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Condensation in Speedmaster

H
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Hello, last week I noticed that there appeared to be condensation inside my Speedmaster Calibre 1863. I took it to the Omega boutique by me and thought what they told me seemed incorrect, but wanted to get your thoughts.

They said that washing my hands while the chronograph is running (not being pushed in, just already running) can lead to water getting inside. This does not seem correct, but is it? The way they were talking, they made it seem like the watch isn't water resistant at all.

Omega tested the gaskets and they said they were fine, so how could water have gotten into it? I have only had it for a few weeks. I am 99.999% postivie I have not washed my hands with the crown pulled as I never pull the crown. I've never swam with this on or taken a shower with it. Is what they told me at the Omega boutique correct? What if the watch got wet from washing my hands and then the chrono was pushed in? Could that lead to water entering the case?

I just want to avoid this problem in the future. I took my watch to a different boutique and they took it for a service, but I don't want to encounter this issue again, so any advice/thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks!

IMG_7917.webp
 
fiberguy
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poppycock ... that watch is rated to 50meter/165ft. Running the chrono has no bearing on water resistance.
 
vbrad26
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See everyone this is what happens when you get a Speedy too close to water.
 
padders
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vbrad26 vbrad26
See everyone this is what happens when you get an unserviced Speedy too close to water.
FIFY
 
hansmaulwurf
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Mh,

Speedy should be able to take other events and stay dry inside...

Here is what I do without any concerns.

1784144697821.webp 1784144832267.webp 1784144938235.webp

... not for everyone, but even jetskiing / waterskiing should be no problem...

1784145049970.webp


BR
Hans
Edited:
 
ErichKeane
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vbrad26 vbrad26
See everyone this is what happens when you get a Speedy too close to water.
What about if I mow my lawn underwater with it on?



The while the chrono is running is absolute bull-poopie. I would expect the crown to be at least "wash hands" sealed even when open as well, unless you're taking a snorkle to clean your paws. I'm guessing they either didn't do a good job pressure testing it, or they

Either way, you're out of warranty, and definitely out of service interval, so that one needs to go for service anyway. I'd deal with that moisture ASAP though, if it isn't dried out and causes damage your repair bill gets waaay higher. Also, get it out for a service to someone you can trust ASAP.
 
H
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
What about if I mow my lawn underwater with it on?



The while the chrono is running is absolute bull-poopie. I would expect the crown to be at least "wash hands" sealed even when open as well, unless you're taking a snorkle to clean your paws. I'm guessing they either didn't do a good job pressure testing it, or they

Either way, you're out of warranty, and definitely out of service interval, so that one needs to go for service anyway. I'd deal with that moisture ASAP though, if it isn't dried out and causes damage your repair bill gets waaay higher. Also, get it out for a service to someone you can trust ASAP.
Another Omega boutique took it under warranty. It's still within the five years of original purchase.
 
ErichKeane
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H honeycoon
Another Omega boutique took it under warranty. It's still within the five years of original purchase.
Oh fantastic news! They'll make it at least as good as new 😀
 
YY77
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So you bought an 5+ years out of production watch recently and it passed a WR test at the OB? What is the next step the OB will take?
 
H
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YY77 YY77
So you bought an 5+ years out of production watch recently and it passed a WR test at the OB? What is the next step the OB will take?
A different boutique took it. It's still within the warranty window.
 
D
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So it seems as though, not even you know what you may or may not have done other than you didn't swim or shower while wearing it.
You may have been unlucky with it and not knowing the history of the watch everything is uncertain.
Is it possible you have knocked your watch against something?

The watch is only rated to a 50 metre depth rating.
In real terms, outside of a standard static pressure test, 50 metres is not much of a margin for error.
So you've got to ask yourself is it worth the risk going forward to get it wet other than a slight splash or two getting on it when waahing your hands or some exposure to rain.

In theory, you should have every confidence in the fact that your freshly serviced watch will be up to "specifications".
Personally, i would limit my water exposure to a bit of a splash here and there when washing hands and or the odd shower of rain whilst ensuring you don't use any pushers.
But that's just me and how i roll with my Speedy pro.

Others will have different approaches to caring for their watches.
The choice is yours.
Just keep in mind you will basically have rudimentary effective water resistance up until the point where a seemingly innocent sideways knock on the crystal could cause a compromised seal.
 
p4ul
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vbrad26 vbrad26
See everyone this is what happens when you get a Speedy too close to water.
Making a speedy the perfect watch to own here in the water free desert that used to be the shires of merrie England prior to us burning the planet to the ground?
(Climate deniers may move on without comment🥱)
 
mydeafcat
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For wet conditions, my Seamaster diver (or AT) gets the call. My 1861-powered Speedmaster? It stays dry. No sinks, no dishes.

(I’m in a condo so no lawnmower action other than watching landscapers cut the grass. )
 
JimInOz
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What's with the milky whits ring on the crystal?

Just lighting?
 
YY77
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JimInOz JimInOz
What's with the milky whits ring on the crystal?

Just lighting?
With cal 1863 that is the sapphire version, so not unusual to see that.
 
H
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D Duckie
So it seems as though, not even you know what you may or may not have done other than you didn't swim or shower while wearing it.
You may have been unlucky with it and not knowing the history of the watch everything is uncertain.
Is it possible you have knocked your watch against something?

The watch is only rated to a 50 metre depth rating.
In real terms, outside of a standard static pressure test, 50 metres is not much of a margin for error.
So you've got to ask yourself is it worth the risk going forward to get it wet other than a slight splash or two getting on it when waahing your hands or some exposure to rain.

In theory, you should have every confidence in the fact that your freshly serviced watch will be up to "specifications".
Personally, i would limit my water exposure to a bit of a splash here and there when washing hands and or the odd shower of rain whilst ensuring you don't use any pushers.
But that's just me and how i roll with my Speedy pro.

Others will have different approaches to caring for their watches.
The choice is yours.
Just keep in mind you will basically have rudimentary effective water resistance up until the point where a seemingly innocent sideways knock on the crystal could cause a compromised seal.
Yeah, I'm not sure what happened. My only guess is that it had a splash on it from washing my hands and then I pressed the chrono before it was fully dried off. Do you think that could lead to water getting inside? Other people seem to not think so but it's the only thing I could think could have happened.
 
H
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JimInOz JimInOz
What's with the milky whits ring on the crystal?

Just lighting?
Lighting. I took a flash picture so you could easily see the condensation.
 
G-Web
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I just stumbled on this video, and it seems somewhat relevant here.
At the 26:00 mark they pressure test a 3861 Speedmaster to 10 bar and it passes.


Cheers,
-GW
 
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