Screw crown not completely screwed on

[germy_wermy]

Hi guys. New member, and really liking the community here.

I just got a Seiko New Monster, and I have a question.

I just washed my watch, and while drying it, I noticed that the screw crown wasn't tight.

Just wanted to ask if this would mean that water could go (or even has gone) in?

It wasn't unscrewed completely, but still, I had to turn it a couple of times to get finger tight.

Would water go through a completely unscrewed screw crown, or is this just an added precaution?

If water has gone in, how would it damage the watch, and what are the symptoms?

Sorry for the noob question, and if this has been posted before. Please set my mind at ease! )

[roo7]

I hope you didn't dip it into the water. Splashes on it is still ok.

You will find out when you enter a colder area, see if the dial fogs up.




Sent from my iPhone

[fireal]

Hair dryer time

Sent from my Nokia 8210.

[big-e-294]

As long as the crown wasn't pulled out u shld be safe against small splashes. Coz the gasket still does its job somewhat.

But like roo said, you'll know once u enter from hot to cold area.




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[germy_wermy]

hi guys, thanks for your replies!

There doesn't seem to be any condensation thus far, but the temperature change isn't too drastic (outdoors to office).

I guess I will know sooner or later. I will keep an eye out, and thanks a lot!

BTW, fireal, does a hair dryer really work?!?

[germy_wermy]

Anyway, if anyone is interested, here's some tips, courtesy of lysanderxiii from the WUS forum (can I mention other forums here?)..

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/watch-e ... 14401.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HOW TO CHECK FOR WATER INTRUSION:

1. Warm the watch to about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) for about 20 minutes. (If you use a high intensity light, point it at the back of the watch. Some of these things can melt dials etc.)

2. Put a drop of cool tap water on the center of the crystal, wait 10 seconds, and wipe off.

3. If there is a spot of condensation on the inside where the drop of water was, you have a problem. Not a "the watch is going to rust solid in the next 24 hours" problem, but a "you'll need a service along with that new gasket".... So, keep it out of water until you can get the gasket checked, and get it serviced as soon as practical.

Cheers!

[big-e-294]

Anyway, if anyone is interested, here's some tips, courtesy of lysanderxiii from the WUS forum (can I mention other forums here?)..

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/watch-e ... 14401.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HOW TO CHECK FOR WATER INTRUSION:

1. Warm the watch to about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) for about 20 minutes. (If you use a high intensity light, point it at the back of the watch. Some of these things can melt dials etc.)

2. Put a drop of cool tap water on the center of the crystal, wait 10 seconds, and wipe off.

3. If there is a spot of condensation on the inside where the drop of water was, you have a problem. Not a "the watch is going to rust solid in the next 24 hours" problem, but a "you'll need a service along with that new gasket".... So, keep it out of water until you can get the gasket checked, and get it serviced as soon as practical.

Cheers!

Great tip!!
Thanks for sharing.


Sent from The Force

[germy_wermy]

Wanted to try my luck in this thread first, cos I didn't want to start a new thread, and it is kinda related...

For screw-down crowns, has anyone experienced stripping of the threads? If so, can watchmakers (such as Mr. Goh, or Seiko, etc) repair them easily?

[Quasimodo]

Not that I know of. I think if you strip the threads you're up shit creek without a paddle.

This happens on vintage divers and the repair is costly. Involves drilling out the collar and micro welding a new tube in. a very specialised operation that I doubt even the factory will offer to do.



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[phantom150]

Wanted to try my luck in this thread first, cos I didn't want to start a new thread, and it is kinda related...

For screw-down crowns, has anyone experienced stripping of the threads? If so, can watchmakers (such as Mr. Goh, or Seiko, etc) repair them easily?

if its just the crown, a replacement is cheaper/faster/technically easier to do.

if its the tube thread or watever u called it on the case, good luck......, its like wat Quasimodo says, may cos u likely even up to a servicing or more.

and likely, the agents will always sought the easy way out n tell u to change the whole case!!!

[germy_wermy]

^^^ Thanks guys, that was what I gathered from my reading as well.

As a side note, the dental floss trick really makes the screw down crown super smooth!

[germy_wermy]

Hate to keep flogging a dead horse, but this suddenly occurred to me, and I hope that the veterans here would have an answer, or at least some insights.

Logically speaking, since the screw down crown stem (is that what you call it?) is easier and cheaper to replace than the screw down crown tube (since most are integrated and you'd have to change the entire case if the threads are stripped), does anyone know if the crown stem is made of a softer metal than the crown tube, or are they the same, or is the stem harder than the crown tube?

If I were making a dive watch, and this is a weak point of screw down crowns, then I'd design it in such a way that the crown stem is softer, so that if there were stripped threads, it would be on the stem (easier and cheaper to replace).

Unless there are other reasons, such as water tightness, or costs, or just wanting to make money off the parts (which shouldn't be the case, IMHO).

Looking forward to a discussion, and to be educated on this!