Project/ Homage watch update 4

Well the movement has been sent in for a clean up and service. Was told that it will take a week to complete the work. In the mean time, I was at my friendly neighbourhood watch shop to pressure test the case and to purchase the straps and spring bars for the watch. The strap I finally purchased was the locally sourced Tropic design straps. I may change it to the racing design straps that I have. We will have to wait and see.

Anyway it was an interesting experience for me to see the watch case being pressure tested. The watch case.

The case being prepared for the pressure test. The gasket/ o-ring is lubricated as is the winding stem and the gasket in the crown. The case back and crown is then tighten.

The test machine. This machine uses the vacuum test method.

The tester is filled with the test medium, water. The water is filled to the red line.

The case is then lowered into the water. It is suspended from the rod.

The pump is operated. This is to reduce the air pressure in the space between the surface of the water and the top of the chamber. The pressure in the watch is now higher as compared to the tube. Air inside the watch will now try to escape from the watch. If there is a leak, bubbles will form and that indicates the place where there is a leak. This is a safe way to test a watch (with movement) as the water will not get inside the watch.

The photograph below shows the reading at 4 bars. The watch was tested up to 6 bars. There were no air bubbles. After about 3 minutes, the pressure was released.

The test was repeated. It was again tested to 6 Bars.

There were no bubbles.

The case back. There were no bubbles.

The front.

After about 5 minutes, the pressure was released. Basically the watch case passed the test. Technically the watch should be water resistant to 202 feet or 61 M as it was tested to 6 Bars. I am happy with the test. I know that the watch is suppose to be rated at 20 Bars and I would like to test it to that depth, but they do not have the machine to do that. It was an educational afternoon for me.