How to waterproof your rep?

[shaqstudio]

Hey guys,

I really love my rep watches, but sometimes i find them not working after I get them wet after a shower or after wash hands. I dont really intend to bring them diving, perhaps just light swiming (no less than 3m underwater). Being able to wear my rep watch as a daily beater, makes me really happy. So I am really wondering how do I get my rep watch waterproof?

Am eyeing on a really beautiful Pam389 from Puretime... Just wondering who can I sent it to afterwards to waterproof it..

Any advice would help thanks!

 

[rhaykal]

I'm interested in this as well. I have sent off watches for waterproofing services before, but I'm hoping to see if there is a guide or steps to follow to waterproof yourself. I understand that it is primarily needing silicone grease, but how much to use? should I replace the rear gasket with a newer one? how to waterproof the crown guard on PAM reps? Is there anything special needed to waterproof a faux helium valve on reps (such as 243)?

 

[Derek Mc]

Personally I'd never get a rep damp let alone shower with it. I mean it can be done and a search on here will reveal several posts on "how to" but personally, I take it off! same as I would do with the gen I have to say

 

[Alex_P1]

I've never tried to waterproof a PAM, for good reason as I think it'd be pretty hard!

It sounds obvious, but the way to make a watch water resistant is to remove all paths for water ingress. These are crystal interface (2 if you've got a transparent caseback), crown and bezel interfaces.

The crystal is best sealed using UV glue. The bezels have o rings under them which need greasing with silicon (assuming they fit properly). The crown I'm not sure on as I don't know how they seal, I suspect the lever pushes it against another o ring, which again needs greasing.

If these steps are followed, the watch should be splash-proof. For any significant pressure, the quality of the machined components comes into play, as a decent interface is required as a minimum.

Please remember that your watch is only as water resistant as the last time you assembled it, so worn carefully?

I always do this, but still don't get my reps wet just take them off and you'll be safe for sure!

 

[Komelvis]

Hi,
Puretime does a Resistance test with the QC. I know that some of you doesn't give a s*** about that but with my last two watches (LMPO and PAM 382) I've been swimming, jumping into the pool and stuff.
I didn't have a problem.


Gesendet von meinem iPhone mit Tapatalk

 

[d4m.test]

Unless you are buying really low end canal street grade reps, you don't really have to worry. Said differently: get yourself a noob and follow a few simple steps listed below for peace of mind. As mentioned above pure time pressure tests their watches before shipping and most of them have totally ungreased o rings.

1. Get a proper caseback opener, not a ball of duct tape or a blue rubber ball
2. Get a 3 ounce tub of silicone divers grease off of amazon for $6
3. learn to remove your stem
4. Apply grease around the base of the crown
5. Apply grease to the caseback O ring
6. Reseal your caseback, nice and tight
7. Swim...jump...dive in the deep end... Swim 100 laps.

Most recent reps are waterproof straight from the TD if they are sealed properly. You aren't very likely to get water coming through your crystal gasket unless its damaged to begin with. You are more likely to get water ingress through an ungreased tube or improperly sealed caseback. I don't really recommend UV glue on the crystal, I think it's a bit overkill. Again most of the modern high end reps are totally water resistant to begin with.

 

[d4m.test]

I'm interested in this as well. I have sent off watches for waterproofing services before, but I'm hoping to see if there is a guide or steps to follow to waterproof yourself. I understand that it is primarily needing silicone grease, but how much to use? should I replace the rear gasket with a newer one? how to waterproof the crown guard on PAM reps? Is there anything special needed to waterproof a faux helium valve on reps (such as 243)?

Waterproofing service is mostly the steps I list above and not worth the price most charge. You might get charged $50 for 3 minutes of work. Kind of sad.

The He Valve on modern reps is most likely already swim proof. For example I swam with my new Noob DSSD 30 minutes after getting it in the mail. I haven't even "waterproofed" it yet. It is straight out of the box. But for peace of mind, you can remove the movement and seal the inside of the case with JB Weld Steel Epoxy. I think this is prudent for peace of mind and even if you want to actually dive with the watch.

 

[d4m.test]

Hi, Grimlocktime put it right. The new ones (when rated wp 50 meters or more) hold much better than generally believed if above steps are complied with. Nowadays more worried for a movement just dying or being DOA (specially decorated ones incl. PAM´s and Rolex) than for the rep not being waterproof. After proper testing and if the glass doesn´t get foggy after the first sweetwater try it´s fun to use in the sea. Even gen-owners are afraid of using 10k watches in water - what can You loose? Max $500. Fun is worth much more than that.

 

[Bozz]

I agree with Grim, every now and then I found some old gasket or bad quality. It is one of the few things to be careful...

 

[shaqstudio]

Thanks all for the replies!

A few questions..

1) how does some silicone grease stop water from penatrating? Sorry I am really new to this
2) So the way really is to do it yourself? I assume only a few dealers here do waterproofing service?
3) some of u guys were saying Pure time watches do pressure QC. So it should be quite splash proof, but someone mentioned that most of the watches have totally undressed O rings. So I am quite confused here.

 

[Komelvis]

I used both watches that came from Puretime in the water without doing something. Both were ok. Maybe I'm lucky but I wouldn't be afraid if the watch is checked during QC.


Gesendet von meinem iPhone mit Tapatalk

 

[ikiestik]

Step one. Open caseback with caseback opener/sticky ball.
Step two. Remove crown guard.
Step three. Remove stem.
Step four. Remove and wash all gaskets in warm water with some mild soap.
Step five. Leave gaskets to dry naturally.
Step six. Put silicon grease on a piece of card. You only need a small amount. Smear it around so its the size of the watch case.
step seven. Put gasket on grease (both sides) and move around with a toothpick or something similar. So they have a thin film covering them.
Step eight. Put gaskets back
Step nine. Put stem and caseback on.
Step ten. Tighten cg and cb with caseback opener.

To teat if its water resistant without spending money I put my watch in hot water. This will cause any air to be forced from the case and you will see the stream of bubbles if there is a leak. No bubbles= less chance of a leak. This is a mcguyver way of doing it and if your gaskets are in good condition you should be good to go.
I have made 2 of my manual wind pams pass 10atm and been in pool to jacuzzi and back with no problems.

This is what I did with my bronzo and it seems to be good in water hot or cold. I have never swam with it but its fine in the bath/shower.

 

[airfix163]

i purchased a rep from another site provider.forgot about it jumped in the shower and bang ruined water filled up the case.loved that watch

 

[larger654]

I have a real 327 I took it to the beach the other day entered the water waist deep Just couldnt go any futher.Asked the girlfriend to look after it whilst I went swimming. HOW SAD

 

[a2raya1]

I had my 111 in the beach without any problems to the case, but the leather - ruined. Last time I swim with my watches. Always some issue.

 

[Lagunax]

Ignore - duplicate post.

 

[Lagunax]

I swam with my TC sub in the pool last weekend. They are pretty resistant to begin with but I had it water treated. Have swum with a water treated BPFF too.
Both of my V6 Factory Omega reps ( 300 Master Co-axial and PO ) I took into the pool straight after reading by others who opened the case back that both models were already greased and sealed well by the factory.

 

[PAM1983]

Took my Newly purchased PAM571 in the Ocean down in Florida last week. Zero problems so far. My only concern was the Crown that meets up to the case not being water tight enough. It held up just fine. Although I might add that I didn't submerge it under water for more than a few seconds and let it air dry. No Issues. But I do want to reseal the gaskets with the right silicone grease just as a protected layer.

 

[m5smg2]

Just got back from vacation. I swam with my stock ZF 389 (and Noob DSSD) everyday in a pool, hot tub, and ocean with no issues. Not even fogging. I was impressed.

 

[warlordofnarnia]

I look at it this way - why swim or shower with it at all??

Do you need to know the time while you are in the shower?? Or when you are swimming?? If you need to know it while swimming, you are either a professional in the water, or in need of a cheap waterproof watch, ie a $50 Casio or the like.

Why chance a good rep worth several hundred?? Who will you impress wearing a watch in the water?? In truth, not a soul. Who cares what you are wearing but you. 99.995% of Joe public wouldn't recognise a watch anyway, and the other .005% wouldn't care.

Enjoy your watch because you like wearing it, and not because of what others might think - after all, it is a replica, and if others knew, they'd probably be amused, not impressed.