What should I do if water gets into my watch?

Q: What should I do if water gets into my watch?

A: Pull out the crown to let out as much water as possible and have the watch overhauled immediately.

No matter how careful you are, water and moisture can get inside your watch. For example, you might forget to tighten the screw-down crown, or it might have been a while since you last had your watch overhauled, causing the waterproof gasket to deteriorate. In Japan's humid and wet environment, moisture can easily get inside your watch if you're not careful.

What is surprisingly easy to overlook is the fact that when you go outside in the summer and then suddenly enter a cold place, condensation will form on the inside of the crystal. It will disappear if you leave it alone, but this is a sign that the watch is no longer waterproof. If condensation appears even though the case is waterproof, it is safe to assume that there is a problem with the watch, even if it is still running accurately.

If water gets into your watch, pull out the crown to let out as much water as possible and have it overhauled immediately. If there is condensation, it is also best to pull out the crown and remove as much moisture as possible. Using a hair dryer will help remove the condensation quickly, but it is not recommended as it will damage the paint and lubricants on the dial.

In the worst case scenario, the hands and dial may rust.

So what happens if water or moisture is not removed for several days? In the case of a mechanical watch, the metal parts will rust and, in the worst case, the watch will stop. Even if it doesn't stop, the lubricating oil will be altered, significantly affecting its accuracy. In the case of a quartz watch, the circuit may short out. And if condensation occurs while the watch face is placed on top, the topmost hands will be damaged and the watch face will gradually rust as well.

No one would leave a watch with water inside. What you should be careful of is to remove the moisture as soon as possible if condensation occurs. If your waterproof watch is prone to condensation, we recommend having it overhauled immediately.