What to Do If Water Gets Into Your Luxury Watch
If you own a luxury watch, then you likely take great measures to look after it and prevent any damage. However, some amount of damage is almost inevitable when it comes to wristwatches since they spend so much time on your body. From being hit against furniture to being dropped on the ground, your Rolex watch goes through a lot. However, some of the most significant damage it can suffer is water damage. If your Rolex watch has been caught in the rain and you fear it’s suffered water damage, keep reading to find out what to do to protect your investment and save your luxury timepiece.
What if you have a waterproof watch?
Some luxury watches gloat that they can be taken to depths as much as 500 meters underwater. However, the unfortunate truth is that no watch is 100% waterproof. While waterproof watches may be able to withstand one or two dips in the pool, long-term use of your timepiece underwater could result in significant damage. This is because the waterproofing feature is in the watch’s O-ring, a silicone gasket that acts as a seal against water. However, the O-ring doesn’t stay perfectly intact forever; it will likely deform after some time, causing water to enter your watch and potentially damage it. If you have a waterproof watch, try to use it in water as little as possible. Avoiding unnecessary trips in the pool with your luxury watch on will help you avoid costly Rolex watch repair in the future.
What not to do if your watch is water damaged
Many people’s first instinct — fueled by old wives’ tales — is to leave their watch in a bag of rice or on the radiator. Many people place their watch in a sunny spot such as a windowsill, hoping that the heat from the sun will allow the water to dry faster and minimize any water damage to their timepiece. However, this can often do more harm than good. Keeping your watch in extreme heat — such as directly in sunlight for hours on end — can cause the parts to expand, not only warping them but also potentially allowing that water to enter the dial and cause more damage. The heat can also dry out the watch’s lubricant, creating friction on the gears. If your Rolex watch is water damaged, avoid your instinct and instead invest in professional Rolex watch repair for long-term savings.
How to repair a watch with water damage
If your watch has suffered water damage, the most important factor in saving it is time. Getting your watch to a Rolex watch repair professional as quickly as possible will increase its chances of being fully repaired — and at a lower cost. As soon as the damage occurs, dry your watch with the low-cool setting on a hair dryer to dry out the exterior of the watch. Avoid a high heat setting, as this could further damage the watch’s body. Once the watch is dry, bring your Rolex to a Rolex watch repair professional such as Watch & Wares to have it assessed for damage. Our watch repair experts can tell you whether your watch has been damaged and, if so, how it can be repaired.
If you’ve had water get into your luxury watch recently, turn to the experts at Watch & Wares for top-tier Rolex watch repair. Whether your timepiece is modern or vintage, waterproof or not, we’ve got you covered. We stand by our repair work 100% and offer a one-year warranty on all full clean and overhaul services. To schedule a Rolex watch repair appointment, contact us at (714) 633-2030 or fill out our online contact form today.
