Stubborn moisture wont leave my watch. Suggestions?

[EDDVM]

Ok I have been abusing my Yacht-master 16622 every day since new. in the mud, rain, shower, swimming no problems. I don’t pamper my SS watches they can take it. My 1505 is 50+ years old and won’t die. People often forget how tough these watches are but any way, The other day I am washing it off in the sink and like 10 minutes later BOOM!! The evil fog of death consumes my watches crystal. Now I have had many Rolex’s over the years that I have just let dry out or have had sealing/crown problems the yacht is fairly new M series. It is out of warranty.
Ok I have opened the crown and let dry for a few days.... I have tried the rice in the bag. The Silica jell trick. It got rid of 99% of it. But it still has a few drops of moisture in it. That lightly fog up the glass. Ok I have all my own case tools. so I am getting ready to open it up tomorrow to dry it out. does any one have suggestion's to dry out before I screw it, or a good way for me to remove the moisture after the case it open. I would take it to my local AD but they have screwed up two watches left a cleaning bristle in my 18238. and dented the face on my 1505. Yes I could send it to Switzerland for repair but don’t feel like a month to have my watch back and pay $700.
I also have to figure out why it leaked. Now I am looking at it and when I tighten the crown I notice it is about a 1/4 turn from upright. Could the crown tube be messed up.

[Bullyterrier]

Hi there Ed, welcome.
I would get it in for a service asap. You don't want the water to do too much damage inside the watch. Why not send it to a Rolex service centre if you don't trust your local AD. As for the crown not align that shouldn't be the problem as there are many Rolex where the crown doesn't align vertical, there was a thread on here about it.
If you do a search on the forum you will find replies giving information to others that have had the same problem as yourself. You will see the search button on the blue bar towards the top.
I hope it works out ok, and you get it sorted soon.
Merry Christmas and a good New Year.

[Andad]

I concur.

[Rscmaine]

Set it on medium and aim it at the *open* case for an hour from a foot away. Rub a bit of silicon on the gaskets when you reseal. Should solve the problem.

*Note - this is not as good an idea as sending it in for service and it will absolutely NOT be sealed, but at least the fog will go away.

[Jackxv]

Bring your watch ASAP to a watch maker to have it serviced. Because the fact it's a rather new watch there should be no replacement parts except seals.
Water can do serious harm to the movement, rust and calcium and other residu of the water will kill the gears and springs.
Also the grease will be "infected" by the water.

Don't wait to long everyday you wait longer it'll cost you more.


Jack

[dmc]

If you wait very long to get it serviced the movement may be junk. Seriously get it serviced soon, very soon.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Rscmaine

Set it on medium and aim it at the *open* case for an hour from a foot away. Rub a bit of silicon on the gaskets when you reseal. Should solve the problem.

*Note - this is not as good an idea as sending it in for service and it will absolutely NOT be sealed, but at least the fog will go away.

There is NO chance that this will solve the problem. It needs to be services ASAP if moisture has got in.

There is NO other substitute - not even a bowl of oil.

or:
At midnight 'swing a cat over your head and shout - go away moisture'.

[AWATCH]

The watch needs to be serviced, do it before it requires major rebuilding.

[Bullyterrier]

Originally Posted by directioneng

There is NO chance that this will solve the problem. It needs to be services ASAP if moisture has got in.

There is NO other substitute - not even a bowl of oil.

or:
At midnight 'swing a cat over your head and shout - go away moisture'.

That only works if you use a black cat.

[unclesallie]

Originally Posted by Bullyterrier

That only works if you use a black cat.

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Originally Posted by Bullyterrier

That only works if you use a black cat.

could you specify if it would have to be a cat or tomcat ?

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Originally Posted by Rscmaine

Set it on medium and aim it at the *open* case for an hour from a foot away. Rub a bit of silicon on the gaskets when you reseal. Should solve the problem.

*Note - this is not as good an idea as sending it in for service and it will absolutely NOT be sealed, but at least the fog will go away.

All that in a 100% dust free environment may get the moist out if not you will clog up your movement with all kind of particles you don't want in there , but it will in no way resolve the problem . Proper service is the answer .

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Moist is a serious matter in IMHO an should be dealt with asap by a professional , there is obviously a problem with your watch ; Z reg YM should not "take" water just by washing it off in the sink even with the crown unscrewed .

[HL65]

Send it in asap for service!

[Watch Professor]

Definitely have it serviced. Even if you dried it our completely, you still have a seal problem. Try Rolex NY.

[Idle Swede]

Even if you open it up and dry it out completely, add new seals you'll still have a problem.

You HAD water in the movement and that WILL start the rust procedure.

Your watch needs to be serviced, it's as simple as that.

[Warnsboy]

A week or two with any moisture could be the difference between a $100 minor service, a $750 sevice (desliming) and a movement replacement. According to my AD, RSC will not deslime (ie. remove rust and other tarnishing caused by "neglect") they will hold it and send you an estimate for replacing the movement, then ship it back, after you've "hurled" at least twice. You'll request it back thinking there's a better option. You'll find yourself looking for a certified watchmaker willing to "deslime" it for you. Once found, he will be reluctant unless you're a good customer, because he can't charge you what it costs him to do the restoration. Through all of this process, which could be weeks, the rust and tarnish is getting worse and the cost is going up. TAKE IT IN FOR RE-LUBE..ASAP...SAVE THE GRIEF AND SHE'LL COME BACK HUMMING LIKE NEW!

I know someone with a $4,000 DJ who's been there, done that......after hearing of his $750 hit, I felt relieved that I had taken prompt action on a similar issue with a beautiful vintage SeaMaster a few years back.

Best of luck!!

[Numismatist]

WATCH + WATER = WALLET - MONEY

Fix it fast!

[Nicko]

My Ad simply will not touch the watch once water has entered. They must send it to the RSC. This is what I was told when I took in my Sub.

[Alan111]

Water will rust the movement and other parts. You need to send it in right away.

[ayres]

hmmm, cloud of death... seems you need to seek out a shaman on your next walkabout

[slcbbrown]

Any decent watch guy should be able to take care of the problem. However, run, don't walk, to get the watch dried out. The fact that water entered the case is an indication that you have seal problems of some kind. Drying the watch won't fix the seals.

I would not send it to a watch expert who might sit on it for a month (your AD and RSC)before taking care of it. This will tend to be expensive (no matter what is involved) if you use Rolex.

[nektar]

you must pay the $700

[EDDVM]

UGG ok service it is... so much for my christmas stash. off to R$C..lol

[Poohsan]

If you can't make it to a watch maker anytime soon then you need dry out the inside of the watch right away.

1. Use a case back opener to remove the case back.
2. Place the watch in a zip lock bag with a silica gel packet. (Those little bags you find in new product that always say “Do not eat”.)
3. Leave the watch in the bag for a day.

This should remove the moisture.

I’ve done this to a watch that did not have seal on the crown. I pulled out the crown and placed the watch in a bag with the silica gel packet.

[Boopie]

I concur with others...send it to a RSC right away. My Yachtmaster was serviced by Dallas earlier this year, and they did a great job.

I agree the Yachtmaster is a very durable watch. I swim with it in the ocean and swimming pool, wash it off in the sink, wear it while bathing the kids, etc. Every time it's been serviced, however, the RSC has replaced the crown and tube, as part of the regular service...I didn't ask for that to be done. It's just done pro-actively by Rolex. The gaskets do wear, over time. Your post doesn't say how old your watch is, or if it's been serviced. If you get it serviced right you can enjoy many more years with it.