Sand in my watch

johnniet

johnniet

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Jul 12, 1999
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I have a Timex Reef Gear with the i-control alarm thing. (The alarm is set by turning a ring around the crystal.)
image.tmx


I know, I should really get something more expensive...but I won't if I don't have to! :)
After going to the beach last week, there was sand in the ring. The watch still works fine, but I could hear and feel the sand grinding every time I turned the alarm ring. For now, I've removed the ring. (I tried cleaning it out and putting it back on, and it still had the damn sand inside. Ugh.)

Will I ever get all the sand out?
Will sand be a problem with any rotating bezel?
I actually like the Timex watches, and the i-control system...maybe there are some other models that are more "sand-tight"...or maybe one of those Fossils or Freestyles would do it...any advice guys?
 
Hmm ... seems to me if you rinse it under the faucet with the bezel off that ought to do it ... maybe use a toothbrush on it....

I'm so addicted to the turn & pull alarm that's the watch I always wear. I have a 43391 but I've been thinking about getting another model with a dial I think I like better and swapping the bezels (I don't think I like the bezel on the other model). Did you have any difficulty getting the bezel back on?
 
P.S. Forgot to answer the question, didn't I ... I've never had any problem with sand getting under the bezel of mine. I think that must have been very fine sand ... either that or your bezel is much looser than mine is. Mine doesn't have a big enough gap for anything that isn't microscopic to get in.
 
P.P.S. Nobody other than Timex makes watches with the turn & pull alarm. I guess they're waiting for the patent to expire, like they did with Indiglo.
 
No, getting the bezel back on was pretty easy in this case (but this is the same bezel that got the sand in).
However, while popping it off, I broke a thin plastic extension of the inner bezel. Now the outer bezel doesn't stick quite as well.
It's my own fault, because I tried to do it with my fingers instead of a screwdriver. The smart way to get the bezel off would be to stick a fine screwdriver between the bezel and one of the buttons. (You might have to pop off the thin outer bezel first--that part is pretty easy and harmless. Getting the inner bezel off is trickier.)
By the way, I was not only at the beach, I also swam in the ocean water. The debris might be very fine silt. I'll try the toothbrush.
 
I lost the bezel on one once. Never had problems with sand though.

Would love to see the Turn and Pull alarm on a more durable timepiece. I have mangled two of the timex iControls and killed 2 digital Timexs before them. Have had betterluck with Casio.
 
Cougar,
I use that same watch in the unit everyday for the last 3 years...it hasn't failed me yet. It's funny...I wear my Luminox to work...but at work...only my Timex will be on my wrist unless I'm doing something non-patient oriented. Someday, I'm going to have a watch for every occasion!
Matt
 
Same exact thing happened to me, on the same exact watch. I was at the beach playing in the surf and when i came out i heard the sand in the watch. I pulled off the bezel and tried to get the sand out, i could never get the sand completely out and after about a month or two the watch died. You might want to take it to a timex store to get it fixed, check out www.timex.com .

Get a Casio G-Shock it is comparable in price and much more resistant to abuse.
 
is your watch under warranty still?
If not I still would call Timex 800 customer service
and tell them the problem - this is a design flaw
and they probably will be willing to help you out
Sounds like you have done everything a person can
do short of a watchmaker and the watch does not need
that extra expense - good luck
Howard
 
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