Need Help: Water Vapor Under Watch Crystal

[romaso]

I've got an Invicta diver's watch and I've gotten some water vapor under the crystal. Putting coats on and off in winter can loosen the screw-down crown, which is probably how it happened. Anyone have suggestions for drying it out?

And what crown position would allow the best air transfer (half-out to wind, full-out to set)? Thanks!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Lay it out in the sun, under a lamp, or bury it in a container of rice.

 

[Andre_T]

Lay it out in the sun, under a lamp, or bury it in a container of rice.

I would support the idea of the first two. Rice is a bad idea due to the fact it can get rice powder into things. I do suggest a jar with some desiccant packs. I save them from electronics I buy for just such a purpose.

 

[Briar Lee]

In

I've got an Invicta diver's watch and I've gotten some water vapor under the crystal. Putting coats on and off in winter can loosen the screw-down crown, which is probably how it happened. Anyone have suggestions for drying it out?

And what crown position would allow the best air transfer (half-out to wind, full-out to set)? Thanks!

View attachment 182796

Over about fifty years of wearing nice watches, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that water vapor under the crystal of a waterproof watch means the watch is no longer reliably waterproof.

In short, you should buy another one. Yes you can pull the crown out and stick the watch under a heat lamp or outside in the sun or in a bowl of rice, but the party is over for that one. It’s going to vapor up again.

I have too many watches, the same as too many pipes.

My go to watch is a $135 Orient Mako II diver.

Orient AA02 41.5mm Blue Dial Stainless Steel Case Men Watchwatch (FAA02005D9) for sale online | eBay

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But when it shoots craps, or maybe because I want one, Orient makes about the same watch with a real saffhire crystal and just a bit better case for about $50 more called a Kamasu

Orient Kamasu RA-AA0004E 41.8 mm Automatic Stainless Steel Sapphire Diver Men's Watch for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient Kamasu RA-AA0004E 41.8 mm Automatic Stainless Steel Sapphire Diver Men's Watch at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I also love my Orient Bambino watches for dress use.

Orient FAC00005W0 Wrist Watch for Men for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient FAC00005W0 Wrist Watch for Men at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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It costs over a hundred dollars each time I fill up my Dodge Cummins diesel flatbed truck.

Good automatic mechanical watches are cheaper today than any time in history, in constant dollars.

They are so cheap, and run so long between service, that replacing one is the only real option.

 

[didimauw]

In

Over about fifty years of wearing nice watches, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that water vapor under the crystal of a waterproof watch means the watch is no longer reliably waterproof.

In short, you should buy another one. Yes you can pull the crown out and stick the watch under a heat lamp or outside in the sun or in a bowl of rice, but the party is over for that one. It’s going to vapor up again.

I have too many watches, the same as too many pipes.

My go to watch is a $135 Orient Mako II diver.

Orient AA02 41.5mm Blue Dial Stainless Steel Case Men Watchwatch (FAA02005D9) for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient AA02 41.5mm Blue Dial Stainless Steel Case Men Watchwatch (FAA02005D9) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

But when it shoots craps, or maybe because I want one, Orient makes about the same watch with a real saffhire crystal and just a bit better case for about $50 more called a Kamasu

Orient Kamasu RA-AA0004E 41.8 mm Automatic Stainless Steel Sapphire Diver Men's Watch for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient Kamasu RA-AA0004E 41.8 mm Automatic Stainless Steel Sapphire Diver Men's Watch at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I also love my Orient Bambino watches for dress use.

Orient FAC00005W0 Wrist Watch for Men for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient FAC00005W0 Wrist Watch for Men at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

It costs over a hundred dollars each time I fill up my Dodge Cummins diesel flatbed truck.

Good automatic mechanical watches are cheaper today than any time in history, in constant dollars.

They are so cheap, and run so long between service, that replacing one is the only real option.

I love my RAYII but I only wear my Gshock. The only watch I've worn in almost 3 years now.

 

[sablebrush52]

In

Over about fifty years of wearing nice watches, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that water vapor under the crystal of a waterproof watch means the watch is no longer reliably waterproof.

In short, you should buy another one. Yes you can pull the crown out and stick the watch under a heat lamp or outside in the sun or in a bowl of rice, but the party is over for that one. It’s going to vapor up again.

I have too many watches, the same as too many pipes.

My go to watch is a $135 Orient Mako II diver.

Orient AA02 41.5mm Blue Dial Stainless Steel Case Men Watchwatch (FAA02005D9) for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient AA02 41.5mm Blue Dial Stainless Steel Case Men Watchwatch (FAA02005D9) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

But when it shoots craps, or maybe because I want one, Orient makes about the same watch with a real saffhire crystal and just a bit better case for about $50 more called a Kamasu

Orient Kamasu RA-AA0004E 41.8 mm Automatic Stainless Steel Sapphire Diver Men's Watch for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient Kamasu RA-AA0004E 41.8 mm Automatic Stainless Steel Sapphire Diver Men's Watch at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I also love my Orient Bambino watches for dress use.

Orient FAC00005W0 Wrist Watch for Men for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Orient FAC00005W0 Wrist Watch for Men at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

It costs over a hundred dollars each time I fill up my Dodge Cummins diesel flatbed truck.

Good automatic mechanical watches are cheaper today than any time in history, in constant dollars.

They are so cheap, and run so long between service, that replacing one is the only real option.

Every now and then the bushings around the stem in a divers watch need replacing. A competent watch repair service can do that and restore the watch's waterproofing. It's not necessary to throw out a divers watch because its waterproofing needs an upgrade.

 

[Briar Lee]

Every now and then the bushings around the stem in a divers watch need replacing. A competent watch repair service can do that and restore the watch's waterproofing. It's not necessary to throw out a divers watch because its waterproofing needs an upgrade.

There used to be a lot of watchmakers I knew that could service an automatic watch, for maybe a little less than a new one costs.

All but one of those watchmakers died of old age and that one retired the day he qualified for Medicare.

There was a time in the seventies a Timex cost about thirty dollars and lasted a couple of years, and you bought another.

Seiko, Invicta, and Orient all three make superb automatic watches that will run five to ten years in constant service, then you buy another one.

If you could find a watchmaker, you’d have the pleasure of peeping over his shoulder while he serviced your watch.

They went the way of alternator rebuild shops.

 

[romaso]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I've got it in a jar with a bunch of silica gel packets that I had saved. I think the crown seal is still good, the problem being it comes unscrewed putting clothing on and off, and I forgot to check it. I had an automatic watch before that I had serviced and it was never the same after. This one was a special edition with a grey face, but I may have to get a new one. Now I'm wearing my solar powered Casio that auto corrects itself each night, but it's so light!

Anyone know which crown position allows the best air transfer (half-out to wind or full-out to set)?

 

[sablebrush52]

There used to be a lot of watchmakers I knew that could service an automatic watch, for maybe a little less than a new one costs.

All but one of those watchmakers died of old age and that one retired the day he qualified for Medicare.

There was a time in the seventies a Timex cost about thirty dollars and lasted a couple of years, and you bought another.

Seiko, Invicta, and Orient all three make superb automatic watches that will run five to ten years in constant service, then you buy another one.

If you could find a watchmaker, you’d have the pleasure of peeping over his shoulder while he serviced your watch.

They went the way of alternator rebuild shops.

They're still out there. Someone with an Oyster Perpetual or a Seamaster will pay for the repairs. In the '70's which is when I was in the jewelry business, a timex coul be had for $15, but we carried Bulova Caravelles, because for about hte same money as a Timex, you got an actual watch movement that could be repaired, and back then watchmakers were everywhere.

 

[bullet08]

I like screw on crowns. No need to worry about water issues. Both Rolex subs I worn for last 27 years, never had any issues. First one was sent in for 5 year service just because. New one doesn't need service for 10 years. Getting little tired with sub. Been thinking about Tudor Pelagos. Then again both looks very similar.

 

[Briar Lee]

The younger people use their phones as a watch.

I use my phone to time my watches.

43 years ago Humansville had both a Sears and a Montgomery Ward catalog store, and while home for Thanksgiving I saw in a sale flier where Ward’s had their best LeGant quartz watch on 70% off sale which meant a $35 sale price.

I was at the Shady Nook cafe, and I walked up to the Ward’s catalog store and they had some in stock.

The watch is a rebranded Seiko, I’ve been told. About every five years I replace the battery. It still keeps railroad level time, and has ticked for 43 years.

I doubt it’s still waterproof, but I’ve had the seals replaced often, and the crystal once.

I have more watches than I can count, dozens and dozens.

I wear Orients, Seikos, and Invictas so my really good watches won’t need service.

I have a Seiko Five that’s thirty years old, never serviced, and still good.

The coolest watch I think I own is an Orient Grand Diver Popsicle.

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This classic design from Invicta's Grand Diver collection starts with a 47mm stainless steel case topped by a black bezel. The off white dial hosts luminous hands and hour markers along with a magnified date window at 3:00.

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Mine cost about $100 and keeps railroad time, same as the other Japanese automatics I own.