Condensation from loose back (Swiss Army watch)?
Bernard
I have a Swiss Army watch, not sure the model,
but it is the first one they came out with
(red bezel, nylon leather strap).
I have it for over ten years.
A few months ago, I had the battery changed.
At that time, the repair guy could not get
the back replaced (snapped back on) and asked
me to leave it with him. Went picked it up
the next week and it seemed fine.
We were in New Orleans two weeks ago (hot
and humid but the watched was not rained on
and in direct contact of any water)
and noticed some condensation on the inside
of the crystal. It comes and goes, but after
a few days the watch stopped working altogether.
We took it back to the same repair shop.
The guy looked at it and said the watch
is useless as it had rusted out.
Now, it so happened that:
(1) the watch is working again, for the
last three days, even though it feels
funny when the date is being changed
(no click when the date jumps); and
(2) the back was not replaced.
My questions are:
(1) Could it be possible that the back
was not replaced properly when the battery
was changed such that water sipped in
and caused the condensation? I mean,
the back does say "5 ATM" on it. The repair
guy said the condensation is from the sweat.
(2) How can one tell is the watch is rusted?
(3) Any way I can replace the back myself?
Or do I have to spend another $10 to have
someone do it?
Thank you for your kind help and advice
in advance.
Cheers,
Bernard
dAz
> I have it for over ten years.
>
> A few months ago, I had the battery changed. At that time, the repair
> guy could not get the back replaced (snapped back on) and asked me to
> leave it with him. Went picked it up the next week and it seemed fine.
the warning bells should have ringing!, if this "repair guy" couldn't get
the back on, sounds like he doesn't have the right tools for the job,
unless he just one of these kiosk battery changers
> We were in New Orleans two weeks ago (hot and humid but the watched was
> not rained on and in direct contact of any water) and noticed some
> condensation on the inside of the crystal. It comes and goes, but after
> a few days the watch stopped working altogether.
most likely a damaged or missing back gasket
> We took it back to the same repair shop. The guy looked at it and said
> the watch is useless as it had rusted out.
mistake number 2
> Now, it so happened that:
>
> (1) the watch is working again, for the last three days, even though it
> feels funny when the date is being changed (no click when the date
> jumps); and
>
> (2) the back was not replaced.
>
> My questions are:
>
> (1) Could it be possible that the back was not replaced properly when
> the battery was changed such that water sipped in and caused the
> condensation? I mean,
> the back does say "5 ATM" on it. The repair guy said the condensation is
> from the sweat.
ok, sounds like you just got a battery change over, any watch that has a
pressure rating on it as in this case 5ATM is 50 metres, needs to be
pressure tested EVERY TIME it is opened, after 10 years the gaskets in the
crown and back will need replacing in order to maintain the water
resistance of the case
in your case this guy had trouble getting the back on, either he didn't
have the right tool or the back gasket has swelled and the fact water got
into the watch means the gasket was left out or was cut when he finally
got the back on
> (2) How can one tell is the watch is rusted?
it don't go, or crunchy feeling when setting hands, etc, a watch wet with
salt water (sweat, sea water) will rust in a few hours, and with quartz
its worse because the battery can cause electrolytic corrosion on the
circuit at the same time
> (3) Any way I can replace the back myself? Or do I have to spend another
> $10 to have someone do it?
no, not without the right tool, a lot of watches have tight backs and its
not worth your while to buy a tool just to put the back on every couple of
years.
take your watch to a watchmaker or an agent for Swiss Army watch and get a
quote, by the sound of it you are going to need a new movement, new crown,
back gasket, maybe a new crystal if there are any chips or scratches in
the old one and a pressure test.
get a quote so you can get an idea whether to have it repaired or go buy
yourself a new watch
BTW when I say watchmaker, I mean a watchmaker, not someone who just
changes batteries all day.
when a watch goes in for new battery, the case should be wiped clean to
prevent dirt getting into the movement, the case is opened, a quick
visual check to see if the movement looks clean and free of damage, the
battery is removed and checked for leakage, it is then given a voltage
load check to see if it is actually flat, if not then there is another
problem.
the battery terminals are checked to make sure they are clean and free of
electrolyte, a power consumption test is done on the movement to see if
its not draining too much current, most analouge quartz these days pull
around 0.5 of a microamp (half of 1 millionth of an amp), so if a watch
draws 2 microamps the battery will run down in a few months instead of 2
years.
the new battery is wiped clean and inserted into the movement, the back
gasket is greased, replaced and the back closed up
the whole job should take about 5 mins, thats what I do for $10
if a pressure test is needed then there an extra charge for that
if the watch needs new gaskets, crown, service etc, then it becomes a
quote
dAz