…by lubricating the inside gasket with a light coat of silicone grease? Thanks.

 

I guess you mean a reasonably new crown? Yes, lubricant will prevent binding and dry surface to dry surface wear.
The gasket will probably harden and set over time though.
If it's a "vintage" crown, the gasket may be too worn already, and silicone won't do much to restore it.

 

Silicone grease will not stop the natural vulcanization that happens over time...

 

Have the crown seal changed by your Watchmaker.

 

Interesting, didn’t know these were replaceable.

 

A slight diversion, but still on the gaskets theme: many materials houses say this is the best way to lubricate a case back gasket:



The sponges have silicone, you drop the gasket in, give it a twist, and it’s ready to go. But the question: is it really necessary to lubricate both sides/all of the gasket, or just the side that interfaces with the case back?

 

Why would you bother trying to confine the lubricant to one side? It's much easier to apply a thin uniform film over the whole surface.

 

Just came across an example of why you should change seals/gaskets before they fail to do their work.

If they are still serviceable, you can stretch them off. If they are past redemption, they have to be chipped off.



And this is what they look like, a solid hard brittle rubber ring, not a nice flexible squishy thing that it should be.

 

Yes, and sometimes they can be extremely hard and brittle...

 

Very clarifying, many thanks.

 

Pull apart fishing reels every year and you would be surprised what a year old O-rings looks like even if it does have silicon grease on it.

I am starting to see white o rings that seem to last better than the old black ones.
Not sure what they are made of but look and feel the same as black.
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