Help! Salt water in my watch!

[GO-NAD!]

Went to the beach today and went for a swim with my TAG Heur on. While relaxing in the sun, I noticed that it was starting to fog up. Eek! I've had it for over 20 years and it's served me well. It's a divers watch and has an electronic movement. For some reason, the seal failed.

I picked up some distilled water on the way home, removed the back and the battery dunked it in the water a few times, changing the water between dunks. Am I doing the right thing? Should I soak it very long?

Unless somebody can tell me otherwise, I will give it a few more rinses, shake out as much water as I can, then set it in front of the dehumidifier until Tuesday (labour day tomorrow), then bring it to a horologist. Does that sound like a good plan?

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I don't know if that's a good plan or not but, being a watch guy and a TAG Heuer owner myself, I hope it works out well for you.

 

[Adam]

Putting things in rice is supposed to work pretty well, too. Best of luck, man!

You know, this might be karma's response to you not getting a puppy for your daughter's birthday. Just sayin'.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I don't know if that's a good plan or not but, being a watch guy and a TAG Heuer owner myself, I hope it works out well for you.

Thanks, I hope so too. I figured I had nothing to lose by trying. It was still running right before I took the battery out, which gives me hope. It wasn't flooded when I opened it, but there were small drops of seawater inside the back when I removed it, plus the previously mentioned fogging. If I did nothing, it would just be a matter of time before it died. I just wondered if there might be something more and/or better that I could do.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Putting things in rice is supposed to work pretty well, too. Best of luck, man!

You know, this might be karma's response to you not getting a puppy for your daughter's birthday. Just sayin'.

Yeah, I've heard that too. Might try it. I just knew the salt would be to come out first, hence the distilled water.

We're actually talking about Guinea Pigs right now. She's keen on the idea and if it reduces the begging for a dog, I'm all for it. If I was retired, we would probably get one - which, of course, doesn't work for her. I just don't like the thought of leaving a dog alone in the house for several hours a day. I realise many people do that and love their dogs, but I would feel guilty about it. Two of my sisters each have a pair of dogs, for that very reason. That just ain't happening here! As I've mentioned before, I do like dogs - I'm just not up for all the inconvenience that comes with them.

 

[psbfan9]

We're actually talking about Guinea Pigs right now. She's keen on the idea and if it reduces the begging for a dog, I'm all for it.

Sorry to hear about your watch. Any type of warranty left on it? As Adam said, the rice thing is a popular way to get water out of cell phones so hopefully it will work with the watch. Good luck!

So a great compromise would be a cat. Perfectly sized between a guinea pig and a dog. Cats like to be left alone until they decide to spend time with you. It has to be their idea. Plus, you know, with the rat thing and all, a cat seems like the purrfect pet.

Imagine waking up to this every morning.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Sorry to hear about your watch. Any type of warranty left on it? As Adam said, the rice thing is a popular way to get water out of cell phones so hopefully it will work with the watch. Good luck!

So a great compromise would be a cat. Perfectly sized between a guinea pig and a dog. Cats like to be left alone until they decide to spend time with you. It has to be their idea. Plus, you know, with the rat thing and all, a cat seems like the purrfect pet.

Imagine waking up to this every morning.View attachment 16615

The watch is 25+ years old, so no warranty.
My daughter is allergic to cats, otherwise we would have gotten one a long time ago.

 

[Chu Gai]

After the distiller water rinses, rinse several times with isopropyl alcohol. Should be able to get some without any dyes or additives. If not that, try something like triple distilled vodka in the highest proof you can get. The alcohol forms what's known as an azeotrope with water (kind of like a scavenger) leaving no water remaining. Then figure out how to dry it. Later order a new gasket for the back.

 

[GO-NAD!]

After the distiller water rinses, rinse several times with isopropyl alcohol. Should be able to get some without any dyes or additives. If not that, try something like triple distilled vodka in the highest proof you can get. The alcohol forms what's known as an azeotrope with water (kind of like a scavenger) leaving no water remaining. Then figure out how to dry it. Later order a new gasket for the back.

You don't think the mechanism will dry completely without the alcohol?

 

[Chu Gai]

There are a lot of tiny places. Water has a surface tension over three times that of isopropyl alcohol so it tenaciously holds on to the surface. Rinsing the water out with the alcohol will displace all the water with the residual alcohol evaporating much quicker than water would. If you buy the isopropyl at an automotive store, take what's remaining and treat your gas tank.

Try it yourself using two small glasses. Fill both with water then pour the water out. In one of the glasses, slosh some alcohol around a couple of times and pour it out. Which one dries quicker and more completely?

 

[GO-NAD!]

Well, rinsed as directed and dried. Reassembled - works perfectly and no fog. Must look into replacing the seal. Thanks for the advice!

 

[herbu]

In one of the glasses, slosh some alcohol around a couple of times and pour it out. Which one dries quicker and more completely?

Apparently this doesn't work if you pour it out in your mouth. My glass never dries before the bottle.