Got water in my watch case

T

thatotherguy

Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Messages
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and I now have a fogged up crystal. The watch still works just fine, and I'm not really in a position to relace it right now, so how should I be able to get it out? (aside from taking off the caseback and removing the movement)
Would taking off the caseback and putting it on a dehumidifier work?
 
Unscrew the dial(s), stand it on its side with the dial(s) upward and leave it in the sun for a day or so until the fogging is gone. Repeat if necessary.
 
I would take the caseback off and use a blow drier. After that, figure out how the water got in... perhaps your caseback seal is bad.
 
I have a feeling that the crown got spun and maybe pulled out a little while I was washing my hands or something this morning. I have the crown pulled out and the watch in front of a window for now to see if that works. If it doesn't I'll take the caseback off, blowdry it and take a look. Thanks!
 
I'm a fan of the rice in ziplock bag solution. Also a watch dealer would be able to fix it.

The only watch I had that problem with, it ended up being the caseback was deteriorated to the the point that it no longer sealed. It was a luminox and there was nothing to be done with it...
 
Thank you PGeo00!
I now have a dry clear crystal thanks to a blowdrier, a Wenger nail file (tip works as a caseback tool) and your advice!
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
 
thatotherguy said:
Thank you PGeo00!
I now have a dry clear crystal thanks to a blowdrier, a Wenger nail file (tip works as a caseback tool) and your advice!
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
Click to expand...

Thats great! I would have thought for sure a blow dryer would just move the water around... I'll try that next time.
 
Just take the caseback off and blowdry it from the back. Take it slow, don't wanna overheat anything, and if you are going to pick it up to check your progress, wear insulated gloves. The case and movement will get pretty hot.
Keep in mind that in this case I just had a fogged crystal, don't know what it'll do with a lot of water.
 
Cool :thumbup: Also works on cell phones if you accidently leave it in your pants and throw it in the washing machine :eek:
 
If its a mechanical watch movement....the steel parts will still rust and it will eventually fail and be very costly. if its a quartz and still runs you got lucky.

its gaskets protecting these parts into the case that fail.... gaskets for all the entry parts in a watch case. things like the casebacks or crowns or pushers or crystals gaskets that fail. its the rubber gaskets that dry out and fail. if one wants to keep their watch water resistance the gaskets have to be replaced every 2 to 5 years, and the watch tested for water resistance.

if its a mechanical, take your watch to a quality watchmaker with wostep or rolex factory trained or equivalent training...... or send it in for service to the factory. that is if it's a nice one or one you want to keep around for a long time. if it's a quartz and it's still running you should be fine with these other quicky ideas.

mind you once you take of the caseback the gasket is compromised.

never ever ever take a quality watch of any kind to a jeweler, unless this jeweler is also trained in watchmaking and has the certifications hanging on the wall to prove it. jewelers are trained in making jewelry, not watches.
 
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+1 for this. dry rice really works wonders for getting water out of watches or in my case most often... phones.

sirahren said:
I'm a fan of the rice in ziplock bag solution. Also a watch dealer would be able to fix it.

The only watch I had that problem with, it ended up being the caseback was deteriorated to the the point that it no longer sealed. It was a luminox and there was nothing to be done with it...
Click to expand...
 
Take it to a jeweler who has a desicator. They can also redo the seals for you so this doesn't happen again.
 
Get a new watch.

I suggest something rated to 200m with a screw down crown.
 
it's a cheap Timex quartz. The only thing that doesn't work is the Indiglo.
It will never see water again.
I will eventually replace it, probably with a 200-300 meter diver, but at the moment I don't really want to cheap out and get a watch I don't want, and I don't have enough in the hobbies fund to pay for the one I want.
 
Check out watchseller. I sold my Rolex through him and bought my RGM from him. He has some decent stuff in the $500 range.
 
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