Dive watch pressure test question
Discussion
I've got a cheap Quartz dive watch (Apeks branded thing) that's rated to 1000m and has a helium release valve etc etc. so it's a proper dive watch and as such, gets used for SCUBA, snorkelling etc (on occassion, rather than all the time).
I recently got the battery changed and the jeweller was able to pressure test to 100m (dry, rather than water of course) but advised he couldn't test for 200m or more without sending it away and paying almost the cost of the watch.
I'm ok with that to ensure my Seamaster or so is sealed correctly but not on a watch that cost no more than £100.
So is it safe to use it 'unchecked'? I'm presuming that its a screw back with a rubber seal so if the seal hasn't perished, then theoretically it ought to be good to go once it's tightened up again? I don't really care about 1000m as of course it's never going there but would like to be able to rely on it as a dive watch.
I should add, I not so fussed about this one if it leaks, as it's essentially disposable, but I have a Seiko 200m diver with sentimental value and if I ever need that opening, I'd like to know it wasn't going to leak again...
I recently got the battery changed and the jeweller was able to pressure test to 100m (dry, rather than water of course) but advised he couldn't test for 200m or more without sending it away and paying almost the cost of the watch.
I'm ok with that to ensure my Seamaster or so is sealed correctly but not on a watch that cost no more than £100.
So is it safe to use it 'unchecked'? I'm presuming that its a screw back with a rubber seal so if the seal hasn't perished, then theoretically it ought to be good to go once it's tightened up again? I don't really care about 1000m as of course it's never going there but would like to be able to rely on it as a dive watch.
I should add, I not so fussed about this one if it leaks, as it's essentially disposable, but I have a Seiko 200m diver with sentimental value and if I ever need that opening, I'd like to know it wasn't going to leak again...
To be honest,if it has sentimental value,then i wouldnt be diving with it?? The answer to the other one is depends on how deep you dive? I used to do a lot of deep mixed gas diving (80-100mts) and a watch rated to 100m isnt up to the job.If you are, then you really shouldnt be using a watch you should be on a dive computer?? If it was serviced properly then he should have replaced the seal?? All the best.
hosedoctor said:
To be honest,if it has sentimental value,then i wouldnt be diving with it?? The answer to the other one is depends on how deep you dive? I used to do a lot of deep mixed gas diving (80-100mts) and a watch rated to 100m isnt up to the job.If you are, then you really shouldnt be using a watch you should be on a dive computer?? If it was serviced properly then he should have replaced the seal?? All the best.
Don't believe in not using watches.I don't dive with it, and don't ever go beyond basic PADI stuff, so it's hardly under much stress. None of the watches have been serviced but I'm asking if a watch rated to 1000m with a battery change and the case back replaced would be likely to leak if recreational diving/snorkelling?
bobbybee said:
hosedoctor said:
used to do a lot of deep mixed gas diving (80-100mts) and a watch rated to 100m isnt up to the job.
Why not?
Disastrous said:
But a 1000m watch should be ok at 100m right? I'm getting a bit lost on the 100m thing...
HAHAHA i must have a touch of nitrogen narcosis!! I was on the phone when i read your post and read it it as 100m NOT 1000m!!!No wonder i gave up diving!! lol. But having said that,if it hasnt been sealed properly,it wont matter what the rating is? Being serious tho,i always had my gear done by a expert as your life depends on good equipment...
Edited by hosedoctor on Friday 1st May 12:38
It depends on the condition of the seals and case and how well it has been cleaned and screwed back on by the watchmaker (or battery changer). I've tested some watches where passing a dry pressure test or not has been down to as little as lubricating a gasket and turning the crown a few times- you can imagine how little faith I'd have in their water resistance claims!
So no you can't be certain and if my life depended on it as an instrument I would only use it after it was wet tested to 300M or more. Even then I'd want fresh gaskets so I knew it was fine for a while yet.
But if I just wanted to know the time at 30M so I could head back to catch the F1 It wouldn't bother me too much- it wouldn't pass a dry test with a gaping hole in the seal and you'll soon know if it starts letting in moisture. If it goes wron you've only lost a watch.
So no you can't be certain and if my life depended on it as an instrument I would only use it after it was wet tested to 300M or more. Even then I'd want fresh gaskets so I knew it was fine for a while yet.
But if I just wanted to know the time at 30M so I could head back to catch the F1 It wouldn't bother me too much- it wouldn't pass a dry test with a gaping hole in the seal and you'll soon know if it starts letting in moisture. If it goes wron you've only lost a watch.
Disastrous][... said:
I recently got the battery changed and the jeweller was able to pressure test to 100m (dry, rather than water of course) but advised he couldn't test for 200m or more without sending it away and paying almost the cost of the watch.
[...]
So is it safe to use it 'unchecked'?
Assuming by "unchecked" you mean "only" tested to 100m, ten the short answer is "yes, it is safe".[...]
So is it safe to use it 'unchecked'?
If you mean unchecked as in not tested at all, then the short answer is "it's probably safe but don't cry if it leaks".
The longer answer in both cases is:
Opening a dive watch won't "make it leak".
Any competent repairer can open and close a watch back (replacing the gasket as needed) and be confident that the watch will be at least as waterproof as it was before he touched it. But no repairer can say how waterproof that is - for all he knows it could have been leaking like a sieve from the crown or the glass before it arrived on his bench.
Pressure testing allows a check of the seals that haven't been disturbed and can't be (easily) inspected - typically the crown, any pushers, and the glass. It doesn't need the full rated pressure of the watch to do that because you're not proving the design - that's already been done by the manufacturer. All a post-battery test is doing is confirming that the seals are correctly assembled and working.
In fact, it's quite possible for a watch to leak at low pressure yet pass a high pressure test as the high pressure can clamp the case down on a slightly defective seal. So testing at (say) 10m and again at 100m is a good idea. If a watch is designed and proved for 1000m and passes those two tests then it's extremely unlikely to leak at its full pressure - if you're diving you're probably more likely to get attacked by a great white off Skegness than have that happen
Bear in mind that absurd depth ratings are, at least in part, an arms-race. For practical purposes, a 1000m rating offers no benefits over a 200m rating. It just lets the manufacturer say "look at our big numbers" - in much the same way that you used to get 40, 50, or even 100 jewel movements because they plastered the little rubies everywhere, whether or not they were needed.
Thanks variomatic - that tallies with my own thoughts.
It's largely irrelevant whether it's good for 1000m or not but if I take 1000m to mean 'safe to scuba in', then assuming nothing is damaged on opening the case then I guess it should still be ok when it's closed up.
Anyway, I woukdnt cry if it leaked but was just curious...
Thanks all.
It's largely irrelevant whether it's good for 1000m or not but if I take 1000m to mean 'safe to scuba in', then assuming nothing is damaged on opening the case then I guess it should still be ok when it's closed up.
Anyway, I woukdnt cry if it leaked but was just curious...
Thanks all.
Disastrous said:
Thanks variomatic - that tallies with my own thoughts.
It's largely irrelevant whether it's good for 1000m or not but if I take 1000m to mean 'safe to scuba in', then assuming nothing is damaged on opening the case then I guess it should still be ok when it's closed up.
Anyway, I woukdnt cry if it leaked but was just curious...
Thanks all.
Don't allow yourself to be taken in by the '200m rating means its barely splash-proof' nonsense! If a watch uses words such as "Diver's" or "Professional" then it is good for diving to the depth on the dial.It's largely irrelevant whether it's good for 1000m or not but if I take 1000m to mean 'safe to scuba in', then assuming nothing is damaged on opening the case then I guess it should still be ok when it's closed up.
Anyway, I woukdnt cry if it leaked but was just curious...
Thanks all.
Each person who repeats/reinvigorates this b
ks is looking to enhance it a little and at this rate, my 1,000m professional diver's watch wont be safe to take a shower in soon!
GC8 said:
Each person who repeats/reinvigorates this bks is looking to enhance it a little and at this rate, my 1,000m professional diver's watch wont be safe to take a shower in soon!
But it isn't safe in the shower! No watch is safe in the shower unless you like cold showers and no soap. Hot showers cause expansion and different bits of the case (buttons and crown in particular) expand at different rates opening teeny weeny little gaps. Soapy water has lower surface tension than non soapy water and so can penetrate these teeny weeny gaps if your unlucky. ks is looking to enhance it a little and at this rate, my 1,000m professional diver's watch wont be safe to take a shower in soon!Personally, and speaking personally here, my brain turned into clotted cheese last time I went below 100m so I'd quite like a watch that broke at the depth to remind me not to do it again.
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