AREN'T THERE ENOUGH CLOCKS ? WHEN YOUR ON THE INTERNET, THERE IS A CLOCK ON THE COMPUTER.!

OR ...............am I making this up?

[Owl]

24. My solar powered Casio watch battery lasts for weeks.

[SouthernDem4ever]

25. I went to get a battery replaced in mine

The jeweler told me it was self-winding and to just wave my arms around once in a while.

[True Dough]

26. If you do it

fast enough, you'll get the added bonus of taking flight!

[SouthernDem4ever]

28. LOL

[The Wizard]

30. Seiko entry level automatic movements

when new, last about 15 years before needing service. They're available on Ebay, preowned for 30 to 60 dollars. Look at the back of the watch. If the numbers are worn smooth the watch is most likely worn out.

[Emile]

31. I stopped wearing a watch, I use my phone.

[doc03]

32. I have a Citizen Eco-drive watch I bought in 2011, It has never stopped running. I was told when the

battery needs replaced it had to be sent out to replace. But after 13 years it is still running on the original battery.

[NNadir]

33. This watch is also a Citizen. Mine stopped after two years.

It's now sitting uselessly on a window sill collecting sunlight. It seems to be running again.

[doc03]

37. I bought mine from JC Penney March 20, 2011 it was on sale for $195. Yea I

keep receipts for stuff I probably bought 50 years ago. Living in Ohio I wear long sleeve shirts
in the winter and how often is the sun out here. Always runs.

[Goonch]

34. 👇👇👇👁️👁️

Leave mine on window sill. Love this watch!

[JohnnyRingo]

35. Your watch is telling you...

...you need to get out more. haha

[FakeNoose]

39. When you bought it they probably gave you a nice box with a thumbnail-tiny sheet of instructions

The instructions were printed in 3 languages, and you needed a powerful magnifying glass to even see them.
How many of us ever bothered? LOLOL!