You do your best to take care of your expensive watch but sometimes water and moisture can get inside of it. Whereas there are many watches that are well known for their waterproof qualities, the truth is no watch is truly waterproof. The most common moisture problems occur when there is a sharp temperature change from cold to warm.
Some consumers might be worried about their watch’s resistance to humidity and water as even though they are frequently marketed as “water-resistant,” most watches are not always waterproof. Even while some of these watches are rated as being impenetrable of water up to thousand feet, this does not guarantee that they will remain dry, especially as they get older.
The most frequent reason for water damage to a watch is ‘condensation’. This can happen due to a temperature or moisture difference between the interior and exterior of the watch if the water-resistant seal is missing or damaged; even gaps around watch winders can result in condensation. In most cases, if your watch face is hazy, this is the cause. Condensation can build more easily on some watches since they are not at all water-resistant.
However, getting water or moisture from a fog-laden watch can seem like a daunting task. If you live in a very humid area that is close to a water body or you’ve accidentally dropped your watch in water, there are several things you can do to ensure that the water is removed and your watch is restored to normal working condition.
Here are 5 tips for drying a watch.
1. Decide Whether You Should Attempt A Dry It Yourself Fix
Before you do anything, you will need to determine whether you can handle possible destruction to your watch as you try to fix it yourself. If your watch is expensive and still relatively new, you may want to take it to a professional watchmaker rather than risk making the warranty invalid.
Suppose you continue using ineffective methods to eliminate the condensation or moisture inside the watch; in that case, it may require a larger, more expensive repair or be completely destroyed due to the lack of proper knowledge in drying your watch.
2. Let The Watch Dry Under The Sun
A simple tip to drying your watch is by placing the watch on a dry cloth and laying it under the sun. Observe if the water evaporates and the film of condensation clears on its own. If you notice that there is no trace of moisture anymore, you probably will not need to take any more action.
Removing the watch’s crown is a far superior strategy in this situation. Take your watch outside or on a window sill where the sun shines; face down, if the back case has been taken and face up if only the crown has been pulled. Through the open channels, the sun evaporates the moisture on the watch.
3. Use A Desiccant
A desiccant is a substance or material that can absorb or attract moisture from the air. There are several readily available desiccants you can use to dry your watch and restore it to working order and they are; silica gel, cat litter, and uncooked rice. Place your watch in a container containing the desiccant of your choice. Leave it in a warm and dry area for a few days. The silica gel, uncooked rice or cat litter will dry the water from inside your watch.
4. Use A Fan Or A Hair Dryer
Another tip to drying your watch is by using a fan or a hairdryer. Set your dryer to the lowest heat settings and slowly blow the watch. You could also place the watch next to the fan. Remember to exercise caution when drying out your watch using heat as too much heat can cause damage in the inner workings of your watch leaving you with a much bigger problem than getting the water out of your watch.
Blow some hot air toward the watch using a regular hairdryer, however, avoid getting too close to the watch with the blow dryer and blow from the back. Simply leaving the watch in a warm location is another related technique.
As much as heat could be of help, never attempt to dry the condensation on your watch by placing it in a microwave or oven, for instance because it may harm the watch’s internal components, glass, band, or other components.
5. Consult A Professional
If you have tried all these tips and tricks without success, then it is advisable to take your watch to a professional watchmaker. The watch repairer will carefully separate the case, take the mechanisms apart, dry your watch, put it back together properly and give it back to you as good as new.
A watch is a tremendously intricate piece of engineering that often contains more than one hundred individual parts to make it function. One issue could cause your watch to lose its ability to tell time.
Conclusion
Your watch is a delicate masterpiece made up of many separate pieces that make it work and getting moisture out of your watch should be done immediately to avoid serious damage. Consult a professional for a sure and guaranteed fix.