Strange condensation issue?

[richarda]

Happy new year everyone.

With the cold weather in England ATM I noticed when coming in from the outside into a warm environment both my Sub C and Kermit suffer from slight misting on the inside of the crystal. This disappears quickly in under a minute.

The Subc is fairly new and has never been opened and the kermit has only just recently returned from a Rolex service.

Should I be concerned? Both my Omega bond SMP and 8500 cal omega PO don't suffer the same issue.

kind regards
Rich

[MonBK]

No worries if they are pressured tested.

[richarda]

Thanks for the reassurance.

I wonder why they do it and the omegas don't?

regards
Rich

[eltonbalch]

I believe both of your Omegas have helium escape valves. It is possible they may play a role but others who are more knowledgeable should chime in.

[Rp930]

I don’t like the idea of moisture in there.

[Franks07]

I would not be comfortable with ANY condensation on the inside of my watch Crystal.
I'm not a science guy but my best recollection is that "condensation" comes from moisture.
I had a similar problem with a very expensive vintage Omega once and took it to my watchmaker immediately and he found a barely visible hairline crack in the crystal.
Worth a quick trip to a qualified watchmaker IMO.
Good luck.

[lwrm23]

Any pics??

[richarda]

No pics as it clears so quickly on both that I can't get a decent shot.

Strange that both SubC and kermit both do it to the exact same degree.

[ykik27]

Actually having minor condensation inside a watch is common and could happen in any watches. It comes from the water in the air, so most if the time it is unavoidable. Now, if it is major, and stays even in the normal temperature you might have an issue like crack.
Sounds like you have minor condensation, so I would say you do not have to worry it so much.


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[kauffee]

It’s strange that it’s happening in two watches, especially a SubC that hasn’t been opened. Nevertheless, agree that it would be concerning. You’re going to get a lot of opinions on here, but I’d go to the source. Call the RSC and explain the issue to them and see what they say.

[zesty55]

That isn't right, time for service. You don't want moisture causing damage to the internals.

[Xerxes77]

Go and make a presure test!

[dcash0615]

Are you absolutely sure the misting is on the inside of the crystal? I would recreate the situation and check by running your finger over the surface of the crystal when it gets misty and see if it is inside or on the outside surface of the crystal. If on the inside, I would get both watches pressure tested to be safe and if they pass I wouldn’t worry about it.

[Wcdhtwn]

Condensation on the inside can't be a good thing. I've never seen this happen to any of my watches.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Wcdhtwn

Condensation on the inside can't be a good thing. I've never seen this happen to any of my watches.

When inside a warm room place an ice cube on the crystal and you'll see it.

[richarda]

Originally Posted by dcash0615

Are you absolutely sure the misting is on the inside of the crystal? I would recreate the situation and check by running your finger over the surface of the crystal when it gets misty and see if it is inside or on the outside surface of the crystal. If on the inside, I would get both watches pressure tested to be safe and if they pass I wouldn’t worry about it.

Definitely on the inside.

The ice cube trick replicates the effect exactly.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by richarda

Definitely on the inside.

The ice cube trick replicates the effect exactly.

It does on most Rolex.

[Mystro]

Normal in extreme tempature changes. Most watch manuals state this issue as normal.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by richarda

Happy new year everyone.

With the cold weather in England ATM I noticed when coming in from the outside into a warm environment both my Sub C and Kermit suffer from slight misting on the inside of the crystal. This disappears quickly in under a minute.

The Subc is fairly new and has never been opened and the kermit has only just recently returned from a Rolex service.

Should I be concerned? Both my Omega bond SMP and 8500 cal omega PO don't suffer the same issue.

kind regards
Rich

Nothing to be too concerned about, as long as it dissipates quickly as temps equalize.

Moisture is in the air that's trapped inside the watch.
The moisture content of the air inside can vary depending upon the ambient moisture content of the air in the room where the watch was last opened up.
Even the moisture expelled from the breath of the watch maker leaning over it can push moisture content up slightly as he's buttoning up the Case-back.
A climate controlled environment is best for limiting the relative moisture content within a watch and I think Rolex ensures their Service Centres are up to par in this regard.
If a watch has been opened up(even momentarily) somewhere else this can alter the factory sealed moisture content.
Alternately a slow degradation of the Hermetic seal of the Watch case could be allowing a slight increase in the relative moisture content and ought to be checked at some point.

The moisture is visible due to reaching its "Dew Point" under ideal conditions where there is a temperature differential. It does not necessarily indicate a leak per se.
As others have mentioned the ice cube trick will reveal roughly how much is in there.

As mentioned above, as long as the visible moisture dissipates quickly there should be no problems.
But still get it checked out for your own piece of mind regardless.
Just don't panic

[Tangier11]

Not to panic you but I have never had it happen

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Nothing to be too concerned about, as long as it dissipates quickly as temps equalize.

Moisture is in the air that's trapped inside the watch.
The moisture content of the air inside can vary depending upon the ambient moisture content of the air in the room where the watch was last opened up.
Even the moisture expelled from the breath of the watch maker leaning over it can push moisture content up slightly as he's buttoning up the Case-back.
A climate controlled environment is best for limiting the relative moisture content within a watch and I think Rolex ensures their Service Centres are up to par in this regard.
If a watch has been opened up(even momentarily) somewhere else this can alter the factory sealed moisture content.
Alternately a slow degradation of the Hermetic seal of the Watch case could be allowing a slight increase in the relative moisture content and ought to be checked at some point.

The moisture is visible due to reaching its "Dew Point" under ideal conditions where there is a temperature differential. It does not necessarily indicate a leak per se.
As others have mentioned the ice cube trick will reveal roughly how much is in there.

As mentioned above, as long as the visible moisture dissipates quickly there should be no problems.
But still get it checked out for your own piece of mind regardless.
Just don't panic

Good info.

[richarda]

Thanks fellas some great info there.

Rich

[tamiya]

There's nothing inside a watch that needs moisture to operate, so for all intents & purposes it should be totally dried before hermetically sealed each time.

Just giving it a spell in front of an aircon or fan heater is enough, never get steaming up on inside regardless of how drastic a temperature change.

If ever I see even slightest steaming on inside of crystal... straightaway open it up and it's sentenced to solitary confinement on a bed of dessicant. Check & refresh all seals.

[GMT Aviator]

Not a big issue but I’d be tempted to fully open the crown and leave the watch overnight somewhere warm and dry. It probably won’t achieve much, but may allow the warm air to permeate the inner case and dry out what little moisture is in there.
I had this happen with a vintage Seiko Chrono. I actually took the case back off and left it in the airing cupboard overnight to rid it of any moisture and next day sealed it back up. I did also clean the inside of the crystal by dropping out the movement to get the stains off the inside of the crystal and never had the problem again.