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Waterproofing

Customers associate quite often the purchase of any valuable watch with this very term. Most wristwatches display a range of resistance against water damage. Depending on the level of water resistance, your product is either immune to accidental exposure to this factor, such as rain, or enhanced with absolute immunity to water and adequate to accompany you in diving and other activities. An annual check is required to proclaim your watch waterproof.


Basic Requirement:Annual waterproof check

 

Water damage

Hand washing with normal temperature water will not permeate most wristwatches. Three unfortunate circumstances may alter this however.

  1. Inexperienced watchmaker accidentally wounds the water tight “shield” during regular battery replacement

  2. Years of neglect without proper maintenance

  3. The crown is accidentally left in adjusting position

Any of these results in droplets and moisture breaching in vital mechanical parts of a delicate device.

Frequent use in a activities that involve water may also weaken the resistance of a watch. While this may not be the case, it is widely believed that watches are always sealed against water. There is always chance that a product may outlast the manufacturer's standards, especially if it is brand new and the silicone gaskets are more durability. As all things, the older a watch actually is, the more vulnerable it is.

Caution: please do not swim in the sea wearing your watch despite it's level of water resistance. It is safe to wear it while in the shower, though no watch should ever be “tested” in warm/hot water and steam. Thermal expansion may harm any watch as many devices in general.

How do you deal with water damage?

In case the dial appears blurred or appeared blurred at some point or you suspect water exposure it is important to take action. Once inside, the droplets of water turn into vapour depending on the temperature. This explains why you see blur disappear and reappear. Gradually the mechanism decays and if not dealt with immediately it develops rust. At this point sevice may even cost more than buying a new watch.

If asking for the help of an expert is not an immediate option please pull the crown [hour and minute hands will stop] and place it in the range of a source of heat [but not very close]. Leave the watch close to a sunny window [example] for a day or two. In any case, the watch may suffer water damage even if it works properly for the time.

An experienced technician ascerts the condition of the interior and estimates the cost of repairments should the customer choose to have it fixed. Sometimes the damage is beyond technical repair and that also will be explained beforehand. The steps followed are disassemblement, restoration, lubrication and assemblage of the mechanism or total replacement. There is always a chance that water may not penetrate and cause any problems, but if that is the case preventing the rust from spreading timely will save mechanical parts and money.

*Please avoid completely warm/hot water.

*Always secure the crown after adjusting.

*Smartwatches with IP67-IP68 certification are not suitable for swimming or showering, therefore waterproofing is NOT included in warranty.