...you went swimming in your watch and got water inside the case??

Can anyone give me some rough idea of what it would cost you?
Assume you got it to the manufacture as soon as possible.
Would it ‘just’ need a full service?
Are there parts you think would definitely need replaced?
Would the whole movement need replaced?
What about the case? Would you get corrosion of screw-down parts that would render the whole thing less watertight in future?

Please note - this isn’t me ‘asking for a friend’ because it has happened to me It’s early, and this seems to be my thought for the day. I guess it’s a response to @nbg talking yesterday about criteria for when he would take a watch swimming

I will let you know if it ever happens. The watches I have swum with have always been very reliable: Makos, Trident Pro, Sealander and Metris. I only ever swim with them on holiday because when I go to the gym at home I’m usually in the sauna, so the watch gets locked away.

It might depend on how it happened and whether it’s covered under warranty due to a faulty seal or if you’d need to pay.

I had a CW suffer water ingress and it had a full service, new hands and new dial. How much it would cost for this if it ever happens again would depend on whether it’s a CW, IWC, Omega etc.

iain wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 11:00 am I had a CW suffer water ingress and it had a full service, new hands and new dial.

Thanks @iain - this is the kind of info I was after, just out of curiosity. Part of me was wondering if you’d end up needing replacement everything

In my experience, if it is caught early enough a full service will take care of it. There are many variables though. The most important being how much moisture got in and second how many days since the incursion.

Thanks @rkovars I guess that getting the watch to the watchmaker ASAP is very important.

rkovars wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:45 pm In my experience, if it is caught early enough a full service will take care of it. There are many variables though. The most important being how much moisture got in and second how many days since the incursion.

I was thinking that, as a service includes a full bath for most of the watch parts anyway, doesn't it? As long as you caught the water early I expect it would be ok

And possibly it it were salt or fresh water.

JAFO wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:26 pm

rkovars wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:45 pm In my experience, if it is caught early enough a full service will take care of it. There are many variables though. The most important being how much moisture got in and second how many days since the incursion.

I was thinking that, as a service includes a full bath for most of the watch parts anyway, doesn't it? As long as you caught the water early I expect it would be ok

Yep. Actually it is every part except the crystal. Most watchmakers will even reattach the balance into the main plate to run it through the cleaner. The case bezel ring and bracelet will go through the ultrasonic cleaner.

watchaholic wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:51 pm And possibly it it were salt or fresh water.

Also yes to this. Salt water closes the time window considerably because seawater is very corrosive.

So, purely for reasons of physics and engineering, for the watch that's had a water leak are there any merits to leaving it submerged and fully saturated until it can be fettled professionally? I guess the dial might not like it....

tikkathree wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 12:06 pm So, purely for reasons of physics and engineering, for the watch that's had a water leak are there any merits to leaving it submerged and fully saturated until it can be fettled professionally? I guess the dial might not like it....

The only possible outcome of leaving a compromised watch submerged is that there will be further moisture ingress. I'd suggest, don't heat or freeze the watch. If you are competent opening the watch, that could help dry it out to reduce the time that moisture is present.

Of course, moisture is highly likely to not be just water, it likely contains contaminating solubles, so just drying it out and closing it up could leave long term problems.

I'm surprised the "leave the watch in a bag of rice" solution hasn't been mentioned yet. If it is water rather than moisture, I think the recommendations above are appropriate.

Leon O wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 11:45 pm I'm surprised the "leave the watch in a bag of rice" solution hasn't been mentioned yet.

Indeed!
I wouldn’t ever do the bag of rice thing though - way too much to go wrong, slowly, over time...