Washed hands with Heritage Chrono pushers unscrewed and chrono running

[DaveInLA]

Hey guys, I was testing the chrono earlier this am and forgot to stop it when I was done. If you're not aware of this, the THC chrono pushers have to be unscrewed to push and I forgot to screw them back in. I've since washed my hands with soap and water 3-4x and I'm worried that water has gotten into the case. I wash my hands like everybody else, with a little bit of water running up the wrist. I tried washing my hands again with the pushers screwed in and the water definitely comes into contact with the pushers.

How concerned should I be? It's really hard to see if water has access to the movement with the pushers unscrewed from the outside. And what's my next step now? Im at work so I don't have the option of putting the watch in the sun with pushers unscrewed or in a bag of rice to evaporate any water that might've gotten inside the case. The chrono minute counter is a fraction of a second off center (this apparently happened a few days ago but it wasn't like this when I bought the watch) so maybe I have an excuse to have RSC take a look at it to assess for water damage. What do you think? FWIW, THC is listed as having WR of 150M.

Edit: one more thing-- as soon as I noticed that the chrono was running and pushers were unscrewed, I immediately stopped and reset the chrono before unscrewing the pushers back in. In retrospect, I should've just unscrewed the pushers without pushing them (which definitely compromises WR). My worry is that there may have been a small amount of water in contact with the gaskets or whatnot that wasn't going to get into the case, but may now cause damage because I stopped the chrono. Or am I just worrying too much?

[ecsub44]

I don't know, I'm sorry.

But...I've read that as long as the pushers aren't activated under water (to either stop or start) then the water-tightness integrity is still intact.

Someone who actually knows will tell you for sure though.

[do or die]

It will be fine, it's not like you went deep sea diving with it.

[DaveInLA]

Originally Posted by ecsub44

But...I've read that as long as the pushers aren't activated under water (to either stop or start) then the water-tightness integrity is still intact.

Yeah, that's what I thought. But I realized the pushers were unscrewed right after I washed my hands and immediately stopped the chrono. I guess I'm worried that the watch was a little wet in all the wrong areas around the pushers after I washed my hands, and then I let that water in by operating the chrono.

[77T]

You won't get water past the seals by washing your hands - even with the crown and pushers all unscrewed.

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by do or die

It will be fine, it's not like you went deep sea diving with it.

Agree......

[Vincent65]

time will tell!! sure it will be fine.

[jay1988]

Well if there is no obvious signs of moisture, then you have two options:

1) Send it to be checked out which will probably involve a full service

2) Wait and encounter the very low chance that the movement will be damaged when it comes to servicing.

Personally, I highly doubt washing your hands would be enough to cause any problems. I would advise you to try and let it go but if you have a nagging feeling that you can't get shake then maybe you'll need to send it away.

Edit: I'm not a chrono owner but I believe the instructions are to not operate the pushers underwater. I've never heard anything about making sure the watch is completely dry before you work them.

[rmpickard]

Understand your concern.
Since you were not underwater and therefore no water pressure pushing in when you activated the pusher, I suspect you are fine.
Hopefully the gaskets would keep out residual water droplets.

Good luck.

[crowncollection]

If water got inside you would see condensation on the glass by now as you have been wearing it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Grey.Coupe]

I might leave it unscrewed in a dry environment for a few days. The water will evaporate if given a chance, and this extra step would help ensure you don't "seal" up water in the case when you screw the pushers down.

[landroverking]

You got a Tudor wet? You got a Rolex?
You must turn in your WIS card!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by DaveInLA

Yeah, that's what I thought. But I realized the pushers were unscrewed right after I washed my hands and immediately stopped the chrono. I guess I'm worried that the watch was a little wet in all the wrong areas around the pushers after I washed my hands, and then I let that water in by operating the chrono.

If it's built like the Daytona, the pusher lock-nuts have nothing to do with sealing..

they are just lock-nuts to lock the pushers, not seal them..

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by Grey.Coupe

I might leave it unscrewed in a dry environment for a few days. The water will evaporate if given a chance, and this extra step would help ensure you don't "seal" up water in the case when you screw the pushers down.

Won't work.

[Rolexwatch]

Forget about it.

The water WILL NOT get in the watch. I fell on the pool with my Daytona on, everything working, and nothing happened. If you operate the pushers and crown underwater you'll have a problem, but not by washing your hand with the watch open.

Your watch is fine.

[dardeca]

Originally Posted by Tools

If it's built like the Daytona, the pusher lock-nuts have nothing to do with sealing..

they are just lock-nuts to lock the pushers, not seal them..

What he said!!

[TurboWatch]

If you don't see water vapor underneath the crystal, you're fine.

[accce]

I have done the same thing. You will be fine. The screw down just holds the pusher so it cant be pushed under water. the screw down does not make it water resistant the seal around the pusher makes it waterproof.

[mjclark32]

I'm guessing it'll be fine, main word is guess though...

[Tudor Fan]

Originally Posted by Tools

If it's built like the Daytona, the pusher lock-nuts have nothing to do with sealing..

they are just lock-nuts to lock the pushers, not seal them..

So that means one really never needs to have the pushers screwed down, unless one actually goes diving?
That would be a great relieve as I use the stop watch function often...

[Cabaiguan]

It's fine. There are many chronos that don't have screwed pushers, such as the Speedy, and have water resistance.

As mentioned above, as long as the pushers aren't depressed underwater, you're OK.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Tudor Fan

So that means one really never needs to have the pushers screwed down, unless one actually goes diving?
That would be a great relieve as I use the stop watch function often...

That is correct.. Even then it doesn't really matter much..

At some depth (which you will be unlikely to go), the pusher seals may leak when the pusher is actually pushed in enough to deform the sealing o-ring..

They do not leak at any rated depth unless they are pushed, and so the lock-nuts can be engaged as a safety precaution to avoid accidental pushing..

[joe100]

The depth rating is maintained even with the pushers unscrewed.

[DaveInLA]

So it looks like I'm okay. No condensation in the watch. Still, a lesson learned for next time. Just to be safe, I won't operate the pushers immediately after washing my hands when the watch is still wet.

[Shade]

I dont even think if there will be any trouble even if you push them under water unless you maintain the depth rating mentioned on the watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by DaveInLA

Hey guys, I was testing the chrono earlier this am and forgot to stop it when I was done. If you're not aware of this, the THC chrono pushers have to be unscrewed to push and I forgot to screw them back in. I've since washed my hands with soap and water 3-4x and I'm worried that water has gotten into the case. I wash my hands like everybody else, with a little bit of water running up the wrist. I tried washing my hands again with the pushers screwed in and the water definitely comes into contact with the pushers.

How concerned should I be? It's really hard to see if water has access to the movement with the pushers unscrewed from the outside. And what's my next step now? Im at work so I don't have the option of putting the watch in the sun with pushers unscrewed or in a bag of rice to evaporate any water that might've gotten inside the case. The chrono minute counter is a fraction of a second off center (this apparently happened a few days ago but it wasn't like this when I bought the watch) so maybe I have an excuse to have RSC take a look at it to assess for water damage. What do you think? FWIW, THC is listed as having WR of 150M.

Edit: one more thing-- as soon as I noticed that the chrono was running and pushers were unscrewed, I immediately stopped and reset the chrono before unscrewing the pushers back in. In retrospect, I should've just unscrewed the pushers without pushing them (which definitely compromises WR). My worry is that there may have been a small amount of water in contact with the gaskets or whatnot that wasn't going to get into the case, but may now cause damage because I stopped the chrono. Or am I just worrying too much?

You are worrying too much about your watch in forum a French dive team tested a Daytona at 18m underwater with the pushers unscrewed. And they activated and set and reset the chrono function while at 18m no problem whatsoever.And myself once to a dive in the Red Sea noticed my crown was fully unscrewed on my SD while at 30m plus.But I did not panic as I had a group of divers with me I was guiding over the reef.On return to surface watch was fine and watch is still fine today that was quite a few years ago.






Left to right, HEV, Chrono pushers like on Daytona Tudor range,Twin Lock,Triplock.

[Tudor Fan]

Originally Posted by padi56

You are worrying too much about your watch in forum a French dive team tested a Daytona at 18m underwater with the pushers unscrewed. And they activated and set and reset the chrono function while at 18m no problem whatsoever.And myself once to a dive in the Red Sea noticed my crown was fully unscrewed on my SD while at 30m plus.But I did not panic as I had a group of divers with me I was guiding over the reef.On return to surface watch was fine and watch is still fine today that was quite a few years ago.






Left to right, HEV, Chrono pushers like on Daytona Tudor range,Twin Lock,Triplock.

Good to know. Thanks!