Washing machine disaster!
Advice and opinions needed please. My wife has cleverly put her watch through the washing machine, 1hr cycle 😭. The watch is likely resistant to 30m being a dress watch. it's still running which is the first thing. Accuracy will have to be judged over the next few days / hours.
Question, if it's running ok leave it and hope for the best? Or get it to a watchmaker to asses if work is needed due to water ingress etc?
Thoughts and opinions welcomed, other than why did she put it in the washing machine.
Also any advice for the immediate watch "first aid" 🤕
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If no moisture appears under the crystal and it runs fine, it's probably safe. You're free to open pull the frown and leave out in a warm dry spot with a little breeze or have the case back popped if you want more assurance of course.
The dunked cell phone advice is to power it off, as wet electronics getting powered is a bigger risk than just corrosion. So probably pull crown for both ventilation and to cut the electricity.
Thanks. It's currently crown out in a bag of rice 👍
Most watches wait and see.
Expensive watches I have a pro take a look. A bit of water intrusion may not show immediate effects.
Better safe....and all that stuff.
@foghorn nailed it.
If was a 200m watch in a machine without a physical agitator, not really a concern.
Hers, take it to a watchmaker. Better to pay $10-$50 to make sure no water intrusion vs $300+ down the road for repairs.
Is it quartz or mechanical? I put a BFK through wash cycle many years ago. It was fine because it's a quartz movement. A mechanical movement can be disturbed by a wash cycle.
@foghorn nailed it.
If was a 200m watch in a machine without a physical agitator, not really a concern.
Hers, take it to a watchmaker. Better to pay $10-$50 to make sure no water intrusion vs $300+ down the road for repairs.
Thanks, will see how it is over the next 24hrs. Then will probably find a watch maker to check it out.
Is it quartz or mechanical? I put a BFK through wash cycle many years ago. It was fine because it's a quartz movement. A mechanical movement can be disturbed by a wash cycle.
It's quartz.
what a pity...
You can test if water is in the watch (ice cube test), heat the watch up to body temperature by wearing it or putting it in the pocket of your pants. Then put an ice cube on the crystal. If there is condensation under the crystal in the watch, you should think of letting it service. Service of a Quartz watch doesn't cost that much. And it is much cheaper letting it done now then later. The water can damage the whole electronics and the movement has to be replaced instead of just cleaned.
This test is also done by the watch companies, they put the watches under water, apply a certain pressure, heat the watch up to around 40°C and afterwards they put something cold on the watch crystal.
what a pity...
You can test if water is in the watch (ice cube test), heat the watch up to body temperature by wearing it or putting it in the pocket of your pants. Then put an ice cube on the crystal. If there is condensation under the crystal in the watch, you should think of letting it service. Service of a Quartz watch doesn't cost that much. And it is much cheaper letting it done now then later. The water can damage the whole electronics and the movement has to be replaced instead of just cleaned.
This test is also done by the watch companies, they put the watches under water, apply a certain pressure, heat the watch up to around 40°C and afterwards they put something cold on the watch crystal.
That's great knowledge. Thanks I'll give it a try.
Thanks. It's currently crown out in a bag of rice 👍
those silica packs that ship with various electronics and pharmaceuticals are good at drawing out moisture too
It's quartz.
It'll be fine then. Have a look through the window next time you do a wash. There's not that much water in there.
what a pity...
You can test if water is in the watch (ice cube test), heat the watch up to body temperature by wearing it or putting it in the pocket of your pants. Then put an ice cube on the crystal. If there is condensation under the crystal in the watch, you should think of letting it service. Service of a Quartz watch doesn't cost that much. And it is much cheaper letting it done now then later. The water can damage the whole electronics and the movement has to be replaced instead of just cleaned.
This test is also done by the watch companies, they put the watches under water, apply a certain pressure, heat the watch up to around 40°C and afterwards they put something cold on the watch crystal.
Best advice, best thing to do!
Most watches wait and see.
Expensive watches I have a pro take a look. A bit of water intrusion may not show immediate effects.
Better safe....and all that stuff.
Good point. Which is also why I still have yet to venture beyond $600+ range. As, I can see such accidents in my future.
Most watches wait and see.
Expensive watches I have a pro take a look. A bit of water intrusion may not show immediate effects.
Better safe....and all that stuff.
I agree. It's not just about is it working now. Even the tiniest amounts of humidity, let alone detergent, can cause rust/corrosion. If it were a cheap Seiko i'd say leave it alone. The Cartier, i'd take it to a pro to clean it and maintain it.