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condensation
- Thread starter aidan
- Start date
It means there is moisture inside the watch which is condensing due to changes in temperature.
Quick fix - open case back, place watch inside small freezer bag full of rice, seal bag. Leave in a warm place for a few days. Remove watch and replace caseback tightly. Check again for moisture. Rice is cheap.
Proper fix - send to watchsmith who will clean and oil the now damp movement, check gaskets and seals, and return your fixed watch. Watchsmiths are not cheap.
Quick fix - open case back, place watch inside small freezer bag full of rice, seal bag. Leave in a warm place for a few days. Remove watch and replace caseback tightly. Check again for moisture. Rice is cheap.
Proper fix - send to watchsmith who will clean and oil the now damp movement, check gaskets and seals, and return your fixed watch. Watchsmiths are not cheap.
Back when I was working for a Rolex retailer our watchmaker frequently got watches in with a lot of moisture inside. If the customer didn't want a full service but just a quick fix, our watchmaker would pop the back off then put it on the counter with the exposed movement facing up, then place a clean cloth over the movement and direct an articulated desk lamp at it to warm and dry it. He got the lamp close but not so near the watch that it got hot. After an hour or so, he'd lightly silicone the gasket and put it back together with instructions to the customer that if it happened again to bring it in for an overhaul.
- 27/5/15
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Not only is rice not particularly effective, it is very dusty (organic dust is the worse) and that dust will settle inside your watch if you have the back off.
If you don't like the desk lamp idea, possibly you have some Silica Gel Desiccant packs lying around? Use those in the zip lock bag with your watch, not rice.
If your silica gel packs are even a few days old, they've probably already absorbed their share of ambient moisture out of the air.
You can refresh them by putting them in the toaster oven and setting the temp very low and running it for 5 minutes or less. No, don't "toast" them or they'll burst into flame ;-)
Its not a bad idea to have some packs on hand. Store them in a zip lock.
https://www.amazon.com/Silica-Gel-Desiccants-2-1-Inches/dp/B003DKQB02
If you don't like the desk lamp idea, possibly you have some Silica Gel Desiccant packs lying around? Use those in the zip lock bag with your watch, not rice.
If your silica gel packs are even a few days old, they've probably already absorbed their share of ambient moisture out of the air.
You can refresh them by putting them in the toaster oven and setting the temp very low and running it for 5 minutes or less. No, don't "toast" them or they'll burst into flame ;-)
Its not a bad idea to have some packs on hand. Store them in a zip lock.
https://www.amazon.com/Silica-Gel-Desiccants-2-1-Inches/dp/B003DKQB02
I'd agree on the dust front, and that silica gel is better, but rice has worked just fine for me in the past.
Most people have access to rice...
If you want to up the effectiveness then buy instant rice.
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