Foggy In Sub

[pullmesideways]

I screwed up. This morning I put the sub on for the first time in days. After winding I thought I screwed the crown all the way in. I made an error in my haste.

The crown was maybe only partially screwed in when I noticed a cloudiness under the crystal.

I never submerged the watch, but I did wash my hands and take a shower with it on.

Does this need to go to RSC, Jeweler, or just let it sit a week or so in a safe dry place with the crown open?

Any guidance would be appreciated.


Cheers,

Ryan

[316lad]

If you do no other thing before taking your Sub into 'difficult circumstances' - you must ensure you have screwed that crown down tight.

It should be second nature, an impulse, a final twist before all hell breaks loose.


But don't worry too much, leave it in the airing cupboard for a couple of days and it should be fine.

If you're worried, send it off to your AD for a service.

[gwalker]

I thought the trip lock prevented that from happening even it the crown was unscrewed.

[316lad]

Originally Posted by gwalker

I thought the trip lock prevented that from happening even it the crown was unscrewed.

No Sir, if the crown is completely open then...so is the watch movement.

Like those awful moments in Submarines when the Torpedo room crew scream to the Bridge:

"Tube open to the sea!"

You have done the same thing to your Submariner. AD it or it'll rust, and if it rusts, then it'll break.

[joe100]

Noooo! Send it to the RSC right this second. Do Not Wait. Water will destroy a movement.

Don't just leave it out to dry.

RSC ASAP

[snaggle]

Your lucky for now- but send it IMMEDIATELY to the RSC before it gets worse. My previous quartz watch got water into it somehow, and it fogged up. It worked for about 10 days, then the fog started to become water and drip inside the watch, where it then stopped working due to a short circuit.

Right now its "fine" but the longer it stays like this, the more damage will occur! Try keeping it in a bag of uncooked rice, submerge it inside with the crown fully open, rice is known to suck in moisture. Do that only for the time being though, until you send it to RSC ASAP

[MoBe]

Immediate service now or the movement will be permanently damaged!

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by 316lad

No Sir, if the crown is completely open then...so is the watch movement.

There are quite a few theads on here saying that even with the crown open a trip lock crown provides water resistance. 2 Oring's should still be preventing water and dust entering the watch. The watch isn't as waterproof as with the crown tightened but according to the other threads on this subject you should be ok to shower and wash your hands if you accidentally leave it unscrewed. Either way if you have moisture in it get it to RSC NOW!!!!

Here is a link to previous threads on the subject https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=86055

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by joe100

Noooo! Send it to the RSC right this second. Do Not Wait. Water will destroy a movement.

Don't just leave it out to dry.

RSC ASAP

Airing it out wont prevent movement danage.

[z32turbo]

I definitely have a pro take a look and check for any damage. Good luck I hope it's just fine.

[pullmesideways]

Got it, I leave town before my AD opens, but I'll have my wife drop it off tomorrow. Ugh, how could I be so careless, it was due for a service anyway, so I guess, now my hand is forced.

I won't make this mistake again.

Thanks for all the quick replies.

[Scary Hat]

Went diving once (pool) with my Sub. Never had it serviced before, but
when I got out and the sun hit the watch, it fogged up.

I drove over to San Francisco to the Rolex Repair shop. Glad I did.
Cleaned and replaced the seals and saved the watch from damage.

I'd go if I were you.

[MortgageGuy]

Send it in right away IMO Not worth the risk if you do not...

[jimbones43]

Sorry to hear and hope u sort it out but that is why u don't shower with a watch!
Good luck hope it's not badly damaged!

[Linzjnr]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune

I was discussing this exact topic a couple of weeks ago with the Rolex technician at our local AD and his advice was if you ever see moisture under the glass to bring the watch in immediately for service. He reckons the water damages the movement very quickly and the parts that require replacement are expensive (as we all know) or if left too long a whole new movement is required

Shelling out for a service is a lot cheaper than for a whole new movement plus you then have peace of mind, good luck

[mjclark32]

Hope it turns out to be ok Ryan

[dbphotos]

Really? All this freaking out? If you are just talking about a little fog on the inside I would take the back off and let it dry out for about 24 hours. The water moisture will dry out much quicker than any oil in the gears. If it is actual water then, yes get it serviced.

And, not taking a shower with your sub? Really? If they can go 300m in the ocean I don't think your shower will hurt it. Oh yeah, and the rice recommendation is excellent. Although, don't do it with the back off or you'll have all kinds of dust in the gears. ;-)

[LOL]

Originally Posted by dbphotos

Really? All this freaking out? If you are just talking about a little fog on the inside I would take the back off and let it dry out for about 24 hours. The water moisture will dry out much quicker than any oil in the gears. If it is actual water then, yes get it serviced.

And, not taking a shower with your sub? Really? If they can go 300m in the ocean I don't think your shower will hurt it.

The prep before diving is probably a little more thorough than before showering. So I bet people double check if they screwed crown more carefully before a dive than a shower.

[Lion]

Ryan, sorry to hear of your mishap but if it needed a service soon then all you did is speed up the timeframe a little. Things happen and you learn from them so this way there will not be a next time!!!

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by 316lad

No Sir, if the crown is completely open then...so is the watch movement.

Like those awful moments in Submarines when the Torpedo room crew scream to the Bridge:

"Tube open to the sea!"

You have done the same thing to your Submariner. AD it or it'll rust, and if it rusts, then it'll break.

Completely untrue....

The trip lock crown, three seals, is still sealed with the crown opened!
It's not advisable to leave it open when around water, but those 2 extra seals are there for this reason..

My guess is, if in-fact you had fogging 'under' the crystal, that your watches seals are worn to the point of replacement, and would have failed a pressure test before this even happened. By leaving the crown open, you just made it that much more susceptible .....

If moisture was trapped inside, take it ASAP to a service center, and have a full service with new seals installed..
Sorry to hear of your trouble!

[mike]

Originally Posted by pullmesideways

I screwed up. This morning I put the sub on for the first time in days. After winding I thought I screwed the crown all the way in. I made an error in my haste.

The crown was maybe only partially screwed in when I noticed a cloudiness under the crystal.

I never submerged the watch, but I did wash my hands and take a shower with it on.

Does this need to go to RSC, Jeweler, or just let it sit a week or so in a safe dry place with the crown open?

Any guidance would be appreciated.


Cheers,

Ryan

Ryan, how old is the watch and when was it last serviced?

Contrary to what some have said Rolex themselves states the inner crown seals give a measure of water resistence--Perpetual Spirit Magazine-Exploration, page 52 "At the begining of the 1950s the cases waterproofness was decisively reinforced with the introduction of the Twinlock winding crown.
Featuring two separate synthetic seals for double waterproofness it even kept the watch dry when the crown was not screwed down on the middle case."

One of the great things about the old Rolex site prior to the bling site we have now was the history of the Submariner. In it were several documents by the MOD testing Subs on dives with crown unscrewed--with no advers results.

With the addition of the Triplock and it's enhanced seals I doubt you would have trouble. However case seals that are worn or other defects can cause problems.

[Tools]

If the threads were engaged, even if the crown was not fully seated, washing your hands would likely not let water enter through the tube..

This watch is probably several years old and the seal at the crystal is probably the culprit.. Too many people stress on the triplock, when it is probably the tightest and least likely seal to fail of the three main seals, Crystal, Case-back, and Crown..

[Hooper]

Sending it in = Piece of mind

[petesjag]

Originally Posted by sleddog

Completely untrue....

The trip lock crown, three seals, is still sealed with the crown opened!
It's not advisable to leave it open when around water, but those 2 extra seals are there for this reason..

My guess is, if in-fact you had fogging 'under' the crystal, that your watches seals are worn to the point of replacement, and would have failed a pressure test before this even happened. By leaving the crown open, you just made it that much more susceptible .....

If moisture was trapped inside, take it ASAP to a service center, and have a full service with new seals installed..
Sorry to hear of your trouble!

sounds sensible and plausible to me...

[Daniel Tan]

So what is the conclusion now? With the trip lock crown unscrewed is water proof to certain water level? Or with twin lock unscrewed is not applicable?

[travisb]

This way you wn't have to worry about weather or not any further damage was done.

[bondtoys]

Originally Posted by 316lad

No Sir, if the crown is completely open then...so is the watch movement.

Like those awful moments in Submarines when the Torpedo room crew scream to the Bridge:

"Tube open to the sea!"

You have done the same thing to your Submariner. AD it or it'll rust, and if it rusts, then it'll break.

no Sir!

Rolex officially states, that Twinlock and Triplock crowns are still working when being unscrewed.
Not sure, if they resist that way all the 300 meters down the ocean but a handwash won't do harm.

@OP: When have the gaskets been replaced the last time?
Yes, they have to be replaced from time to time.

A word of advise: Go to the nearest watchmaker NOW(!!) that's able to open your watch and dry it out.

Every hour counts, movement parts rust fast when exposed to humidity.

[dddrees]

Moisture is a very bad thing with regards to everything within the the watch. Sounds like the watch was due for a service anyway. I would take it to your nearest watchmaker with a Rolex parts account or RSC as soon as possible and make them aware of the situation.


My understanding was that the triplock system was one of redundancy and that as long as any seal was good you would still have the same depth rating. However with any system it is always best to use all levels of protection.

[pullmesideways]

The watch is being delivered to my local AD this morning. I have a thoughtful wife!

The watch was my father's and it is an S serial. So a few years old to say the least. So I'm not 100% on the servicing history. I have had it foe a little over a year.

My AD has a Rolex tech onsite, so at least he should be able to properly take a look at it and make a professional recommendation.

As soon as I know more, I'll absolutely update the thread.

Thanks to all for the quick replies and words of encouragement.

[topcat30093]

Even with the crown unscrewed, the Sub is still guaranteed W/R to 50M.