[theThinker202 (OP)]

I have had several watches of different makes through the years that were powered by a battery but within a week of putting them on, the battery acts as if all the charge is gone and it stops functioning. It doesn't matter if the watch had a vinyl, leather, or metal band, or what type of rear cover the watch had. I have replaced battery after battery in the hopes that it was just a fluke, but even those new batteries did the same thing. I have had to use a winded pocket watch or use my celllphone my entire life. I was told that my grandfather suffered the same problem and that he had a high level of iron in his system. Is that the caiuse>? Surely there is someone else that has the same problem. I am asking you ahead of time, please don't insult my intelligence with some of the answers I have seen in a topic like this in the past. I have an educated history, good common sense, was a business owner/operator, and worked for a Sheriff Office. SO with that in mind, please offer some good suggestions please?

[alancalverd]

If  the  cellphone charge duration is normal, then the problem lies with your wrist environment. Sweaty wrists, or failure to remove a cheap watch before washing the dishes, bathing the dog, working on a trawler, or scrubbing up, can corrode the battery contacts. Judging from your extensive  career and life experience, I find it unlikely that your grandfather had many  battery-operated watches as they did not exist before 1960.

In a spirit of scientific enquiry, you could invest in a solar-recharged watch. Accurist  and Citizen make reasonably-priced "eco-drive" watches that are well sealed against the usual insults (mine regularly cycles up to 15,000 ft and I will admit to some sweaty moments) and never need to be opened - the one I am wearing now has run continuously for over 10 years. As a control, you could wear a self-winding mechanical watch on the other wrist, and see which one fails first.

[Bored chemist]

please offer some good suggestions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

[wolfekeeper]

These battery watches, let me guess, they weren't the best quality???

Otherwise you could have returned them under warrantee, and got a replacement. Good-quality watches with good quality batteries fitted by jewellers don't do that.

[evan_au]

A high level of iron (eg from haemochromatosis) will not affect battery lifetime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_overload

Could you have fitted an expensive zinc-air battery (usually used in hearing aids) inside a sealed watch?
- No air=no power

[theThinker202 (OP)]

   I feel as if I have committed a 'sin' by not fully describing to the nth detail of the issue I am referring to. All of you have given valid and appreciated answers or suggestions, but now I am taxing your brains even further, I'm afraid.
   First item is, that watches, in my family, are luxery jewelry pieces that should be taken care of and used appropriately. I do not believe a watch should be a 9mm slug, but a delicate timepiece. The one's given to me over the years were quality gifts. Not a timex or 'made in taiwan' piece of plastic. All of them that I received, I endeavored to replace the battery a few times, and there were no 'air' batteries back then. (At least none that I had heard of as I had just spent $2000.00 on a dual 250mb hard drive custom pc that was top of the line at the time and assembled it myself.) At the time I had started a construction company and was also a part of the work force with my men and there was NO way I would be wearing a watch in a rough sweaty environment like that.
Thanks for the reply about the iron in the blood. I have been curious about that for a long time. As far as the psychological reply, well... I dislike psychology only because the few psychologists I have met have seemed to go out of their way to be distant and aloof with a look of stabbing in the back, however, in this matter, I have not jumped to any conclusions as to 'why' I am unable to wear watches due to a perfectly good battery draining down in the length of a week. (yes, I have timed it.) The cell phones, I have determined, are keeping a charge due to being in my outer sheath for it, which is also the thickness of a belt away from my skin. I haven't done any other experiments on that. I need my cell phone for emergencies as I have a history of minor seizures.
I DO apologise for this lack of information from the start. Please forgive me.

[theThinker202 (OP)]

Should it make any difference that, if I wear any gold jewelry, my skin turns black and the gold piece starts to get smaller and gain a 'dimpled' surface? 
   I am considering building a Sundial watch and eliminating the whole battery issue all together. That would be a conversation starter, wouldn't it !? If I bought a Solar watch, my fear is that the sun would be drained of it's charge in a week as well !
I will never be accused of not having a sense of humor.

[wolfekeeper]

Look, all you have to do is take the watch to a jeweller, get them to fit a new battery. If/when it stops in a week or two, take it back to the jeweller, they will fix it for you, and explain to you why it's happening.

Iron in blood or your body magically stopping watches is not a thing. Sticky bearings or bad batteries, or leaving a trail of sweat across the battery when you fit it will drain it, or a seal on the watch failing and letting in water or sweat, IS a thing. Or if you work with really strong magnets, that can stop them too, but that's rare.

[chiralSPO]

Should it make any difference that, if I wear any gold jewelry, my skin turns black and the gold piece starts to get smaller and gain a 'dimpled' surface?

Perhaps people think you are gullible and are routinely ripping you off? High purity gold should not leave a mark on you and won't be corroded by any bodily secretions—you can swallow a small piece of gold (not recommended, other than the gold leaf suspended in beverage such as Goldschlager) and even the acid in your stomach won't do any harm to it whatsoever.

Gold alloys less than 18 karat might leave a dark mark, but shouldn't visibly corrode, but other alloys like brass (which contains no gold), on the other hand can certainly leave dark colored residues on the skin, and could potentially corrode fairly quickly as well.

https://www.fashionlady.in/why-does-your-jewellery-leave-black-and-green-marks-on-the-skin/36450

If you are getting the watches and batteries from the same source that you get your corroding "gold" jewelry, it might be worth looking elsewhere...

If, however, you are certain that you are not getting ripped off, then the fact that you get marks from jewelry lends credence to the notion that your sweat is either more abundant or more corrosive than the typical individual...

[alancalverd]

The only common chemicals that attack gold at body temperature are "aqua regia", a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric and nitric acids, and mercury, which forms an amalgam used in mining and metal recycling.

If your sweat rots a gold watch, you would be wise not to travel by air - it is illegal to import aqua regia or mercury into the passenger compartment.

If anything other than aqua regia or mercury attacks your gold watch, ask the Fraud Squad or the local Trading Standards Office to visit your jeweller.

[wolfekeeper]

To be fair to him, the lower carats of gold do corrode somewhat, and even 24 carat gold can rub off and create a black mark, if there's anything abrasive on the skin (some cosmetics do that for example). It would be worth checking the hallmarks.

[theThinker202 (OP)]

Look, all you have to do is take the watch to a jeweller, get them to fit a new battery. If/when it stops in a week or two, take it back to the jeweller, they will fix it for you, and explain to you why it's happening.

Iron in blood or your body magically stopping watches is not a thing. Sticky bearings or bad batteries, or leaving a trail of sweat across the battery when you fit it will drain it, or a seal on the watch failing and letting in water or sweat, IS a thing. Or if you work with really strong magnets, that can stop them too, but that's rare.

Surely you would believe that I have done this remedy you prescribe. The jewelers and watch builders have no answer for me. They have no idea why thiis happens and have asked that if I find out why to contact them. If I had been an average Joe, this would be a great idea and I would not be asking such a mundane question.
Peace brother.

[theThinker202 (OP)]

Should it make any difference that, if I wear any gold jewelry, my skin turns black and the gold piece starts to get smaller and gain a 'dimpled' surface?

Perhaps people think you are gullible and are routinely ripping you off? High purity gold should not leave a mark on you and won't be corroded by any bodily secretions—you can swallow a small piece of gold (not recommended, other than the gold leaf suspended in beverage such as Goldschlager) and even the acid in your stomach won't do any harm to it whatsoever.

Gold alloys less than 18 karat might leave a dark mark, but shouldn't visibly corrode, but other alloys like brass (which contains no gold), on the other hand can certainly leave dark colored residues on the skin, and could potentially corrode fairly quickly as well.

newbielink:https://www.fashionlady.in/why-does-your-jewellery-leave-black-and-green-marks-on-the-skin/36450 [nonactive]

If you are getting the watches and batteries from the same source that you get your corroding "gold" jewelry, it might be worth looking elsewhere...

If, however, you are certain that you are not getting ripped off, then the fact that you get marks from jewelry lends credence to the notion that your sweat is either more abundant or more corrosive than the typical individual...

Afraid not, my friend. All jewelry I buy is brought to an inspector right after purchase, and I warn the seller of this, should they consider the cost that would be required of them if the piece was not of the quality advertised. One does NOT sell me trash. I will not go deeper into this subject. It wouldn't be wise, not for you, but for me.
That would be a slightly comical idea though.... I must be a corrosive individual. ;-)

[theThinker202 (OP)]

To be fair to him, the lower carats of gold do corrode somewhat, and even 24 carat gold can rub off and create a black mark, if there's anything abrasive on the skin (some cosmetics do that for example). It would be worth checking the hallmarks.

I am glad you added this. I had a 24 carat gold thick chain bracelet that was beautiful to me. I would only wear it for special occasions.
Even it turned my lower arm black and started whithering away with a pock marked suface that was embarassing and sad. I ended up selling the gold that was left.
I feel, as if, the great minds here are starting to narrow down the causes and will have an epiphany soon. Although the gold is really not the question. The watch battery longevity is the actual question, unless they go hand in hand for other materials than gold. ie: Silver and Plastic type watch back covers that don't leave my skin black or pock mark the surface. It has been suggested that I try the "Air type" of battery that is used in hearing aides to see if that makes a difference. I will do that soon.

[evan_au]

It has been suggested that I try the "Air type" of battery that is used in hearing aides to see if that makes a difference. I will do that soon.

I think I have been misunderstood...
I do not recommend zinc-air batteries for a sealed watch. Once opened, these batteries have a very limited life (around a week).

I was wondering if you had made the mistake of using a zinc-air battery in a watch?

Could you have fitted an expensive zinc-air battery (usually used in hearing aids) inside a sealed watch?
- No air=no power

[SandlerSmith]

My watch battery lasts only one month and after every month i have to visit watch repair shop for doing watch battery replacement. Any suggestions for a new watch that has a good battery life span.

[Halc]

Any suggestions for a new watch that has a good battery life span.

I wear one with an automatic movement. No battery to replace. They run off your arm movement.

[Bored chemist]

I had a 24 carat gold thick chain bracelet that was beautiful to me. I would only wear it for special occasions.
Even it turned my lower arm black and started whithering away with a pock marked suface that was embarassing and sad. I ended up selling the gold that was left.

How much did you get for this "24 Ct gold"?

[jfoldbar]

im no scientist or doctor, but i reckon people who say "this simply doesnt happen" are assuming that we are all the same. what they mean is "it doesnt usually happen therefore it must be impossible"
i have personally met a guy with this same problem, he just went for wind up watches. i met someone once who has to change light bulbs in her house every month. myself, i can not go in an MRI machine. who knows why, we are just all different.
my hypothesis is the cells in your body 'fire' slightly different. probably nothing you can do about it given our current technology.
have you ever tried to determine if distance from your  body is a factor? what if the watch is in your pocket instead of wrist. what about something like rubber or lead between you and the watch?

[Colin2B]

i can not go in an MRI machine. who knows why,

What symptoms do you get? Why are the MRI team not investigating?
If this is true it needs thorough investigation and would be a major piece of research, I’m amazed no one has written it up.