Water Resistance Degrade Over Time In Vintage Pieces?

[shocken2]

Just wondering how much, if at all, the age of a watch affects its water resistance. Will a 20 year sub with fresh seals have the same WR as it did new? What about 30 or 40 years? Obviously it will vary watch to watch, but is there a general decline or will vintage pieces maintain their WR if properly serviced?

I treat my early ‘90s SD pretty rough and have certainly never worried about WR, but not sure if I’ll feel the same confidence in it ten or fifteen years from now.

[high5]

if it passes the pressure test and all the seals are good, it should be ok. that said, I will never wear any vintage to swim/shower.

[Adam K.]

Well, for one thing, your SD has a sapphire crystal whose water resistance characteristics will not degrade over time (its the gasket beneath it whose proper seating ensures that...this DOES need to be replaced from time to time, but is easy to do since all modern Rolex have the same type of system and these bits are readily available)

Vintage Rolex, like the one pictured, use acrylic crystals of course...and here the crystal is directly responsible for creating the pressure proof seal on top of the watch. Unfortunately over time (and with exposure to heat, UV rays, chemicals, etc etc) the material can degrade and/or warp and begin to allow minute amounts of moisture in to the dial. While much more resilient to whacks and shattering than sapphire, acrylic crystals CAN if hit hard enough experience micro-cracks that do compromise water resistance, as well.

One important thing to consider when thinking about the water resistant properties of vintage vs modern sapphire Rolex watches. Assuming a supply of appropriate new condition acrylic crystals (as well as appropriate gaskets, and assuming a case that hasn't been compromised due to pitting in areas near case seals, etc) there's no reason a vintage CAN'T remain water resistant, but obviously maintainance is a little more dear and scarce than what you'll find for a more modern Oyster.

Service and maintenance considerations are probably why most opt for modern Rolex when the going gets really wet and tough.

[Michael M.]

My 1969 Red 1680 was serviced in 2010 and I recently had the seals & gaskets changed and it's passed the pressure test well above its depth rating, I regualry wash it.

On your SD as long as it passes the pressure test it should be fine

[Tools]

I would say that seal and gasket materials have improved so much over the years that a vintage watch would, perhaps, have a better water resistance than when new..

If the surfaces are not degraded (corroded caseback for example); there is no reason why a vintage with new seals would be any less water resistant than when it was made.. but accidents can, and do happen.

The question becomes one of risk. Do you put at risk a possibly irreplaceable dial and handset or movement on a vintage, vs. putting at risk a modern reference that can be easily repaired..

[vintagewaferthin]

i have a rule to never wear any of my vintage pieces whenever i am doing anything that involves water, thats what my armitron and my g shock are for.