Watches and fire?!
Hello fellow crunchers,
i been wondering:
There is a water resistance rating for almost every watch there is and, depending on the watch, it can vary quite a lot. Some watches can withstand only a little bit of water where as other watches can withstand being fully submerged in it for several hours. But the question is: What maximum temperatures could a watch withstand until it will no longer function? Because, other than water, heat can be transferred into the case with the case still in tact and maybe melt the little spring of the balance wheel for example while the case may look perfectly fine.
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It will withstand much more than a human arm.
That is about all that matters I think
Nobody should test this theory. If the watch is engulfed in fire, let it go. 😭
For science though, figure out what all the components and their melting temp and you got an answer.
Nobody should test this theory. If the watch is engulfed in fire, let it go. 😭
For science though, figure out what all the components and their melting temp and you got an answer.
No, I think thermal expansion might bind up moving parts or warp them or something before a point of liquidity.
I imagine a mild 140 degrees Fahrenheit* would be fine. That's probably encountered by leaving things in the back of a shipping truck on a hot day.
* In Celcius this would be.. a smaller number, I think. Don't care, stupid system.
No, I think thermal expansion might bind up moving parts or warp them or something before a point of liquidity.
I imagine a mild 140 degrees Fahrenheit* would be fine. That's probably encountered by leaving things in the back of a shipping truck on a hot day.
* In Celcius this would be.. a smaller number, I think. Don't care, stupid system.
Agreed, no one cares about Celsius.
Thinking of an NH35 with a plastic movement holder, plenty of plastic gears as part of the calendar, and lubricants that might run at higher temperatures, I really wouldn't want to test fire resistance.
Agreed, no one cares about Celsius.
It must be American hour over here 😂😭. No offence lads, but your measurement system is mad. 🧐
It must be American hour over here 😂😭. No offence lads, but your measurement system is mad. 🧐
Let's be real, it's always American hour #Merica 🤣
Bloody hell you ppl...
I’ve thought about this a lot because of the absolute surety I will be dropped straight into the bowels of Hell when I die.
Took a second look at that watch and it looks like it’s been possessed by the Spirit of Vengeance, the Ghost Rider.
I'd say the gaskets are the first things to go..... Which won't help when someone comes along with a bucket of water to put the fire out!
I remember that Jeremy Clarkson and James May gifted Richard Hammond his burned Submariner on the grand tour, which he wore when he crashed the Rimac.
https://timeandtidewatches.com/richard-hammond-reveals-the-rolex-submariner-that-was-burnt-alive-in-his-terrible-car-crash/
No, I think thermal expansion might bind up moving parts or warp them or something before a point of liquidity.
I imagine a mild 140 degrees Fahrenheit* would be fine. That's probably encountered by leaving things in the back of a shipping truck on a hot day.
* In Celcius this would be.. a smaller number, I think. Don't care, stupid system.
Yep, that (seconds hand warping and getting stuck to other hands) is one of the reasons the 60s era Rolex failed NASA's Apollo tests (relatively early in the 160F for 48 hours then 199F for half an hour test).
I remember when I was young and helped giving Nikki Lauda the trophy for 3rd place in the 1977 Brazil F1 Grand Prix. He had a circular burn scar around his wrist, which I believe was caused by his watch when he crashed in the Nurburgring in 1976. Since he always wore Rolex watches, I assume he may have been wearing one under his glove at the time of the crash. Racing with watches was common in the 70s. Over the years he always mentioned putting his hands on his face to protect it from the fire. It is conceivable that the super hot metal watch caused a circular burn on his wrist. I would imagine that the watch itself did not melt.
Agreed, no one cares about Celsius.
Go set your watches for daylight savings time, we don't have that here!
Go set your watches for daylight savings time, we don't have that here!
Funny I was just struggling with that today. DST is messed up on my Royale cause now it’s not registering the correct time zones.
Funny I was just struggling with that today. DST is messed up on my Royale cause now it’s not registering the correct time zones.
I'm sorry to hear that. But then again, I am a Celsius Stan, so...
I think it’s less the resistance of the watch, and more of the wearer. I don’t know about you lot, but I know I’m not flame-retardant despite my cold, dead heart…
I believe Bathys back in the day dipped some of the 100 Fathoms watches into lava.
I'm also aware of Elliot Brown's Holton Pro tests involving explosive stress testing.
Victorinox also did some explosive testing long time ago as well.
But as already has been mentioned, due to the sheer squishy-ness of the human body in relation to metal/crystal/etc, you would see failure of the body before it could truly matter to the watch.
Or both your watch AND your arm would be effed if that makes sense?
This does not apply to any watch worn over proper PPE. Such as space suits, bomb suits, firefighter suits, etc.
From personal experience I know a Lorier, a Helm a Seiko, an Orient, an Elliot Brown, and a Protrek can sit in the direct searing heat of west TX/NM/CA/FL/MO US, Guam, Phillipines, and parts of southwest Asia and the Persian Gulf and be fine for hours at a time.....I have to assume brands that cost 5x that would be fine too..😂😜**
**FYI a bracelet might've gotten painfully hot TBH, but #singlepass_life
Interesting topic tho since it brings up other adverse environs.
Such as alkali and silica based ultra-fine dust is also a PIA and gets everywhere...aka moon dust.....
In theory WR means no dust, I have seen bad failures/clogging of bezels, bracelets, tearing of nylon, "NATO"/strap bite and LOTS of unintentional sand blasting (I realize it's not real sandblasting smidge of hyperbole 😂).
I fill my watches with water when I think I'll be in fire. Never had one burn up.
Let's add a fire resistance rating to all watches, so a buyer can safeguard his watch for future generations just in case he spontaneously combusts.
I believe Bathys back in the day dipped some of the 100 Fathoms watches into lava.
I'm also aware of Elliot Brown's Holton Pro tests involving explosive stress testing.
Victorinox also did some explosive testing long time ago as well.
But as already has been mentioned, due to the sheer squishy-ness of the human body in relation to metal/crystal/etc, you would see failure of the body before it could truly matter to the watch.
Or both your watch AND your arm would be effed if that makes sense?
This does not apply to any watch worn over proper PPE. Such as space suits, bomb suits, firefighter suits, etc.
From personal experience I know a Lorier, a Helm a Seiko, an Orient, an Elliot Brown, and a Protrek can sit in the direct searing heat of west TX/NM/CA/FL/MO US, Guam, Phillipines, and parts of southwest Asia and the Persian Gulf and be fine for hours at a time.....I have to assume brands that cost 5x that would be fine too..😂😜**
**FYI a bracelet might've gotten painfully hot TBH, but #singlepass_life
I wasn’t just thinking about the watch while it’s on the wrist. Obviously a human body would suffer way before a watch would. I had in mind a house fire or something similar where your collection is still in side. Could they survive or would they be for the bin…
I wasn’t just thinking about the watch while it’s on the wrist. Obviously a human body would suffer way before a watch would. I had in mind a house fire or something similar where your collection is still in side. Could they survive or would they be for the bin…
IMO too many variables. Maybe yes, maybe no? Are they in a fireproof safe, how long for how hot, etc?
And I kinda figured you weren't thinking about string yourself in fire 😂.
Pretty sure one of the reasons, which was already mentioned, NASA went with Omega amongst a few others was due to the astronauts actually needing watches for work use, while in space. Which can get hella hot, since it's nothing, so energy aka heat transmits rather well.
I’ve thought about this a lot because of the absolute surety I will be dropped straight into the bowels of Hell when I die.
But it's not the heat that makes it Hell. What makes it Hell is - You're Not Allowed To Have A Watch.
In Heaven there is no keeping track of time and therefore watches are unnecessary, but God makes sure you have them because looking down at your wrist and not seeing a beautiful watch there would be - well, Hell.
Come on NoArt, don't be starting this. The same guys who insist on sapphire and 200m on every watch will now demand at least a 1000F "fire rating".