Brand new explore 2 has water droplets under crystal

[Chef Guy]

Hello everyone I purchased a brand new Rolex explorer 2 on the 7th of January this year.......I noticed last night that the crystal was full of little water droplets......
Just too clear there is no error on my part I've had Rolex's for years...... the crown has been screwed down tight since the day of purchase...... I've taken the watch everywhere with me running at the gym, in the shower, to work, it's never left my wrist.....I'm going to phone Rolex service center London and ask them to resolve the issue...... what's your thoughts Will Rolex fix the watch under it's 5 year guarantee....has anyone else had any issues similar to mine

[michaelodonnell123]

You said "there is no error on my part I've had Rolex's for years"...
Since you have had Rolex's for years, then you should be able to answer your own questions regarding the warranty on a new watch.

[kieselguhr]

Best to send to Rolex service center and have them sort it out. You can get all the anecdotal advice on here and still get a different outcome.

[joli160]

Off to the RSC indeed

[RJRJRJ]

Get it to them asap before the damage gets worse, and then figure out what to do. This can easily go from an $800 service to a $5000 repair fairly quickly.

[Chef Guy]

I'm on an oil rig and won't be off till the 5 of February

[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

I'm on an oil rig and won't be off till the 5 of February

Hopefully it's not saltwater. Been there, done that, full movement replacement.

[Wobbly]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

I'm on an oil rig and won't be off till the 5 of February

That’s not great.

Sorry to say, but if it is water, there’s going to be a lot of damage by then.

Hope it gets sorted by RSC.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

I'm on an oil rig and won't be off till the 5 of February

Do you have a zip lock bag and dry rice? Or preferably silica gel packets?

Stop the movement by pulling out the crown, store it in the bag with either. It won’t pull moisture out but may help prevent any additional moisture getting in.

Get it to RSC as soon as you can.

Additional question: since you’re on an oil rig, are you moving in and out of air conditioned indoor to a warmer temperatures outside?

[Coronette]

The watch is under warranty who cares what happens to the movement it’s on Rolex’s dime to repair or replace the movement and replace the seals.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Coronette

The watch is under warranty who cares what happens to the movement it’s on Rolex’s dime to repair or replace the movement and replace the seals.

+1


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[Chef Guy]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

Do you have a zip lock bag and dry rice? Or preferably silica gel packets?

Stop the movement by pulling out the crown, store it in the bag with either. It won’t pull moisture out but may help prevent any additional moisture getting in.

Get it to RSC as soon as you can.

Additional question: since you’re on an oil rig, are you moving in and out of air conditioned indoor to a warmer temperatures outside?

I'm a chef so I'm always in a worm environment......lots of Steam, oil, warn water.....after work I go for a half hour run on the treadmill and I'm covered in sweat.....I wear the watch all the time even when sleeping

[Bladeshot]

See if the case back seems loose. And if it is, perhaps remove it. Allow things to dry out. Maybe someone will have other suggestions that are more helpful, since you cannot get off the rig.

I know it seems silly, but I’ve bought used watches and later realized the case back was not screwed down. Or there was a gasket missing.

I’ve never had this happen on a new Rolex.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

Will Rolex fix the watch under it's 5 year guarantee....

Yes, provided that you haven’t opened the back or fiddled with the bezel to remove/replace it.

Originally Posted by Bladeshot

See if the case back seems loose. And if it is, perhaps remove it.

That voids the warranty the OP was asking about. Of course your advice is good for watches not under warranty. I’ve dried out a few on a bed of uncooked rice in a low oven.


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[Bladeshot]

Originally Posted by 77T

Yes, provided that you haven’t opened the back or fiddled with the bezel to remove/replace it.





That voids the warranty the OP was asking about. Of course your advice is good for watches not under warranty. I’ve dried out a few on a bed of uncooked rice in a low oven.


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Yep. That’s what I was trying to think of… uncooked rice!

It’s a brand new watch, so OP, Rolex will have to fix it. Don’t worry too much. It’ll work out.

Is the case back sealed up tight against the case? Curious…

[Andad]

Originally Posted by 77T

Yes, provided that you haven’t opened the back or fiddled with the bezel to remove/replace it.


That voids the warranty the OP was asking about. Of course your advice is good for watches not under warranty. I’ve dried out a few on a bed of uncooked rice in a low oven.


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How did the rice return out?

I would expect a warm oven to reduce the visual moisture but how it could remove moisture from inside a Rolex?

OP. Was there still visible moisture on the dial once the was at room/wrist temperature?

If you warm a watch up and place an ice block on the crystal it is not unusual to see slight condensation forming under the crystal.
This is an indication of a the amount of RH inside the case.
It will disappear as the watch warms back up.

[Cauhauna]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

Hello everyone I purchased a brand new Rolex explorer 2 on the 7th of January this year.......I noticed last night that the crystal was full of little water droplets......
Just too clear there is no error on my part I've had Rolex's for years...... the crown has been screwed down tight since the day of purchase...... I've taken the watch everywhere with me running at the gym, in the shower, to work, it's never left my wrist.....I'm going to phone Rolex service center London and ask them to resolve the issue...... what's your thoughts Will Rolex fix the watch under it's 5 year guarantee....has anyone else had any issues similar to mine

they'll fix it

[OrangeSport]

I would hack it now to be safe and give the RSC in Kent a bell on Monday. Explain the situation and get their advice. They are very helpful there.

[KathleenL]

Did you purchase the watch brand new from an authorized dealer, or did you purchase it brand new from a secondary/gray dealer?

[Chef Guy]

Originally Posted by KathleenL

Did you purchase the watch brand new from an authorized dealer, or did you purchase it brand new from a secondary/gray dealer?

Brand new from an authorised dealer

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

Brand new from an authorised dealer

Gonna be fine. I’d set it aside with crown out in secure dry place and send to rsc quick as y can


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[lennywilkins]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

Brand new from an authorised dealer

Are you sure the water droplets are underneath the crystal? Mineral deposits can be really hard to remove from the outside of the glass. Use a metal blade of some description to see if they shift.

[paxjedi]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

Brand new from an authorised dealer

You should be fine.


.

[JSolution]

I was always told to hack the movement don’t know if that’s applicable here. I’ve done it before and things have dried out by themselves.

[Cigars&Watches]

Did you whack it against anything? Check to see if you cracked the Crystal (slightly). Same thing happened to me. Send us some pics.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Chef Guy

Hello everyone I purchased a brand new Rolex explorer 2 on the 7th of January this year.......I noticed last night that the crystal was full of little water droplets......
Just too clear there is no error on my part I've had Rolex's for years...... the crown has been screwed down tight since the day of purchase...... I've taken the watch everywhere with me running at the gym, in the shower, to work, it's never left my wrist.....I'm going to phone Rolex service center London and ask them to resolve the issue...... what's your thoughts Will Rolex fix the watch under it's 5 year guarantee....has anyone else had any issues similar to mine

Condensation on the inside of the glass is generally an indication that there may be a problem but it your case would doubt it. However, condensation will quite normally occur when any warm watch is suddenly exposed to a cold environment i.e. if you enter cold water on a warm day or visa versa. In normal circumstances this will appear as a very fine mist and should disappear in a minute or so when the watch warms up. This is quite normal as the air trapped inside your watch will have a small amount of water vapour as its just like normal humidity in the atmosphere, if it disappears quickly all is well. Now if the misting appears as clearly definable droplets of water and does not clear quickly when warm, then it signifies that water has somehow entered the watch case. Now this will NOT evaporate of its own accord and will need to be removed then afraid its off to the RSC as soon as possible but IMHO you have not got anything to really worry about with your watch, as its fully covered by your warranty.

[DJ2020]

It's been my experience that the service center will inspect the watch for tampering, damage and crown function. Then water test the watch. If it leaks, it's warranty without question. If it passes the water test you will get a call with a estimate for repair.

[lennywilkins]

Originally Posted by DJ2020

It's been my experience that the service center will inspect the watch for tampering, damage and crown function. Then water test the watch. If it leaks, it's warranty without question. If it passes the water test you will get a call with a estimate for repair.

x2

RSC won't say anything until it's waterproof tested. Not much point phoning them at this point - just need to get the watch into them ASAP.

[IR201]

Originally Posted by padi56

Condensation on the inside of the glass is generally an indication that there may be a problem but it your case would doubt it. However, condensation will quite normally occur when any warm watch is suddenly exposed to a cold environment i.e. if you enter cold water on a warm day or visa versa. In normal circumstances this will appear as a very fine mist and should disappear in a minute or so when the watch warms up. This is quite normal as the air trapped inside your watch will have a small amount of water vapour as its just like normal humidity in the atmosphere, if it disappears quickly all is well. Now if the misting appears as clearly definable droplets of water and does not clear quickly when warm, then it signifies that water has somehow entered the watch case. Now this will NOT evaporate of its own accord and will need to be removed then afraid its off to the RSC as soon as possible but IMHO you have not got anything to really worry about with your watch, as its fully covered by your warranty.

Hi great info. How common is it for water to enter the case of a Rolex that is supposed to be waterproof to significant depths?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by IR201

Hi great info. How common is it for water to enter the case of a Rolex that is supposed to be waterproof to significant depths?

Well can only speak for myself been on forum now since it started around 17 years ago, and in the hundreds of thousands of posts on forum a very very very very tiny amount of reports about water damage. Many years ago now, on a dive in the red sea had a glance at my SD at 25m.Shock horror my winding crown was fully unscrewed but did not worry as I was in charge of a group of divers I was guiding over the reef and they were far more important .But on return to surface watch was fine no water in watch or crystal moisture, and watch is still fine today almost 22 years later and still ticking strong.