What actually happens when you do get water in your Speedmaster?

fc3861 · Oct 9, 2021

Reading through the latest threads about not swimming with a Speedmaster because it's only 50m water resistant got me thinking (I know dangerous right?)

Assuming you know right away that you did get water in your watch, that is you see it sloshing around under the crystal, etc. What does it actually do that can't be just dried out and reassembled by a watchmaker assuming it's done in a reasonable amount of time before things start to rust. Wouldn't it be just a complete disassembly and lube similar to a normal full service?

Or, once a Speedmaster is soaked, is it junk? Do you pretty much need to replace the whole movement?

I'm just curious what the added expense would be beyond what you would get with a normal full service?

Canuck · Oct 9, 2021

How fast do you think you would be able to get to a watchmaker who would be capable of dismantling it, and who would be willing to drop all his other projects, in order to deal with your problem? If it is was completely dismantled within the hour, you might be okay. Later that bay? Be prepared to buy a few parts. Several days? Take out a second mortgage!

fc3861 · Oct 9, 2021

That's exactly what I was curious about. How much time do you have to get to the watchmaker before the movement is scrap? I don't really know what all will rust and go bad or how fast is mainly what I was curious about.

I'm curious if anyone has dunked one and had to face the repairs and what ended up having to be done to it.

Canuck · Oct 9, 2021

These watches comprise probably 30 to 40% or so of steel parts. No two service jobs on water damaged Speedmasters would be exactly the same. At the very best, no steel parts require replacing. At the very worst nearly all parts that are steel, or that have steel component would need to be replaced. Including probably most of the screws. I understand Omega (for example) has a flat rate for servicing a Speedmaster. But if it is badly rusted, I am certain the flat rate wouldn’t apply. Same as if you took it to a qualified Omega watchmaker with a parts account. Replace all the parts that have rust damage, and you are in for a shock! Now, let’s wait for a reply from someone who has had to deal with a badly rusted Speedmaster.

JwRosenthal · Oct 9, 2021

We had a member here who got water in his Sub, he knew it right after he got out of the water, and it took a few days to get it to the watchmaker- we saw the pics- man does rust happen fast! Not to mention lume is like a sponge and that lovely dial will lose its lacquer faster than you can blink.
I know we have some serious dare-devils here who like to drink milk a day or two after the expiration, who pass on the right, and some who will even bicycle without a helmet!
But water is what Seiko’s were made for- just keep the speedy on dry land- some risks are just not worth it.

Scarecrow Boat · Oct 9, 2021

Canuck
I understand Omega (for example) has a flat rate for servicing a Speedmaster. But if it is badly rusted, I am certain the flat rate wouldn’t apply.

Here is a thread that I think answers that for you. 3k for an Omega rebuild. Attached is a pic of their watch. The owner had a 2011 Speedy with a pusher that fell off during vacation. On that same vacation, under emergency situation, they had to jump into a pool after their child. It took four days for that member to get the watch to their watch maker who disassembled the piece before sending it to Omega in Switzerland.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-service-question-3k-for-rebuild-of-speedy.117190/

pdxleaf · Oct 9, 2021

Scarecrow Boat
Here is a thread that I think answers that for you. 3k for an Omega rebuild. Attached is a pic of their watch. The owner had a 2011 Speedy with a pusher that fell off during vacation. On that same vacation, under emergency situation, they had to jump into a pool after their child. It took four days for that member to get the watch to their watch maker who disassembled the piece before sending it to Omega in Switzerland.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-service-question-3k-for-rebuild-of-speedy.117190/

Picture's worth as thousand words. That's pretty surprising to me. Would not have expected that so quickly.

Scarecrow Boat · Oct 9, 2021

Here is another thread showing a disassembled Speedy movement that took on water.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedy-water-damage-repair-restoration.32746/

Scarecrow Boat · Oct 9, 2021

pdxleaf
Picture's worth as thousand words. That's pretty surprising to me. Would not have expected that so quickly.

Agreed! But at the same time I'm not surprised. Considering they were on vacation, they likely had no way of opening the case themselves or had no access to a local watch maker. So, it made me think- regular or salt water? How flooded was the case and how long did it take to naturally drain through the pusher? How much residual water was remaining and did remain in the case for the 4 days? Was it set on the window sill in an attempt to heat/dry the watch (or other method- hair dryer). All of these variables made the speed of damage seem reasonable to me. I just wish I could have seen the movement.

DoctorEvil · Oct 10, 2021

Scarecrow Boat
Here is a thread that I think answers that for you. 3k for an Omega rebuild. Attached is a pic of their watch. The owner had a 2011 Speedy with a pusher that fell off during vacation. On that same vacation, under emergency situation, they had to jump into a pool after their child. It took four days for that member to get the watch to their watch maker who disassembled the piece before sending it to Omega in Switzerland.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-service-question-3k-for-rebuild-of-speedy.117190/

Wow.
That's why I always wear my Seamaster Pro when I'm on holidays or if I expect to be near water. Or if doing something adventurous like indoor rock climbing when the pushers can get knocked off.

hronists · Oct 10, 2021

it depends on a lot of factors. sea waters or fresh water, amount of water, length of time etc.

in my case - it was fresh water, water amount was max couple of drops, watch was opened and dried an hour after fogging. Result - upon returning home watchmaker gave clean bill of health and changed failed pusher gasket. Sold watch 6-7 years later. So, to answer your original question - sometimes nothing happens.

p.s. before someone says something about long term effects, rust and whatever - this particular watch had display back, so I had a chance to monitor its condition every day.

p.p.s no, I don't wear Speedmaster when swimming, I have other watches for that. I was on vacation and forgot that I have Speedmaster on when I jumped into lake.

Canuck · Oct 10, 2021

I am fairly certain the question about the “added expense beyond a regular service” has been settled by now. The answer is, there really is no one size fits all answer to that question.

Archer · Oct 10, 2021

There are few real “watchmaking emergencies” but water is one. If someone brings me a watch that has had water inside, I drop everything to get it disassembled and into the cleaning machine as quickly as possible.

If you are quick, you can avoid major damage, but it will depend on the amount of water, type of water, and time since the water entered the watch.

Bottom line is to take maintenance of the watch seriously, and have regular pressure testing and seal replacement done.

Cheers, Al

cvalue13 · Oct 10, 2021

Scarecrow Boat
Here is a thread that I think answers that for you. 3k for an Omega rebuild. Attached is a pic of their watch. The owner had a 2011 Speedy with a pusher that fell off during vacation. On that same vacation, under emergency situation, they had to jump into a pool after their child. It took four days for that member to get the watch to their watch maker who disassembled the piece before sending it to Omega in Switzerland.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-service-question-3k-for-rebuild-of-speedy.117190/

And thus was born the idea of the Ressence Type 5

Archer · Oct 10, 2021

cvalue13
And thus was born the idea of the Ressence Type 5

What problem was this watch intending to solve?

Water resistance isn’t it...

Archer · Oct 10, 2021

DoctorEvil
Wow.
That's why I always wear my Seamaster Pro when I'm on holidays or if I expect to be near water. Or if doing something adventurous like indoor rock climbing when the pushers can get knocked off.

Great idea!

😉

WestCoastTime · Oct 10, 2021

Archer
Great idea!

😉

Failed seal or user error?

Archer · Oct 10, 2021

WestCoastTime
Failed seal or user error?

Both! Seals were bad, so user error assuming that just because it’s a dive watch, the water resistance will last longer without maintenance than a non dive watch would. 😀

Yehoshua · Oct 10, 2021

Archer
There are few real “watchmaking emergencies” but water is one. If someone brings me a watch that has had water inside, I drop everything to get it disassembled and into the cleaning machine as quickly as possible.

If you are quick, you can avoid major damage, but it will depend on the amount of water, type of water, and time since the water entered the watch.

Bottom line is to take maintenance of the watch seriously, and have regular pressure testing and seal replacement done.

Cheers, Al

On a watch rated 150 meter water resistant, protected from steam and water except for an occasional wash-- is it really necessary to have it checked according to Omega's recommendation once every year? Perhaps once every three or four years is realistic?

Canuck · Oct 10, 2021

Yehoshua
On a watch rated 150 meter water resistant, protected from steam and water except for an occasional wash-- is it really necessary to have it checked according to Omega's recommendation once every year?

Yes! Particularly if you wear it in water!

What actually happens when you do get water in your Speedmaster?

fc3861

Canuck

fc3861

Canuck

JwRosenthal

Scarecrow Boat

pdxleaf

Scarecrow Boat

Scarecrow Boat

DoctorEvil

hronists

Canuck

Archer

cvalue13

Archer

Archer

WestCoastTime

Archer

Yehoshua

Canuck

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