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TimeTechTalk.com > 3T Official Brand Forums > Benarus Taucheruhren/SteVral > Water Resistance Testing |
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TimeTechTalk.com > 3T Official Brand Forums > Benarus Taucheruhren/SteVral > Water Resistance Testing |
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Steve Laughlin 3T WIS 
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I have recently read a storm of confusion about a watches water resistance and mainly watch cases from Hong Kong/PRC and if they are really as water resistant as they claim. I can only speak about Benarus and what I know. I spoke with Ralf last night to gather more information about how we test the WR at the factory level and this is what I know from our conversation: 1. Each individual BENARUS watch is tested at the factory with high pressure WR testing equipment, followed by heating the watch up and dropping cold water on the crystal to check for internal condensation. 2. The rubber gaskets are what stops water from getting in, the difference between a 200m, 500m, 1000m, and 2000m watch is just the thickness of the case, case back, and crystal thickness to resist breaking under high pressure... but all water resistance is based on the gaskets and case machining accuracy so that the watch has a good tight seal. 3. In my opinion there is nothing magical or different about a watch with ISO written on the back. I feel it is like my COSC that is -6 seconds per day. I have non COSC watches that keep better time, and I have non ISO watches that are better engineered than my SKX007. I know this point is highly debatable, so it is just my opinion... that ISO and COSC labels are good... for sales. HERE IS THE COOL PART: I have decided to invest in high quality Swiss WR testing equipment for my office here in Kansas. I open enough watches here to add this service. If I have to work on any BENARUS watch in the future, I will include free WR testing. I will also offer this service for a small fee if anyone wants to have any watch they own tested. I will post again when I receive the testing equipment, at this point I am still looking at the various models to see which one best fits with our needs. - Steve Laughlin |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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Cool move Steve!....always good to be prepared.  ...but until Steve gets his testing equipment,Dakota Watch which has over 200 locations in Malls(usually a kiosk) across the U.S have 100m pressure testers now...they charge a fee for the test/with a print out,and I can say all of my Benarus,including the brand that was recently attacked have been tested and passed!  |
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Redd 3T WIS
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On a serious note....... its genuinely nice to know that I'll have at least two watches which are safe to dive with. On a less serious note........ my Sea Devil and incoming (God, time is draggggging) Moray 3 will now join my Steinhart and Helson's in never going near so much as a shower! Still good to know and great QA from Steve and Ralf.Last edited on Mon May 30th, 2011 12:30 pm by Redd |
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Steve Laughlin 3T WIS
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And a note about showers and hot tubs. Steam is not water, it is gas and can penetrate any watch gaskets. You are better off swimming underwater than letting the watch hover over steam. That said, I have sat in the hot tub at my health club with a variety of Benarus watches on and never had any issues. |
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watchdaddy1 3T WIS 
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GOOD TO HEAR Steve |
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Steve Laughlin 3T WIS
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I just want to keep this thread focused on what Benarus does for testing at the factory, and what I will do for customers when I have to open their watch up. WR is not difficult to test and will give customers a piece of mind. The customers still need to use the watch correctly, not open the case back themselves, make sure the crown is screwed down, etc. |
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gt-tech 3T WIS 
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Nice move Steve, I think it is a good investment for your business Also, good info..... |
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FnuSnu99 3T WIS 
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That`s good to know Steve! And personally I have never had any doubt about getting wet with either my Megladon or my Sea Devil. This just ads to the over all good CS Benarus shows. Never had to send in either watches, but if I had to with future Benarus`, I`m sure I would be taken care of. Like Ken C commented in another thread, when you buy a boutique brand watch, you don`t only buy the watch, you "buy the man (men)" behind it. So CS is a BIG deal ...IMHO |
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elemental 3T WIS
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iso is garbage. it always has been and always will be. as an internal and external iso 14k and 9k auditor i can tell you.. it is a "cool kids club" for companies. it in NO WAY ensures that the practices being done are the best, right, or most efficient ones out there. it only ensures that the practices that they do are the ones they have written in their SOPs. one would hope that those are the best for the customer, but generally they are whats best for the bottom line first, and customer second. i can be iso certified for testing watch crystals if the first line in the SOP is "smack with hammer"..NOT doing it would violate iso. it is almost impossible to lose your certs, that is, unless you stop paying for them. /rant....sorry but iso drives me nuts in other news, awesome news about the pressure testing equip.  Last edited on Tue May 31st, 2011 07:40 am by elemental |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS 
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I have to chime in with the rest, Steve. That water testing is a very good business move and adds a lot of comfort to any potential buyer to assure him/her that the watch will do what it is rated to do. Just a footnote, and I say this as a mere watch collector with only a rudimentary understanding of watch kinetics and construction --- I think aside from the seals, glass and case construction that you mentioned earlier, there's something about the bridges that play a role also---in the sense that they form a system (with the glass, case, seals) to respond very tightly to the pressures at those depths. I can be corrected by anybody, of course. On showering with watches....big No NO. Steve is right. Steam and even soap can ruin seals.. This is a very big caution from Rolex. Best thing to take to the shower or tub is only that rubber ducky [/size  |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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every WIS,diver or not,...if you bump,drop or abuse your dive watch the WR can be affected...granted some watches can take more of a beating than others,but just like servicing your watch,you also need to have the WR checked periodically as well. |
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Jeep99dad 3T WIS 
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That is a great service to add Steve. I never had any doubt on my Benarus WR. My Cuda and Sea Devils did great at the beach, in the ocean... As a matter of fact. I'm not sure what this Helson discussion is about and what happened, did not read anything on it but someone on WUS PMd me asking me how I felt about it since apparently some Frenchies were attacking Helson and questioning their WR?? Couldn't really say as I have not read the story. I'm sure though all brands have their shares of issues, a small percentage of watches that have defects of some sort including not being WR as advertised. All my Benarus and Helson for that matter have been great. |
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graymadder 3T WIS
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I have a question regarding the testing process. If your watch fails at a given depth rating, does that mean your watch got wet from the test and has possible water damage? Total noob question, but just curious. |
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Steve Laughlin 3T WIS
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I don't have one yet, or the manual in front of me, but this is what I understand from searching the internet: with a wet test, the watch is suspended above the water and you build up the pressure before sinking it, if the watch is not water tight, it blows the air out underwater, the built up pressure from above is in the watch, the water doesn't go in. you must lift the watch back up before releasing the air pressure. if done correctly there is no risk to the watch. also the case itself can be tested without the parts inside, with the crown and case back are screwed back on for the test, then you know the case and gaskets are in good working condition. re assembling the watch after the test is not an issue with water resistance if one knows what he is doing. |
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oagaspar Site Founder
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...from what I know,only the watch cases are tested at the factory,and not the completed watch,for completed watches you can read what Rolex aficionado,James Dowling, posted on TZ in 97' ...these methods remain the same: Here's how it is done Posted by James M. Dowling on November 02, 1997 at 23:29:53: In Reply to: Re: Richard..set me straight on this please... posted by R.paige on November 02, 1997 at 15:08:53: Hi Guys, There are essentially 2 methods of testing the impermeabilty of a watch case with the movement inside; the Rolex method and the Portescap method. The Rolex one uses water but still can not damage the movement here is how it works. The machine incoporates a glass tube one third filled with water which has a screwed top with a pressure guage and the bottom end sits on a vacuum pump. The watch is suspended from a hangar at the top of the tube and the air above the water is then sucked out. As the pressure inside the watch (normal air pressure) is now higher than that in the tube it will attempt to escape and equalise the pressure (nature abhors a vacuum and all that) if it does succeed in escaping from the case it will be seen as bubbles rising from the case. Simple really!! The Portescap system places the watch on a platform inside a vacuum chamber. The chamber is then evacuated of all air and a pointer is lowered until it touches the glass of the watch; the air in the watch is now at a higher pressure than that in the chamber (air pressue vs vacuum) and it will once again try to escape if it does so the case will suddenly contract as the pressure equalise and this will be registered on a micrometer guage connected to the pointer touching the glass. Both methods are what is known as non-invasive and/or fail safe; in other words it is impossible for the watch to be harmed by the testing methods. I hope this helps to explain; if not...please ask. Good luck , James |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS
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Thanks for that one, Oscar. I learned something new again today. |
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joecb 3T WIS 
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great question graymadder....I also learned something new today, TY for the info Steve & Oscar.. |
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graymadder 3T WIS
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Thanks, and I thought I was asking a noob question. Thanks Steve and Oscar. |
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Pearlmanz 3T WIS 
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Thanks for posting Steve as I might need to send my watch in for a check on the stem and it might require opening the case. I appreciate you letting us know. |
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rob.winter 3T WIS 
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Very interesting information Oscar. The Rolex method makes sense. I am learning so much from all here. |
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