- 27/3/21
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Dear Paneristi,
As some of you may know, I've been fascinated with the water resistance potential with reps due to the fact it seems to be the only fly in the proverbial ointment that stops reps being a no-brainer over buying a genuine.
I started this thread, which seemed to help dispel the myth that water is reps kryptonite - https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/panerai/10058478-pressure-testing-pams
Some members may also be aware that I'd been aggressively hunting a pam979 to complete my collection. I was recently able to obtain one and was over the moon with the watch. I had it pressure tested to 5ATM and it passed with flying colours.
The watch was a little tough to wind so I sent it for a full service and had the watch returned in peak condition, losing almost no time and winding like butter. London has been cold and brutal so I booked a trip to sunny Spain for Christmas.
Whilst away, I decided to take a dip in the ocean - it was cold but tolerable and I waded into it at stomach level, my 979 submerged by a few inches. I reflexively checked the watch and found the dial flooded with water! My heart sank and I ran out of the ocean and found a local cobbler, that changes watch batteries, who managed to get the back off to drain the water. This was the result after 2 hours of seawater inside the movement:
I was crushed. I was isolated in a small beach town and would have to wait to get back to London to get it looked at properly.
I kept asking myself how this could happen if it passed 5ATM? Then it hit me - it passed BEFORE I had it serviced, I don't know what it's water resistance was following the work. I assumed that it would be pressure tested again but it wasn't. I walked into the ocean that day assuming it was in an identical state and that was my crucial mistake.
I got back to London yesterday and this is all that could be saved:
The movement and datewheel destroyed by rust.
One interesting note for those in the UK - my replica watch is COVERED by my insurance!!! It's legal to own them and they're going to reimburse me £100 less than I paid! So not all is lost! :thumbsup:
I'm now left in a quandary, do I buy a donor watch to just harvest the movement and date wheel? Or hold to see if at some point in the near future VSF or a competitor reopens and I'm able to source those parts specifically.
To all members, if you get a service, ask for WR test! DO NOT ASSUME IT IS AT THE SAME WR LEVEL FROM YOUR FIRST TEST!!!
If anyone has a p9000 movement and DW spare, please let me know!!!!
As some of you may know, I've been fascinated with the water resistance potential with reps due to the fact it seems to be the only fly in the proverbial ointment that stops reps being a no-brainer over buying a genuine.
I started this thread, which seemed to help dispel the myth that water is reps kryptonite - https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/panerai/10058478-pressure-testing-pams
Some members may also be aware that I'd been aggressively hunting a pam979 to complete my collection. I was recently able to obtain one and was over the moon with the watch. I had it pressure tested to 5ATM and it passed with flying colours.
The watch was a little tough to wind so I sent it for a full service and had the watch returned in peak condition, losing almost no time and winding like butter. London has been cold and brutal so I booked a trip to sunny Spain for Christmas.
Whilst away, I decided to take a dip in the ocean - it was cold but tolerable and I waded into it at stomach level, my 979 submerged by a few inches. I reflexively checked the watch and found the dial flooded with water! My heart sank and I ran out of the ocean and found a local cobbler, that changes watch batteries, who managed to get the back off to drain the water. This was the result after 2 hours of seawater inside the movement:
I was crushed. I was isolated in a small beach town and would have to wait to get back to London to get it looked at properly.
I kept asking myself how this could happen if it passed 5ATM? Then it hit me - it passed BEFORE I had it serviced, I don't know what it's water resistance was following the work. I assumed that it would be pressure tested again but it wasn't. I walked into the ocean that day assuming it was in an identical state and that was my crucial mistake.
I got back to London yesterday and this is all that could be saved:
The movement and datewheel destroyed by rust.
One interesting note for those in the UK - my replica watch is COVERED by my insurance!!! It's legal to own them and they're going to reimburse me £100 less than I paid! So not all is lost! :thumbsup:
I'm now left in a quandary, do I buy a donor watch to just harvest the movement and date wheel? Or hold to see if at some point in the near future VSF or a competitor reopens and I'm able to source those parts specifically.
To all members, if you get a service, ask for WR test! DO NOT ASSUME IT IS AT THE SAME WR LEVEL FROM YOUR FIRST TEST!!!
If anyone has a p9000 movement and DW spare, please let me know!!!!
