Big Problem With Quartz Divers
New quartz diver watch enthusiasts may not realize that when your battery dies, most stores who replace batteries cannot recertify for water depth spec. Having recertification requires outsourcing and costs time and $$. This should be a major consideration in purchasing an otherwise "inexpensive" "diver" piece ($500 or less).
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Mark
Enjoying zero financial debt is MY status symbol of choice in this dying world. Receiving God's sacrifice of Jesus is worth more to me than ALL watches made forever. My eternal debt is to Him. : ) Jus...
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Yup. Take it a watchmaker for the new battery and get it pressure tested with new gaskets. Fortunately, most quartz dive watch owners rarely find themselves at great depths anyway.💧💧💧
One of the reasons I like solar watches!
Leak testing can be done with a gizmo that costs ... probably less than the watch. The gasket leaks or it doesn't. I'm pretty sure that the hand pump pressures used are more than sufficient for real world usage.
I think I changed the battery on my quartz diver once. Seeing how it has only seen light rain and a kitchen sink, that means nothing. Of course my quartz chrono where I lost the entire winding stem and crown years ago is still running fine too.
I always add some light grease to the o- ring and hope for the best . Haven't lost one yet.
Yup. Take it a watchmaker for the new battery and get it pressure tested with new gaskets. Fortunately, most quartz dive watch owners rarely find themselves at great depths anyway.💧💧💧
I hadn't planned to ever submerge even close to 100m, but a surface swim in a pool ruined my first "water resistant" quartz after first battery change--and the store had issued no warnings. So it's good to let people know who are new to investing in watches about this reality.
This is why I only buy solar/kinetic/automatic divers although if you get something with a screwed on case back it's not so much of a problem.
Batteries easily last 5 years or more. In that time, a mechanical watch will need more servicing, especially if you actually use it as a dive watch. (Which no one does nowadays, they use dive computers).
Quartz Diver 🤣😂
Everything I own has survived my paddling pool tests. Frequent battery changes, no little spongey pot of grease for the o ring used ever, and no visits to any jeweller for anything. Ya'll are worrying for nuffin!
I hadn't planned to ever submerge even close to 100m, but a surface swim in a pool ruined my first "water resistant" quartz after first battery change--and the store had issued no warnings. So it's good to let people know who are new to investing in watches about this reality.
More like have your battery replaced by a good watchmaker who also lubes and tests the sealing and if it leaks, replaces it.
Not a problem of quartz, but service.
This is why I only buy solar/kinetic/automatic divers although if you get something with a screwed on case back it's not so much of a problem.
Great discussion. Both solar and kinetic movements obviously do still use batteries which may have been sitting on shelves for quite a while prior to purchase as we have found, so they may require servicing sooner than expected. Also, if we're not living in close proximity to a certified / competant service place it means travel / shipping and time costs. I'd just much prefer a 200m auto and plan to pay more for recertification on a diver watch IMHO. : )
My quartz divers are Duro’s, I modd em change batts all the time, and if a seal fails I’ll get a brand new movement and replace it for £15 👍🏻
Wouldn't this the the same for affordable auto divers if they need servicing?
Yes to any piece that needs opening of a caseback I hear (I'm no expert). Even gaskets get moved incorrectly and smart places say 'we cannot guarantee water proofing'.