Bought a used Sub 16610 - Question on pressure testing

[Rahul718]

Hi all,

Recently purchased a used 16610 and all is great with it. Unpolished and +10 seconds per day. Yes, technically out of spec but I’ve never been a stickler for accuracy. The one thing I cannot assess myself is the condition of the seals and gaskets. So, today I took my watch to the Rolex Service Center in NYC for a pressure test and they stated they cannot do this unless it’s part of a full service as they only do wet pressure testing. I called a few other Jewelers and they mentioned the same thing.

I find this strange as I’m coming from the Omega world and the boutiques would always have a dry pressure tester on site and would gladly pressure test while you waited. It seems like in Rolex world dry pressure testing is not a thing? It’s a little disappointing as I just want to know if the seals and gaskets will hold up to hand washing and rain. I don’t plan on ever submerging the watch, at least not until I send it out a full service eventually.

Has anyone else experienced this with Rolex in particular? I fully agree with the dangers of wet pressure testing without knowing the condition of the seals, but is dry pressure testing non existent in Rolex world?

Appreciate any insight!

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Rahul718

Hi all,

Recently purchased a used 16610 and all is great with it. Unpolished and +10 seconds per day. Yes, technically out of spec but I’ve never been a stickler for accuracy. The one thing I cannot assess myself is the condition of the seals and gaskets. So, today I took my watch to the Rolex Service Center in NYC for a pressure test and they stated they cannot do this unless it’s part of a full service as they only do wet pressure testing. I called a few other Jewelers and they mentioned the same thing.

I find this strange as I’m coming from the Omega world and the boutiques would always have a dry pressure tester on site and would gladly pressure test while you waited. It seems like in Rolex world dry pressure testing is not a thing? It’s a little disappointing as I just want to know if the seals and gaskets will hold up to hand washing and rain. I don’t plan on ever submerging the watch, at least not until I send it out a full service eventually.

Has anyone else experienced this with Rolex in particular? I fully agree with the dangers of wet pressure testing without knowing the condition of the seals, but is dry pressure testing non existent in Rolex world?

Appreciate any insight!

Any chance the Omega Boutique would do it for you?

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Rahul718

Hi all,

Recently purchased a used 16610 and all is great with it. Unpolished and +10 seconds per day. Yes, technically out of spec but I’ve never been a stickler for accuracy. The one thing I cannot assess myself is the condition of the seals and gaskets. So, today I took my watch to the Rolex Service Center in NYC for a pressure test and they stated they cannot do this unless it’s part of a full service as they only do wet pressure testing. I called a few other Jewelers and they mentioned the same thing.

I find this strange as I’m coming from the Omega world and the boutiques would always have a dry pressure tester on site and would gladly pressure test while you waited. It seems like in Rolex world dry pressure testing is not a thing? It’s a little disappointing as I just want to know if the seals and gaskets will hold up to hand washing and rain. I don’t plan on ever submerging the watch, at least not until I send it out a full service eventually.

Has anyone else experienced this with Rolex in particular? I fully agree with the dangers of wet pressure testing without knowing the condition of the seals, but is dry pressure testing non existent in Rolex world?

Appreciate any insight!

Any service history with your 16610 if not and around 8 year's plus old I would have a full RSC service.After servicing you will have a full two year warranty and peace of mind .

[minute_man]

Originally Posted by padi56

Any service history with your 16610 if not and around 8 year's plus old I would have a full RSC service.After servicing you will have a full two year warranty and peace of mind .

Absolutely, imperative to have a preowned purchase RSC serviced. Not only is this the right way to keep it running properly but also the ONLY way to know what you own is genuine.

[thesharkfactor]

Originally Posted by minute_man

Absolutely, imperative to have a preowned purchase RSC serviced. Not only is this the right way to keep it running properly but also the ONLY way to know what you own is genuine.

Lol.

[minute_man]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

Lol.

If it had happened to you, you wouldn't laugh
Lots of franken / fake trash in the wild. Not to mention stolen one as well.

[jimcameron]

Will you be using the watch for swimming/diving? If not, have a well respected watchmaker test it and forget RSC.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

Will you be using the watch for swimming/diving? If not, have a well respected watchmaker test it and forget RSC.

Quite true any high street place than has pressure checking equipment will do and a simple dry test to 100-200m if passes will we safe for all water sports. But if no service history still wise to have a full RSC for peace of mind and to know that all is good with the watch plus a two year warranty.

[oak3x]

Originally Posted by minute_man

Absolutely, imperative to have a preowned purchase RSC serviced. Not only is this the right way to keep it running properly but also the ONLY way to know what you own is genuine.

Great advice! Exactly what I did with my 16610

[minute_man]

Originally Posted by oak3x

Great advice! Exactly what I did with my 16610

Saved me $15K of my hard earned. Enough said

[karleone]

Used to water test my 16610 at ADs every year before going on holidays. Now I don’t do it anymore but at the time I was going to an AD and they were testing if my watch was waterproof with pressure not in water. They were doing this for free. Try another AD.