Keep a small storage container nearby to hold the screws and watch back as you work. You can buy screwdrivers and other watch back removal tools online. Some hardware or general stores may also carry the tools from time to time.
If your watch back is stubborn, try striking the back end of the blade with a rubber mallet to force the watch parts to separate. To replace this type of back, line up the notch halves on the side of the watch. Press down on the cover to snap it in place.
Another option is to use a Jaxa wrench or case wrench. These tools have multiple prongs that grip the grooves on the watch back. Use them for stubborn backs you can’t remove with a ball. A few watch models have a ring of ridges like the edge of a coin instead of 6 grooves. Use a ball or a wrench as you normally would. This type of cover tends to be a little more stubborn, so be persistent. Replace the cover by twisting it clockwise until the grooves align and the cover locks into place.
If you’re uncertain about which screw is which, try pulling the stem. When you move the steam, the bolt screw also moves a little. Push and pull the stem a few times until you’re certain.
The screw can be removed if you keep turning it, but it is a pain to put back. You have to remove the front part of the case and the watch’s hands to fit it properly.
Twist the screw a little bit at a time, testing it by attempting to remove it. This is helpful to avoid loosening the screw too much.
If you tighten the screw before fitting the stem correctly, you may crush it and damage the watch. Adjust the stem’s positioning to situate it in its slot. Don’t give up as soon as the screw resists turning.
Double-check the cover for an indentation to push. Most, but not all, push-in watches have some sort of mark to help you remove the stem without damaging it.
Sometimes the dimple you need to press to release the stem is on the bolt spring, so if you don’t see it on the back of the watch, look there.
Be gentle with the spring. Pushing it down too hard may cause it to come loose. If that happens, you have to take apart the dial and hands to repair it.
On some models, the spring locks as soon as you push down on it, so you don’t have to hold it in place the entire time. Usually, if the watch has an indentation, you need to maintain pressure on it to get the stem out.
Be careful when moving and locking the stem to avoid bending it. Never force it in. Also, avoid snapping the spring lock into place unless the stem fits comfortably in the slot.
