water in my watch..... ooops
Discussion
Crap. 
For a start, that crown should already be out and the watch somewhere warm (like on a sunny windowsill or airing cupboard). You will need a Rolex caseback remover - try a local watch repairer. Perhaps they'll charge £5 to just remove the back and then in a few weeks' time £5 to put it back on...
For a start, that crown should already be out and the watch somewhere warm (like on a sunny windowsill or airing cupboard). You will need a Rolex caseback remover - try a local watch repairer. Perhaps they'll charge £5 to just remove the back and then in a few weeks' time £5 to put it back on...This is going to sound really silly but "trust me, I'm a watchmaker" (well, was until about 6 years ago and thinking of starting up again 
)
If you can't get the back off in the next day or so, immerse the watch completely in clean tap (or preferably distilled) water and leave it there while finding a watchmaker. Rust needs iron, water AND oxygen to form and by keeping it immersed you're depriving it of oxygen.
Also, clean distilled / tap water is going to be a lot nicer to it than whatever contaminants it picks up from a fishtank!
) If you can't get the back off in the next day or so, immerse the watch completely in clean tap (or preferably distilled) water and leave it there while finding a watchmaker. Rust needs iron, water AND oxygen to form and by keeping it immersed you're depriving it of oxygen.
Also, clean distilled / tap water is going to be a lot nicer to it than whatever contaminants it picks up from a fishtank!
Variomatic said:
This is going to sound really silly but "trust me, I'm a watchmaker" (well, was until about 6 years ago and thinking of starting up again )
If you can't get the back off in the next day or so, immerse the watch completely in clean tap (or preferably distilled) water and leave it there while finding a watchmaker. Rust needs iron, water AND oxygen to form and by keeping it immersed you're depriving it of oxygen.
Also, clean distilled / tap water is going to be a lot nicer to it than whatever contaminants it picks up from a fishtank!
And to be sure - boil the water first (and let it cool!) as that removes the dissolved oxygen. ) If you can't get the back off in the next day or so, immerse the watch completely in clean tap (or preferably distilled) water and leave it there while finding a watchmaker. Rust needs iron, water AND oxygen to form and by keeping it immersed you're depriving it of oxygen.
Also, clean distilled / tap water is going to be a lot nicer to it than whatever contaminants it picks up from a fishtank!
Had a customer in the shop I learnt in years ago who made the "part drying" mistake with an 18k gold Rolex dive watch that he forgot to screw the crown in before diving with (why anyone would actually go diving with one of those is beyond me, but there ya go!) He managed to fill it with finest Mediterranean sea water and refused to let any of the local jewelers do anything but literally tip the water out because "I trust you guys but couldn't trust them with it".
By the time he got it to us about 6 days later it was barely more than a ball of rust inside. It was one of the very few we had to send back to Rolex themselves - and they just fitted a complete new movement, dial and hands rather than try to tackle what was in there
By the time he got it to us about 6 days later it was barely more than a ball of rust inside. It was one of the very few we had to send back to Rolex themselves - and they just fitted a complete new movement, dial and hands rather than try to tackle what was in there
Variomatic said:
Had a customer in the shop I learnt in years ago who made the "part drying" mistake with an 18k gold Rolex dive watch that he forgot to screw the crown in before diving with (why anyone would actually go diving with one of those is beyond me, but there ya go!) He managed to fill it with finest Mediterranean sea water and refused to let any of the local jewelers do anything but literally tip the water out because "I trust you guys but couldn't trust them with it".
By the time he got it to us about 6 days later it was barely more than a ball of rust inside. It was one of the very few we had to send back to Rolex themselves - and they just fitted a complete new movement, dial and hands rather than try to tackle what was in there
Ouch. Well, it's a diver's watch, gold or otherwise, so...By the time he got it to us about 6 days later it was barely more than a ball of rust inside. It was one of the very few we had to send back to Rolex themselves - and they just fitted a complete new movement, dial and hands rather than try to tackle what was in there
Anyway, you say you're a watchmaker? You can't state without posting a link to your business or watches you've made! I can't be the only one to be interested?
You'll have to wait a little longer for any links I'm afraid. I gave it up about 7 years back for various personal reasons (including moving half way across the country) and am just in the middle of getting started again. I am planning at least some sort of online presence this time round, though, and will obviously be mentioning it (where allowed) on forums once it's set up 
As for "watches I've made", I'm afraid I use the term in the traditional way of "repairer" - no, I don't know why repairers are known as watchmakers but I'm not quibbling cos it sounds good I'd dearly love to have the leisure time, equipment and private means to try actually making from scratch (and get to eat while doing it) but that's never going to pay the bills so, until I win the lottery, it's gonna remain a dream
As for "watches I've made", I'm afraid I use the term in the traditional way of "repairer" - no, I don't know why repairers are known as watchmakers but I'm not quibbling cos it sounds good
I'd dearly love to have the leisure time, equipment and private means to try actually making from scratch (and get to eat while doing it) but that's never going to pay the bills so, until I win the lottery, it's gonna remain a dream Variomatic said:
Zod said:
I dive with my dive watches.
Fair one, that's what they're for after all. But 18k gold is a little, shall we say, flashy, and not even the best material for the job!Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff