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Pressure Testing Pre-Owned Dive Watch
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerWhat's the ballpark value of your's?
And would you expect a decent operator to have his own?
Yes, I would expect a professional to be properly equipped certainly.
I can't say what the equipment I have would cost present day, but it was $10k when I bought it.
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michael22
·I admit my ignorance on prices.
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Hands90
·It's amazing this is such a struggle.
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jetkins
·It's amazing this is such a struggle.
Speaking of diving - you might ask your local dive store where they get their dive computers tested.
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Hands90
·Today I went back to see the watchmaker. He told me that the pressure test was out of paper so that's why I never received a the results. He said he already told me this which is not true. The watchmaker basically would not let me speak, anytime I tried to explain why I was uncomfortable he would cut me off and say that I'm smart but not smarter than he is.
He says he has 65 years of experience and he knows better because he "worked on $100,000 dollar watch." the owner was so happy he gave him $500 tip. He does things for free because he just wants to.
This went on and on. He would ask me a question and as I went to answer he would cut me off, going on and on about how he knows better.
I'm not trying to upset anyone I just want to be sure the work was complete. I don't really care about the money. Yesterday was a strange experience and after speaking to people on a couple watch forums, some members thought I was lied to.
In the end they gave me my money back on my card but the reverse payment hasn't shown on my account...
Before I left I said I'm going somewhere else and if they tell me that the gasket is brand new then I'll personally go back into that store and give them the $45 in cash.
I'll throw in a picture of my stupid face and my signature. I want to be wrong. Maybe I am that cynical kid who thinks they know better then others.
I guess I'll find out soon.
He says he has 65 years of experience and he knows better because he "worked on $100,000 dollar watch." the owner was so happy he gave him $500 tip. He does things for free because he just wants to.
This went on and on. He would ask me a question and as I went to answer he would cut me off, going on and on about how he knows better.
I'm not trying to upset anyone I just want to be sure the work was complete. I don't really care about the money. Yesterday was a strange experience and after speaking to people on a couple watch forums, some members thought I was lied to.
In the end they gave me my money back on my card but the reverse payment hasn't shown on my account...
Before I left I said I'm going somewhere else and if they tell me that the gasket is brand new then I'll personally go back into that store and give them the $45 in cash.
I'll throw in a picture of my stupid face and my signature. I want to be wrong. Maybe I am that cynical kid who thinks they know better then others.
I guess I'll find out soon.
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tikkathree
·snipped
In my country the legal phrase Caveat Emptor covers this - buyer beware.
This all sounds as safe as a monkey with a machine gun.
Why should a 4-year old gasket fall apart whilst being examined/ removed? I doubt it very much.
Write this one down to experience and start again.
UPDATE
Watch Repair & Co:
NYC Watch Repair & Restoration Services
The watch maker told me I am able to swim which is the whole point if having it changed and tested.
What do you guys think?
Should the crown o ring have been changed?
Does the story sound acurrate for a 4 year old watch (about the gasket in pieces)?
Should I go to another watchmaker and have them check it as well?
Depending on the comments I'm going to write them a Yelp review.
In my country the legal phrase Caveat Emptor covers this - buyer beware.
This all sounds as safe as a monkey with a machine gun.
Why should a 4-year old gasket fall apart whilst being examined/ removed? I doubt it very much.
Write this one down to experience and start again.
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redpcar
·
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tikkathree
·
So if you put 4 watches in rather than 2 will that take it to 12 atmospheres? Awesome piece of kit and, alloy construction, so light....
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerToday I went back to see the watchmaker. He told me that the pressure test was out of paper so that's why I never received a the results. He said he already told me this which is not true. The watchmaker basically would not let me speak, anytime I tried to explain why I was uncomfortable he would cut me off and say that I'm smart but not smarter than he is.
He says he has 65 years of experience and he knows better because he "worked on $100,000 dollar watch." the owner was so happy he gave him $500 tip. He does things for free because he just wants to.
This went on and on. He would ask me a question and as I went to answer he would cut me off, going on and on about how he knows better.
To me it sounds like he knows he's been caught out. Did you confirm that he only replaced one gasket? if so, he didn't do a full job if he did it at all.
Cheap copy of the Bergeon version - the real thing costs 10 times what this one is selling for. I can only imagine the quality of this would be very poor. Despite the acrylic cylinder being rated for 10 bar, I'm not sure I would want to stand next to it at 6 bar...
There's a reason why watch brands don't allow these testers. There is a real risk of the crystal blowing out of your watch while you are lowering the pressure inside the chamber. This is particularly a problem if the rate of pressure release can't be finely controlled, and in a unit this cheap I doubt they are using the best components. If the pressure drops too quickly...bad news.
I used to have a machine like this (mine was a Calypso that was capable of 10 bar though) and every time I tested a watch in it I would hold my breath. I have a few crystals blow out, but thankfully only after the watch had been raised back out of the water. Still when the crystals went flying there was enough water splashing around inside the chamber to cause me a lot of extra work.
This kind of tester might have been great back 30 years ago, but the technology for water resistance testing has come a long way since then. Proper modern dry testing machines are essentially risk free...
Cheers, Al
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Hands90
·Al. You and others on here have helped SO MUCH.
Did not confirm but I will next week when I have the time to do so.
Did not confirm but I will next week when I have the time to do so.
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redpcar
·but I gave it a "winky"....
I actually have a homemade pressure tester. Similar concept and I always remove the movement when testing. Don't trust myself as I'm a hack and would only do my own watches. Plus, I never go below 20 feet 😉
I figure if the crown and crystal hold tight, I can get the case back to seal given the proper amount of Silcon 7. No leaks so far 😀
I actually have a homemade pressure tester. Similar concept and I always remove the movement when testing. Don't trust myself as I'm a hack and would only do my own watches. Plus, I never go below 20 feet 😉
I figure if the crown and crystal hold tight, I can get the case back to seal given the proper amount of Silcon 7. No leaks so far 😀
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larryganz
·To me it sounds like he knows he's been caught out. Did you confirm that he only replaced one gasket? if so, he didn't do a full job if he did it at all.
Cheap copy of the Bergeon version - the real thing costs 10 times what this one is selling for. I can only imagine the quality of this would be very poor. Despite the acrylic cylinder being rated for 10 bar, I'm not sure I would want to stand next to it at 6 bar...
There's a reason why watch brands don't allow these testers. There is a real risk of the crystal blowing out of your watch while you are lowering the pressure inside the chamber. This is particularly a problem if the rate of pressure release can't be finely controlled, and in a unit this cheap I doubt they are using the best components. If the pressure drops too quickly...bad news.
I used to have a machine like this (mine was a Calypso that was capable of 10 bar though) and every time I tested a watch in it I would hold my breath. I have a few crystals blow out, but thankfully only after the watch had been raised back out of the water. Still when the crystals went flying there was enough water splashing around inside the chamber to cause me a lot of extra work.
This kind of tester might have been great back 30 years ago, but the technology for water resistance testing has come a long way since then. Proper modern dry testing machines are essentially risk free...
Cheers, Al
Very helpful. How do you feel about a watchmaker who is only using a dry tester (I think -0.7 to +10bar) after ditching the dunker tester above?
Not all of them have the other wet tester, like your second step tester that you use after checking with the dry tester first.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerNot all of them have the other wet tester, like your second step tester that you use after checking with the dry tester first.
Every watchmaker needs to decide for themselves how to run their business, and what makes sense for them and their customers. It is a requirement for a parts account for many brands, but even if it wasn't I would still have it personally.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerAl. You and others on here have helped SO MUCH.
Did not confirm but I will next week when I have the time to do so.
BTW I know some people on that "other" forum are telling you it's normal for a case back gasket to break apart on a watch this old, but over thousands of watches serviced that is certainly not my experience. Just as an example, this Speedmaster was last serviced in 1990, and the gasket came out in one piece - slightly deformed but in one piece.
The only way a gasket in a 4 year old watch is likely to be in pieces, is if someone cut it up with a pair of scissors...
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