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How to waterproof vsf seamaster?
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StrangwaysAtoll
Getting To Know The Place
In order to take the right measures, one would have to know where the water is entering. Conceivable would be through the glass, case back, the crown or even the helium valve. Until you figure that out, you can only guess.
StrangwaysAtoll
Getting To Know The Place
I don’t trust the clone HEVs. Unless another member can weigh in, the machining in all the reps with the HEV looks like an afterthought and becomes a very serious ingress point if not done correctly (function vs aesthetics). If you aren’t going to go with a water pressure test - then glue or loctite the HEV from the interior. Let fully set/harden. Then retest. Since you have to remove the movement - you might as well dunk the case and see if you can locate bubbles.
When I had my old SM300 waterproofed the watchsmith said the HE valve was the weak link and he epoxied it in place to seal it. You couldn’t unscrew it anymore but it was waterproof after that.
cheapest potential fix is just plugging the HEV with epoxy, like IPromiseItsFake said. it's not like you'll ever need it anyways
You cant blindly fix water leaks. People saying to expoxy the release valve might be right, but you have no proof that's where the leak is right now on YOUR watch.
Expocid resin is really heavy. I sealed my 300 with a liquid seal from Microtec. Remove the movement, unscrew the helium valve, apply the "fixdicht" and screw the valve back in. The watch passed the water test at 50 meters, The advantage is, you can always put it back.
(I used the TEC-500)
Fixdicht Produktübersicht
Eigenschaften: Temperaturbeständigkeit: -50°C bis +150°C Viskosität bei 25°C: 2000-3000 mPa.s Losdrehmoment ohne Vorspannung: 16 Nm Weiterdrehmoment: 10 Nm DVGW/KTW: Ja/Ja Zum Abdichten von metallischen Rohr- und Schraubenverbindungen im Kalt-, Warmwasser-, Druckluft-, Dampf-, Gas-, Heizungs-...
www.microtec-gt.de
(I used the TEC-500)
Here is an example from practice:
two VSF Seamaster 300 checked to 6Bar.
Both models show no bubbles and are therefore waterproof. The helium valves were treated with the above mentioned agent. The watches are therefore suitable for splashing, showering or the summer rain walk.
two VSF Seamaster 300 checked to 6Bar.
Both models show no bubbles and are therefore waterproof. The helium valves were treated with the above mentioned agent. The watches are therefore suitable for splashing, showering or the summer rain walk.
6 Bar should be good enough for a couple of beers in the hot tub but only until things get frisky.
For those who may not understand, practically speaking, there is no such thing as a “waterproof” watch. Watches are “water resistant” so what you do will determine how much resistance you need:
10 Bar for swimming
20 Bar for surface diving (ie off a board) and frisky hot tub activities
30 Bar plus for scuba/underwater diving (depending on depth)
* “Bar“ is short for barometric pressure. It is approximately equal to 1 atmosphere (atm) which is the atmospheric pressure at sea level.
it's a rep, and the worst outcome is it adds a little weight to the watch. nobody in the world needs a helium release valve on a rep watch. if you are a saturation diver who depends on his gear at a depth where that matters, you would be an absolute moron for using a rep.
if i had zero clue where a leak was, the first thing i would still do is epoxy the helium release valve. it is consistently the weakest point (in terms of waterproofing) on these watches.
i'd hope so, would be a little awkward if i had to remove my "Seamaster" to jump into an 8' deep pool
StrangwaysAtoll
Getting To Know The Place
Exactly! Biggest tell at any resort or on the boat is a “diver” being removed before swimming or frisky hot tub activities 
Yes, if you need a dive timer for your profession - it’s not going to work out well taking your rep along.
Yes, if you need a dive timer for your profession - it’s not going to work out well taking your rep along.