Science experiment...

[Llamathurst]

This evening at 9:10 pm, I took a spare link w/screw from my 116618ln a put it in my properly chlorinated hot tub (Spa 56 is the chemical) at 104 degrees F.

I'll remove in exactly 48 hours and see what's what to wearing that reference in the tub. I'm not even remotely worried about it being a Submariner and water, just what happens to the gold.

[burnthesehills]

I can’t imagine any ill effects but curious to see what you find out.

[Llamathurst]

Originally Posted by burnthesehills

I can’t imagine any ill effects but curious to see what you find out.

The lore is that the metals other than gold in the alloy will tarnish (because chlorine will oxidize them), thus changing the color. I'm skeptical too, but we'll see.

[Dirt]

Very interesting.
Especially as we've occasionally seen an example of a tarnished gold watch after hot tub exposure

[thesharkfactor]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Very interesting.
Especially as we've occasionally seen an example of a tarnished gold watch after hot tub exposure

We did a short time ago, a member here had tarnished his TT DJ in the hot tub, everyone said it was BS.. 18 pages later, RSC fixed it.


https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=673371

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

We did about a year ago, a member here had tarnished his TT DJ in the hot tub, everyone said it was BS.. 18 pages later, RSC fixed it.

That's probably the reason why the OP does a smart experiment using a bracelet spare link and not his watch.

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

We did a short time ago, a member here had tarnished his TT DJ in the hot tub, everyone said it was BS.. 18 pages later, RSC fixed it.


https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=673371

That was an epic thread…and totally bizarre what happened to that watch.

[saxo3]

Photos before/after would be nice.
(104 °F − 32) × 5/9 = 40 °C
How do you keep constant temperature?

[Llamathurst]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Photos before/after would be nice.
(104 °F − 32) × 5/9 = 40 °C
How do you keep constant temperature?

I have a control link for comparison. They were identical and unworn. The tub always self-maintains constant temperature.

[saxo3]

How much spa56 (in gram) you put in how much water (in liter)?
You have a photo of the tub and the experimental setup?
What is the constant temperature range of the tub?

[Llamathurst]

Originally Posted by saxo3

How much spa56 (in gram) you put in how much water (in liter)?
You have a photo of the tub and the experimental setup?

~1401L, ~10g Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate, pH 7.8

Link is suspended ~8" below waterline. Cover is on. Temp is 104F constant.

[saxo3]

Thanks! That's what I expected, a large pool (nice photo) with a rather small amount of spa56.

1401 liter in the spa ... The last 1 liter you know how accurately? (No no ... just kidding, you called it a science experiment)

Great thread!

[Rolexken]

Rational fear or not, I would not wear an expensive watch in a hot tub because heat = expanded metal = looser seals.

[Llamathurst]

Originally Posted by Rolexken

Rational fear or not, I would not wear an expensive watch in a hot tub because heat = expanded metal = looser seals.

Just for fun I calculated the thermal expansion of gold from body temperature of 98.6 to the hot tub temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit...

The result, per inch, gold will expand 0.000082 of an inch.

I'm not gonna worry about it

[Rolexken]

Originally Posted by Llamathurst

Just for fun I calculated the thermal expansion of gold from body temperature of 98.6 to the hot tub temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit...

The result, per inch, gold will expand 0.000082 of an inch.

I'm not gonna worry about it

But the whole watch won’t be 98.4 so temperature change will be greater perhaps another 0.000002 inches expansion lol

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Llamathurst

Just for fun I calculated the thermal expansion of gold from body temperature of 98.6 to the hot tub temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit...

The result, per inch, gold will expand 0.000082 of an inch.

I'm not gonna worry about it

Any idea how much the seals expand??

[Llamathurst]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

Any idea how much the seals expand??

You know, I sent my Rolex to the RSC, and they said I blew a seal.

I told them to leave my personal life out of it.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Llamathurst

You know, I sent my Rolex to the RSC, and they said I blew a seal.

I told them to leave my personal life out of it.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Llamathurst

You know, I sent my Rolex to the RSC, and they said I blew a seal.

I told them to leave my personal life out of it.

I told them I didn't, I'm just a messy vanilla ice cream cone eater...

[Laostuh]

Just curious, why 48hrs? For real world application purposes shouldn't it be a couple hrs at most? Who sits in a hot tub for 48 hours or am I missing something?

[Mercutio]

Originally Posted by Llamathurst

You know, I sent my Rolex to the RSC, and they said I blew a seal.

I told them to leave my personal life out of it.

That comment is just pure gold

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Rolexken

Rational fear or not, I would not wear an expensive watch in a hot tub because heat = expanded metal = looser seals.

Hasn't this been settled.

[Llamathurst]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Hasn't this been settled.

The heat and water ingress, certainly. This is about chlorine oxidation.

[Carondelet]

Originally Posted by Llamathurst

The heat and water ingress, certainly. This is about chlorine oxidation.

I think the comment was in response to a concern raised about seals and metal expansion.

Regarding the oxidation, I'm exited to see the results of the experiment!

[Carondelet]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Hasn't this been settled.

And to add to this, I would think that watches will heat up on your wrist in the sun, more than the temp of a hot tub. Certainly a more uneven heating too. I can't imagine how laying down in the sun while poolside, and then jumping in to cool off wouldn't pose the same problem of seals and metal expanding and contracting rapidly. I can't imagine that would cause a meaningful impact to the hermaticity of the watch. I'm sure this has been done many times with no ill effect.

All that being said, I'm not saying that anyone should or shouldn't wear a watch in a hot tub, merely that I don't think it would matter if they did. I myself don't wear my watches in the pool or hot tub (mostly because chlorinated water or salt water really messes up my hair) so I may be biased.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Llamathurst

This evening at 9:10 pm, I took a spare link w/screw from my 116618ln a put it in my properly chlorinated hot tub (Spa 56 is the chemical) at 104 degrees F.

I'll remove in exactly 48 hours and see what's what to wearing that reference in the tub. I'm not even remotely worried about it being a Submariner and water, just what happens to the gold.

Why anyone would need to wear any watch in a hot tub defeats me.

[GusFring]

Originally Posted by padi56

Why anyone would need to wear any watch in a hot tub defeats me.

I’m with you on this, also if I really wanted to project my British misery why would you want to be in one at all.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by GusFring

I’m with you on this, also if I really wanted to project my British misery why would you want to be in one at all.

Got nothing against hot tubs, but cannot see any reason to wear any watch in one, unless in one of these hot tubs you self destruct after a certain period of time in tub.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by padi56

Got nothing against hot tubs, but cannot see any reason to wear any watch in one, unless in one of these hot tubs you self destruct after a certain period of time in tub.

I would, simply because I tend not to take off my watch when traveling. I’d be more worried about setting the watch down somewhere near the hot tub.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by padi56

Got nothing against hot tubs, but cannot see any reason to wear any watch in one, unless in one of these hot tubs you self destruct after a certain period of time in tub.

I’m in our hot tub all the time. It’s nice having watches that can handle it.




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