Mist inside a watch: condensation or a leak? The video guide

Chapters

1. 0:00Mist under the crystal: nothing serious?
2. 0:17The physics of mist
3. 0:39The test that tells: condensation or a leak
4. 0:59What ATM ratings mean, and the sauna
5. 1:17The one thing to avoid: the hair dryer
6. 1:38The right move: silica gel
7. 1:51Red flags
8. 2:04Choosing a water-resistant watch

Transcript

Mist under the crystal of your watch. Nothing serious… or the beginning of the end? And stick around: there's one thing almost everyone does, and it's the one that kills the watch. Every watch case holds a little air, and so a little moisture. Go from your wrist, at around thirty degrees, to cold tap water: the crystal cools down in an instant. Below its dew point, the vapour turns back into water, and settles as a mist. Even with a brand-new gasket. Look closely. A fine, even mist across the whole crystal, that clears by itself within forty-eight hours: that's condensation. It's harmless. Distinct droplets, often at the bottom of the dial, that won't go away: that's a leak. And water resistance isn't measured in metres. Five ATM: the occasional shower. Ten ATM: the pool. Twenty ATM: snorkelling. The sauna: never, whatever the rating. Steam gets through where water can't. So, what is that one thing? The hair dryer. It blows at over ninety degrees, while gaskets start to warp at seventy. For good. Same goes for a radiator. And never open your watch yourself. The right move: a zip bag, four to six sachets of silica gel, a room at normal temperature, and forty-eight hours of patience. Rice? Far less effective. If the mist won't clear, if you see droplets, signs of rust, or hands that slow down: take it to a watchmaker, straight away. A quick pressure test will find the leak. To swim with peace of mind, go for ten ATM minimum. Good to know: water resistance problems aren't covered by the warranty. It only covers movement failures. Discover a whole selection of water-resistant watches at Montres Outlet.