IX.     Waterproofing 

30-meter daily waterproofing:

30-meter daily waterproofing is only applicable to splashing water when washing your hands and face and rain drops. The watch cannot be washed with water or soaked in water.

 

 

Waterproofing principle

The most important part for the waterproofing of a watch is the seal ring, or O-ring or I-ring that is made of rubber, nylon or Teflon, and forms a watertight seal between the glass, the bezel, the back and the crown and the case. The degree of sealing is the degree of waterproofing. Common labels are: 30M, 50M, 100M, 200M, etc. In addition, the thickness and material of the case determine if a watch can be safely worn under water, which is also an important factor. According to the regulations, a watch with waterproof function must reach 2 bar. Inspection method: If the watch is maintained at 2 bar for 60 seconds, the air flow must not exceed 50 micrograms.

 

Why not indicate “completely waterproof”

According to the rules issued by the US Federal Trade Commission, watch sellers may not mark their watches as “completely waterproof”. Even if the watch is designed for deep sea diving, it may not be claimed to be completely waterproof. That is to say, the absolute waterproof watch is not available.

 

Notes in using waterproof watch

100M waterproof watch is your choice for swimming. Ordinary 30M waterproof watch can withstand 3 bar, but the test is done under laboratory conditions, that is, the temperature is 20-25°, the water and the watch are still. While swimming, the watch and the water are relatively moving and have a certain impact. The pressure between the water and the watch is often much greater than 3 bar. Therefore, the watch is prone to water ingress.

 

Waterproof watches cannot be used during hot baths and saunas. In such two cases, the temperatures are greatly different from the waterproof test temperature. In addition, according to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the components of the watch are different in material, shape and size, and the expansion and contraction deformation when the temperature changes greatly, which is easy to produce tiny gaps, causing water entry into the watch. Even though there is no water leak at first, which indicates that the watch has good waterproof performance, but in the long run, it will accelerate the aging of the waterproof parts and affect the normal service life of the watch.

 

If a watch that has already with water ingress is still tested as waterproof on the waterproof machine, then it indicates the water ingress is caused by improper use. The sudden cold and heat (such as exposed to the sunshine or air-conditioned room at a low temperature) causes the waterproof parts of the watch to be instantly deformed, and the water vapor enters; when the environment is normal, the waterproof parts return to normal and still have waterproof function.

 

•      Waterproof rubber rings are prone to deterioration and need to be replaced periodically or at each repair.

•      Damage to the crystal may affect the waterproof performance of the watch. Always check it and replace it if it is broken.

•      Do not operate the watch crown in the water or when the watch is wetted to prevent water from entering the watch.

•      After using the crown, push it to the end. The screw buckle should be locked on the watch, and no space should be left.

•      The watch should be wiped dry whenever it is stained with water.

•      Prevent chemical substances from coming into contact with the watch, otherwise it will affect the case and waterproof rubber ring and reduce the waterproof performance.

•      Do not leave the watch in a high temperature (+60°) and low temperature (-10°) environment for a long time.

•      If a mist point appears in the watch, it should be removed in time to avoid rusting the parts.

 

Simple treatment method after water enters the watch:

Method 1: If an ordinary mechanical watch is wetted, it may be tightly wrapped with several layers of toilet paper or fluffy cloth that is easy to absorb moisture, put at about 15 cm near a 40-watt bulb and baked for about 30 minutes, so that the water vapor in the watch can be dispersed. Do not bake the watch crystal directly near the fire, so as not to deform it.

 

Method 2: Put the watch crystal inward and the back case facing outwards, and put it on your wrist. After two hours, the moisture can be eliminated. If there is too much water inside, you need to send it to a professional repairer for oiling to remove the moisture of the movement, and prevent the parts from going rusty.

 

Method 3: Put the granulated silica gel into a closed container with the watch that contains accumulated water. After a few hours, remove the watch and the accumulated water will disappear. This method is simple and economical, and will not cause any damage to the accuracy and service life of the watch.

 

Q: What are the factors leading to water entry into the watch?

A: 1.      Swim (3ATM or 5ATM waterproof watch) or take a hot bath wearing a watch;

2.    In a watery environment, the watch crown is not locked up;

3.    The watch crystal is damaged with cracks;

4.    Waterproof seal ring aging or displacement;

5.    The faucet flushes directly against the watch.

 

Q: Why does ingress of water still occur to a waterproof watch?

A: The waterproof standards for watches are formulated under certain environmental conditions and certain testing means, but the environment in which the watch is worn (such as places with big temperature changes) and the actions (flushed by water, etc.) is very different from the test. It is very likely that the water will enter the watch instantly in a certain situation. The watch could be waterproof again when leaves this environment. This is why a watch that has already with water ingress could still be tested as waterproof on a detector. It is important to note that all waterproof watches cannot be used during hot baths and saunas.