View single post by e.avery
 Posted: Sat Dec 13th, 2008 12:42 pm
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e.avery



Joined: Tue Apr 4th, 2006
Location: Kentucky USA
Posts: 2722
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 The evaporation rate of an oil in a watch is greatly affected by case design and the environment the watch is subjected to.  This will greatly affect the service intervals that a movement requires.

Watch cases breathe as they are not air tight only water tight at best. When subjected to changes in temperature the case and gaskets expand and contract as well as the air inside. When a watch cools down it inhales and when it heats up it breaths out.

Anyone wishing to test this need only take there watch off their warm wrist everyday and put on the bathroom counter to cool off while running a steamy shower. The humidity level can increase until a small drop of cold water on the crystal will condense the interior moisture onto the crystal. Beware! Potential damage to dial paint, luminous material, and rust of steel parts and displacement of oil can occur.

The type of oil used also plays a role in the rate of evaporation.  Synthetic oils will increase the intervals when compared to organic oils.  There are also greases used but that is another story.

Service your watch movements regularly.  A rule of thumb is every 3 to 5 years.  We recommend 3 years for a daily wear watch or one left on a winder, and 5 for occasional wear watches.