How can I test my watch is waterproof?
Discussion
Say you've had a watch for a few years and the closest it comes to water is washing your hands or going in the shower. Is there a way to test it is still waterproof/splashproof? Short of dunking it in a bowl of water and hoping for the best or sending it off for a service every year.
There's a great guy in Westfield Shepherds Bush, on an "island" not in-store who does watch repairs.
He fitted a new seal to one of my watches a few months ago - only an old Sekonda - but he fitted and greased a new seal and pressure tested it for a fiver.
Have since been swimming and springboard diving and the watch is now watertight.
No idea what he would do when faced with a decent watch, but he looked like he knew what he was doing.
He fitted a new seal to one of my watches a few months ago - only an old Sekonda - but he fitted and greased a new seal and pressure tested it for a fiver.
Have since been swimming and springboard diving and the watch is now watertight.
No idea what he would do when faced with a decent watch, but he looked like he knew what he was doing.
Miguel Alvarez said:
I've not asked in a while but a few times when getting shoes done I've asked if the local shoeman can confirm the waterproof of a watch and they've said flat out no on "prestige" brands.
Timpson are proud of their work on Rolex's (sic).http://www.timpson.co.uk/services/69/watch-repairs
GC8 said:
I can't remember if it was Timpsons or not to be honest. It was one of those shoe shops in Reading. Thinking about it now a couple of places have said that. Their response being if they say its waterproof and I go diving with it and it leaks they don't want to be liable. Understandable. I probably should have mentioned it in my OP but I seem to remember someone saying that you can put an ice cube on your watch and test it that way. If it steams up then its not waterproof anymore. Ring any bells?
CardShark said:
Wouldn't putting an ice cube on the watch just condensate whatever moisture is already sealed within? My GW9000 G Shock gets a small patch of condensation right in the middle of it's crystal in really cold weather, I'm hoping that it's still waterproof!
Strange, I put one of my G-Shock Mudman watches in a bowl of water and then froze it for a week.... defrosted by dropping the ice block in a bowl of boiling water (ice exploded) and there was no visible sign of condensation inside the watch.It was cleaner though.
Justayellowbadge said:
Civpilot said:
Strange, I put one of my G-Shock Mudman watches in a bowl of water and then froze it for a week.... defrosted by dropping the ice block in a bowl of boiling water (ice exploded) and there was no visible sign of condensation inside the watch.
It was cleaner though.
Why?It was cleaner though.
I only planned to leave it there a day or so.So really, why not?
I was at a climbing centre a while ago and a friend was chatting about how he kept breaking watches while climbing so I said my watch (Ballistic Sabre) was fine. "Here, catch..." I said and threw it at his knees as he stood against a wall causing him to dodge rather than attempt a catch. It sounded like I'd thrown a stone at the wall when it hit it. He picked it up and noticed that it continued to tick.
Edited by Hoofy on Monday 5th March 19:10
I repair & service watches and have a water pressure tester for watches. However the tester I use can only test up to 6 bar which is OK for swimming. So check what pressure range they are going too. With most watches the crown is the weak area. watches with screw down crowns are the best for waterproofing. However you should always have the seals changed when having the watch serviced. Here are the standards required:
5 ATM or 5 BAR (50 m or 165 ft)
Everyday use and swimming, splash in pool but not suitable for pool side diving or water sports.
10 ATM or 10 BAR (100 m or 330 ft)
Everyday use, poolside diving and snorkelling. Not suitable for high board diving, high impact or water sports.
15 ATM or 15 BAR (150 m or 500 ft)
Everyday use, poolside diving and snorkelling, most water sports.
20 ATM or 20 BAR (200 m or 660 ft)
Minimum required for high board diving, high impact water sports or sub aqua diving. The only watches, which are designed to withstand continued use in these conditions, are professional divers watches. Only watches marked "DIVER'S" on the dial should really be used for diving as these fully comply with the international standards for diver's watches.
100 ATM or 100 BAR (1000 m or 3300 ft)
Minimum required for professional deep sea diving. Only watches marked "DIVER'S" on the dial should really be used for diving as these fully comply with the international standards for diver's watches.
Here is a Pic of the tester I use.
5 ATM or 5 BAR (50 m or 165 ft)
Everyday use and swimming, splash in pool but not suitable for pool side diving or water sports.
10 ATM or 10 BAR (100 m or 330 ft)
Everyday use, poolside diving and snorkelling. Not suitable for high board diving, high impact or water sports.
15 ATM or 15 BAR (150 m or 500 ft)
Everyday use, poolside diving and snorkelling, most water sports.
20 ATM or 20 BAR (200 m or 660 ft)
Minimum required for high board diving, high impact water sports or sub aqua diving. The only watches, which are designed to withstand continued use in these conditions, are professional divers watches. Only watches marked "DIVER'S" on the dial should really be used for diving as these fully comply with the international standards for diver's watches.
100 ATM or 100 BAR (1000 m or 3300 ft)
Minimum required for professional deep sea diving. Only watches marked "DIVER'S" on the dial should really be used for diving as these fully comply with the international standards for diver's watches.
Here is a Pic of the tester I use.
Diving watches marked 'diver' have to comply with ISO 6425.
They have to fulfill a few requirements and are at least 200m waterproof.
They have all been individually tested, unlike say condoms (and watches marked 50m or 100m) where one in a batch is tested. This testing costs money and would add a few pounds to the price of each watch. Many G-shocks may be waterproof to 200m or more, but they haven't bothered to test them individually and charge more for each one.
Also, they are only waterproof when they leave the factory. Rubber seals degrade (should be replaced when serviced) . That 10 year old, never serviced, 1000m diver might not be waterproof anymore.
They're also not waterproof if you don't wind the crown in tightly.
They have to fulfill a few requirements and are at least 200m waterproof.
They have all been individually tested, unlike say condoms (and watches marked 50m or 100m) where one in a batch is tested. This testing costs money and would add a few pounds to the price of each watch. Many G-shocks may be waterproof to 200m or more, but they haven't bothered to test them individually and charge more for each one.
Also, they are only waterproof when they leave the factory. Rubber seals degrade (should be replaced when serviced) . That 10 year old, never serviced, 1000m diver might not be waterproof anymore.
They're also not waterproof if you don't wind the crown in tightly.
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