Beach-proofing your watch!

A beach vacation is good news for you, right? But it’s not always good news for your timepiece. Heat, dust, sand and water-all can be serious threats to your watch. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun in the sun: as always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your watch safe this season.

What Makes A Watch Water Resistant?
The most important feature in a water resistant watch is the gaskets or O-rings. Typically made of rubber, nylon, or Teflon, these form the watertight seals at the joints where the crystal, case back, and crown meet the watch cases are lined with sealant that help keeps the water out.
The thickness and material of the case are important factors in determining whether they can be safely worn underwater. The case must be sturdy enough to withstand underwater pressure without caving in. Usually, cases are made of titanium or gold-plated steel; solid gold cases can be water resistant if they are thick enough.

What Kind Of Special Care Does My Watch Need After Swimming?
After swimming or diving in saltwater, even if your watch is appropriately water resistant, you must immediately and thoroughly rinse the watch in fresh water. If your watch has a rotating bezel, turn the bezel several times while rinsing it. This will prevent salt buildup and corrosion of the bezel ring.

Surprisingly, swimming in a pool can be more harmful to your watch that swimming in the open water. Heavily chlorinated chemicals can corrode the gaskets even faster that saltwater, as can spray-on perfumes and hairsprays. Shampoos soap can also damage your watch and compromise water resistant, so take off your watch in the shower.

What Do I Do If Water Gets Into The Watch?
If, for example, water has gotten into your watch and the glass fogs up whatever you use it, the crown, crystal, and back gasket should be replace. You should also ask to have an overhaul prevent the moisture from damaging the watch.