If you’re anything like the majority of all Rolex owners, chances are you’ve given very little thought to the water resistance of your watch.
Whether or not you realize it, water resistance is a concern every Rolex owner should have, regardless of the model or how you use it.
In this post, I will go over what it takes to pressure test a Rolex.
After the overhaul is complete, comes the task of buffing and polishing the case and band. The case is then ultrasonically cleaned. Now it is time to change the gaskets and start the pressure test.
Case Tube and Tube Gaskets
New Case Back Gasket
Silicon Sealer
I use this special sealant on all of the gaskets, as well as a small amount on the case back threads. This helps make a water resistant seal when the gaskets are installed.
Bergon 5555 Pressure Tester
The next step is to put the case into the pressure chamber and increase the pressure. The watch is suspended above the water while the pressure is increased.
If there is any leak in the case, the compressed air will enter the sealed case. When the watch is then submerged under water, the pressure is released and any air that entered the case through a “leak” will escape and the bubbles in the water will show where the leak is located.
It’s a pretty slick operation!
This video shows a Rolex failing a pressure test because of a bad Case Tube Gasket.
You may be wondering why I would pressure test the case without the movement installed. The simple answer is that on a few occasions when the pressure is released, I have blown the crystal off of the case.
If that were to happen, then I would have a movement under water and then the overhaul process would need to be done all over again. Just to be safe, I test the case with just the crown installed.
If it passes, then the movement is properly dried and installed – and the job is finished.
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CHARLEY PHOTO OF THE WEEK: One of Charley’s favorite spots to lay is in the pantry. This way, she has can see what’s going on in the workshop and in the kitchen.
