Watch Water Resistance Pressure Test Fail. Seiko SKX007. Aftermarket caseback.
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- Just thought I'd publish this little video of my first real FAIL test. I've done over 30 watches in this machine and wouldn't now be without it.
The watch in question is my own SKX007 with a sapphire crystal, new seals, SARB059 crown and an aftermarket caseback.
My Calipso watch pressure tester is rated to 11bar.
This is a little short of the 200Meter rated water resistance of a SKX007 but as you'll see it's still a very useful test.
The process is to pressurise the container with the watch in air in the top half. If I have pinched a gasket (which is very easy to do) or there is some other fault the pressurised air will be forced into the watch case.
The next step is to immerse the watch in water (which is much harder to compress than air) and slowly release a valve manually. If there is a fault you will see a stream of bubbles exiting the watch from the weak point. Because air is escaping, water cannot enter so I could have done the test with the movement inside but when I'm building up a watch I do it before casing up.
At first I thought it was a caseback gasket but on closer inspection, the aftermarket caseback is at fault. It seems that the metal where the notches are for a caseback tool to grip is too thin.
I should just say that this machine is not sufficient on it's own to certify a watch as being a suitable tool for diving. For this, you would generally need a 3 stage test which includes a dry pressure and vacuum test, a water pressure test for a set period then a hot plate condensation test. Equipment which costs £thousands more than a simple modder (I'm not a watchmaker) like me can run to.
Sorry for the long ramble but I was interested to see the video and maybe you will be too.
Oh - the 3M tape is just to hide the identity of the caseback supplier - it was an old batch of casebacks and I believe they have rectified the problem now.
EDIT : Someone pointed out that I should start releasing the pressure gently immediately before immersion into water so as not to drive water into the case.
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That was interesting to me, too. Thanks for the video.
So that's what a leak looks like! Thanks for the video. I have the same Calypso, and it won't hold pressure. See you don't have that problem. Already replaced the brass fitting inside, it was visibly cracked and the leak was audible. Next time, a Bergeon for me.
Aloha from the Islands, we have some leaking over here as well.
holonalu Aloha my friend. I got mine after some recommendations, not least of which was Mark Lovick (watch repair talk forum/watch repair lessons RUclips) who'd used it for about 10 years. Had mine for less than a year so I hope your experience is the exception rather than the norm. Was it easy to
A) put your finger on the issue?
B) get the part? And
C) effect the repair?
I bought it from Cousins in the UK. They're wonderful folks, always great to deal with, but, this pressure tester was defective from the start. If I lived in the UK, it wouldn't have been a problem, however, there's these two oceans. They sent me replacement parts, the t-fitting that connects the pump to the tank and gauge, and the brass connector. The brass piece was the problem, should never have been attached to the machine to begin with, as it was cracked at the threads on the pump side. Got it all back together, but it still won't hold pressure for long. If I had some small 9 mm wrenches I'd check the rest, but, later. Right now it's good enough, just not 700 USD good. Company that builds these never should have let this one out the warehouse doors. And, oddly enough, the Calypso leaking more or less coincides with Madame Pele's latest antics, so, perhaps there's a connection.
Aloha from the first large rock north of the Leaky Rock,
Thomas
A nice presentation - thanks for taking the time to film and publish 👌⌚👍
By no means professional 😉....the only reason for publication was that at the time, I couldn't find anything which showed what a failure looked like. I hope it's useful for someone.
I used to scuba dive alot years ago a got a smaller unit to test my watches periodically as they can be a bit expensive if they drown. Sort of noticed after about two to three years of age a 200m watch would leak around 50/60m .
That seems quite a short period of time but perhaps the regular use would necessitate a more regular change of gaskets and new silicon grease application.
Is there a way to perform this WR test with watch cases that do not have screw down crowns?
In a watch without screw down crown, the crown has to be locked into the movement in order to not fall out of the case. But then you would have to dip the case WITH the movement into the water...wouldn't you?
True. I have done this test on cases without screw down crowns such a Seiko snzf17 and snzh55. A little tape or a thick elastic band will keep the crown steady, not too much though, as you don't want it to obscure your vision or act as an extra seal. You can of course test with the movement in place as unless there is a catastrophic failure water should still not enter the case, but I never test with the movement in on the first test.... just in case.
@@tunokies thanks a lot, sir!
I'm just wondering what's the max depth this aftermarket caseback can hold? When does it start to crack?
Have you tested Seiko watches that have been moded with sapphire crystal? How much compromise to the water resistance does changing crystal pose to watches?
Yes... that's why I bought this Calipso. I always buy from Crystaltimes and they have always passed unless I have pinched the crystal gasket. I just don't see the point of modding a diver unless I can test it... although mine will only go to 11 bar, I know people have tested them to 200m/20bar+ with no problems.
I have a couple of Crystal times and NAMOKI pieces in my collection and I've never had any leaks with them. What is your experience with NAMOKI?
Hi! Do You have a video when a helium escape valves is operating? I mean when it opens? That will be very interesting.
It would indeed. I've no watches with an HE valve unfortunately. I don't recall having seen such a video.
Very interesting video!, thank you for sharing! what if instead water, it is used isopropyl alcohol, for example? so you can test a watch with the movement inside, and if it goes wrong is not water what is coming inside. Is it feasible? Thank you!
I'm just an amateur. This is my only piece of testing kit. I don't know how that liquid would react to the seals inside the testing chamber or the seals on the watch.
@@tunokies Well, I mentioned because isopropyl alcohol it is used for cleaning in electronic, it is not aggressive with plastics.
@@federicoacker5672 alcohol would remove the oils from the movement. It would need to be serviced just the same.
@@cv600rr Of Course! you are right!, thank you for your answer!
Thanks, so interesting, first time to see this test done
What is required testing pressure value for 200m diver watch? do you have any calculation about this? Thanks.
More money and equipment....it can run into the £thousands of pounds.
Very interesting! Thanks for showing us!
I believe some pressure should be released before lowering the case into the water. It there is a leak, you want the internal pressure to be higher than the external pressure. Otherwise you'll just be forcing water into the case when you dunk it. I think the pressure was still equalizing while it was sitting in the water.
You are right sir.
..and me... why is there no water in the case ? What is the need for an aftermarket case back if the original didn't leak ?
The aftermarket case back was a display (glass) back to view the movement. That was one of the mods/upgrades I was doing.
There is no water in the case because the pressurised/compressed air that got forced into the watch in the top chamber escapes the case as I release the pressure valve. If I had started to pump up the pressure with the watch in the water then water would most likely have got into the watch.
There's a really good explanation video from Mark at the longislandwatch channel under his watch and learn section. He's an engineer and can explain much better than me.
the SKX don't have Drilled Lugs on their cases? i do not think this is an Original SKX case
Nedal Hubhub True. This one was drilled by John 'Thetigeruk' Bentley. It's a real skx - trust me.
you never said why you covered the backplate
The 3M tape is just to hide the identity of the caseback supplier - it was an old batch of casebacks and I believe they have rectified the problem now.
Hello . Does the calypso hold pressure ? Can you leave a watch in there for an hour without loosing pressure ?
Good question. Not tried for that long. Is there a reason to keep it pressured up for that long?
I can try if you want me to.
@@tunokies i like testing to the extreme :)
@@dimitristheoharis9552 Fair enough. I've pumped it to 8 bar and will reply in an hour. Just for you👍. What kind of watch work do you do?
@@tunokies i run therelumer.com , check it out . I have been using the bergeon tester alongside a alc2000 but i need a 10bar wet test machine that can hold pressure for long time .
@@dimitristheoharis9552 It kept exact pressure for an hour at 8bar. Just liked your instagram page btw.
very interesting
Thanks dear friend for nice video. I see this testing machine is well done - good quality of producing, looks it could keep pressure during 5-10 minutes very well. Can You tell me what is manufcturier of this WR testing tool? Maybe You can give info where to buy it and what is price? I am watchmaker from Russia, and only chines cheap wr testing machines is possible to get in my region. Will highly appreciate any help!
It's a Calypso pressure tester made in Italy and I bought it from cousins.uk watch parts shop. It's very good quality. The up to date price will be on their website.
What failed here? Was it a machining issue? Gasket failed? Good thing is you didn’t do it with the movement, would’ve turned into a nightmare.
The machining of the aftermarket caseback was at fault.
@@tunokies thank you for your reply :). good to know I will never blindly trust aftermarket parts just because they fit, and I can sleep peacefully tonight knowing the problem. Have a great day ahead.
Great vid. I always wonder how this was done without getting water in the watch.
Thanks Peter. I only really did it because I couldn't find anything similar that showed a fail with the bubbles streaming out.
Thanks for the video!
Have you also tried with the original caseback ?
Robert Klatich Yes, the original is fine. The metal is just too thin on the aftermarket case back in the notches.
tunokies thank you! I want to get one so i have to be sure it’s worth it.
Robert Klatich no problem. It's a Calipso and came from cousinsuk. I did a fair amount of research before settling on this one over the Chinese Bergeon 6bar copies. I used to take all the Seiko dive watch mods to a third party for testing and this Calipso will have paid for itself within a year.
Did the rubber gasket fail ?
No...it was the machining of the notches in the caseback..
Well made
Great vid
But a compressor