Timex does not ship its watches with detailed instructions on how to open them. This is because opening a Timex watch by yourself voids its warranty, and it is a fairly delicate process. If you attempt this yourself, take extreme care. You should also note that some types of Timex watches can only be opened using heavy-duty equipment that is exclusive to Timex and its manufacturing and repair centers. The following instructions will help you determine what kind of opening mechanism your Timex has and, if it's possible, how to open it.

Take a close look at the back of your Timex watch. Look for small screws holding the back plate in place or small notches along the edge of the back plate. You may see either or neither of these; if you see neither, that means your watch has been sealed with a screw press and can only be serviced by the manufacturer. If this is the case, skip to Step 4.

Loosen and remove any screws holding the back plate in place using a small Philips head screwdriver.

Remove the back plate by prying it up with a small flat head screwdriver. You must insert the tip of the screwdriver in one of the small notches around the back plate's seal and twist the blade to pop it open. If there are notches on opposite sides of the back plate, you can loosen the plate on one side and pop it completely off on the other.

Contact Timex's repair center for further instructions if you have a screw press sealed watch or if you have trouble opening other styles of watches. A link to Timex's repair information can be found in the Resources section.