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23 December 2015, 08:53 AM | #1 |
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Frequent pressure testing your Rolex diver . . . really?
Seems I've read threads that if your Sub/SD/DSSD hasn't been tested in over a year and you're going diving that it needs to be pressure tested just to make sure it's OK.
Rolex now includes a 5 year warranty. I can see having it tested before the warranty ends just so it can be fixed under warranty. That would be prudent. But has Rolex ever recommended a pressure testing interval? Are the seals that fragile? Where's the documentation for this practice? |
23 December 2015, 09:45 AM | #2 |
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I used to run the largest dive club in the UK for 12 years, seen thousands of watches go in freezing UK water. Never seen one leak through age between services (unless it was a really long gap and the rubber could have perished). Most leaks are after the battery change or a service, an impact or other predictable event. Once the O rings are compressed and sealed they stay that way till they are disturbed or perish
Apart from the tag Heuer dive watches that stop in cold water! |
23 December 2015, 10:45 AM | #3 | |
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If the o-rings are sealed inside the case it seems it would be a very long time before they perish. And now that Rolex recommends servicing at 10 years would it be unreasonable to expect that may be the approximate lifetime for the o-rings? |
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23 December 2015, 11:52 AM | #4 | |
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The Delrin crystal gasket deteriorates over time from exposure to the suns U.V. rays. If you are going to submerge the watch in water and not risk flooding the case, a pressure test at least every 3 to 5 years is a prudent task to undertake. It is inexpensive and gives peace of mind when you wear the watch in the pool or ocean. |
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23 December 2015, 12:36 PM | #5 | |
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But, has Rolex ever made a statement about pressure testing? Great avatar, BTW! |
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24 December 2015, 11:00 PM | #6 | |
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23 December 2015, 05:01 PM | #7 |
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I pressure test my vintage Rolexes every season, but they have plexi crystals that might have gotten microcracks after bumping into things. I do not worry about the gaskets.
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24 December 2015, 01:05 AM | #8 |
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Loads of life supporting dive stuff is made from Delrin. It survives salt environments and double UV exposure fine (on a dive boat you get the UV on the way down and the reflection from the water, very easy to get toasted even in UK.
I would imaging the greatest danger to a watch is Oxygen. O2 and rubber is not a great combo (it can ignite!) and the rubber is oxidised. Not an issue for normal PADI type divers but for us mixed gas guys it could happen. Modern dive equipment uses Nitrile and other O2 safe gaskets. Having said that my Subc, Chris Ward tridents and other watches that go diving are all fine, including my trusty Seiko kinetic diver, that went on every dive with me for 15 years on the original set of o rings (around 2000 dives, no service either) and has definitely seen its fair share of O2 (and helium) |
24 December 2015, 06:00 AM | #9 | |
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24 December 2015, 10:55 AM | #10 | |
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24 December 2015, 06:24 AM | #11 | ||
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Still wondering if there's any documentation from Rolex regarding pressure testing frequency. I found one source that recommended pressure testing every six months! LINK (next to last sentence) That seems outrageous! |
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24 December 2015, 06:15 PM | #12 |
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Rolex general advice on this, if the watch is being used regularly for diving, repeatedly immersed and subject to the knocks, impacts etc... associated with diving then it is advisable to have it pressure tested once a year.
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24 December 2015, 07:26 PM | #13 |
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Have to agree 100%.
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25 December 2015, 01:08 AM | #14 |
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Good to know
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17 June 2016, 09:46 AM | #15 |
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So much chatter about the case gasket. 99% of the time in a wet tester leaks are from the tube gasket, crown gasket, and crystal gasket.
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18 June 2016, 01:55 AM | #16 |
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I would think climate where you live might make a difference. Here the humidity is about 8-10% which would dry things out at a faster rate then maybe Florida. Not to mention summer heat.. I have gaskets changed every 3-4 years, lots of water time for mine 8 months a year.
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25 July 2016, 10:41 AM | #17 | |
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