Unusual result from sending in a Speedmaster for service

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A few weeks ago I noticed condensation inside the hesalite on my Trilogy Speedmaster when transitioning from being quite cold inside a walk in fridge for a few hours (8c) and fairly moisture rich air to heat (30c).

The next day I sent it down to the boutique and off for service. The watch was running really well, +1 ish, no beat error prior. Watching the portal it has said that the watch is to be sent back, return without service (supplied photo from their portal). Has anyone else experienced anything like this or know what it would mean?
 
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Well, I think if you request a service, you get a service. In this case with a stated complaint, maybe they pressure tested it and it passed and passed the timing checks otherwise so no "required" service and they send it back? In your scenario, any moisture in the watch would condense on the crystal. Question is, how much is in there and is it a problem?
 
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Isn't any moisture inside a watch a problem? Although I guess it's not unreasonable to expect some in humid conditions and condensation occurring when transitioning between extremes. However, if no service was necessary, why does it say "Waiting for parts," and "service in process?"
 
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It could just be an error. The previous updates suggested that they were doing some work on the watch.
 
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Isn't any moisture inside a watch a problem? Although I guess it's not unreasonable to expect some in humid conditions and condensation occurring when transitioning between extremes. However, if no service was necessary, why does it say "Waiting for parts," and "service in process?"

Some moisture is to be expected and is allowable.
It manifests whenever the surface temp inside the crystal reaches the dew point.
If the condensate on the inside disappears within a couple of minutes It can be deemed to be within acceptable limits.
Having said that, the nature of the condensate is important as well, in that if it is obviously combining to form larger droplets than a fine mist then there is probably more moisture than is acceptable and it is not likely to disperse within a couple of minutes anyway.
Obviously no condensate is the best outcome.
There is always the old icecube on the Crystal test to check or gauge these things.

If I recall Archer has more or less provided a similar explanation👍
 
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Isn't any moisture inside a watch a problem? Although I guess it's not unreasonable to expect some in humid conditions and condensation occurring when transitioning between extremes. However, if no service was necessary, why does it say "Waiting for parts," and "service in process?"
I really can’t figure it out, hopefully by the end of next week they will have sent the watch back. My thoughts are either the watch is perfectly fine, it’s completely kaput or there was an error in the messaging. Either way, knowing would be best.
 
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It could just be an error. The previous updates suggested that they were doing some work on the watch.
I felt like they pretty much had it all wrapped up a few days after they started the service.
 
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D Duckie
Some moisture is to be expected and is allowable.
It manifests whenever the surface temp inside the crystal reaches the dew point.
If the condensate on the inside disappears within a couple of minutes It can be deemed to be within acceptable limits.
Having said that, the nature of the condensate is important as well, in that if it is obviously combining to form larger droplets than a fine mist then there is probably more moisture than is acceptable and it is not likely to disperse within a couple of minutes anyway.
Obviously no condensate is the best outcome.
There is always the old icecube on the Crystal test to check or gauge these things.

If I recall Archer has more or less provided a similar explanation👍
We weren’t able to replicate the condensation again, and I had placed the watch in a giant glass jar of rice in the sun with the crown out until I could arrive at the boutique the next day.

It was never more than a fine haze of condensate. Maybe the rice was sufficient to draw any moisture out. Hopefully that’s all it is, my mind went to thinking the movement was completely rusted out- having been the second owner and not knowing how the watch was handled in the past.
 
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We weren’t able to replicate the condensation again, and I had placed the watch in a giant glass jar of rice in the sun with the crown out until I could arrive at the boutique the next day.

It was never more than a fine haze of condensate. Maybe the rice was sufficient to draw any moisture out. Hopefully that’s all it is, my mind went to thinking the movement was completely rusted out- having been the second owner and not knowing how the watch was handled in the past.

Air contains moisture, so sometimes condensation can form inside the crystal if the condition are right, and there was no leak. Usually such condensation is very fine, small in size, and dissipates quickly.