WATERPROOF

Waterproofing & Moisture Damage Restoration

Protecting Timepieces from the Silent Killer: Water Intrusion

At Swiss Watch Precision, we’ve seen firsthand the damage even a small amount of moisture can inflict on a luxury watch. One of the most frequent—and urgent—repair cases we handle is water intrusion. If not addressed immediately, it can trigger rust and corrosion that rapidly destroy a watch’s internal movement.

What Every Watch Owner Should Know

Whether you’re picking up a newly serviced piece or just acquired a luxury timepiece, there is one critical rule we always share with our clients:
Always ensure the crown is fully closed or screwed down after setting, winding, or adjusting the watch.

The #1 cause of water damage is an improperly secured crown. This seemingly small oversight leaves the movement exposed to moisture—especially problematic when wearing your watch in humid environments, rain, or around salt water.

Once water enters, time is of the essence. Salt water, in particular, is highly corrosive, speeding up the breakdown of components. Rust and moisture buildup can create friction, jam the gears, and compromise the timekeeping accuracy and water resistance of your watch.

Our Moisture Damage Restoration Process

1. Diagnosis & Disassembly

• We immediately open the case back to inspect for moisture, rust, and any unusable components.

• The movement, crown, stem, and crystal are separated from the case and bracelet.

• Each part is thoroughly evaluated; rusted or damaged components are sourced and replaced with precision-matched OEM or Swiss-grade equivalents.

2. Ultrasonic Cleaning of the Movement

• The internal mechanism is broken down piece by piece—wheels, springs, pivots, barrels, mainspring, plates—and cleaned using six professional-grade ultrasonic solutions to eliminate rust, dirt, and dried oils.

3. Dial Restoration or Refinishing

• If water exposure has caused discoloration or staining on the dial, we carefully clean it. If stains are permanent, we offer expert dial refinishing services to restore its original appearance.

4. Reassembly & Waterproofing

• After cleaning, the movement is reassembled with proper lubrication and brand-new gaskets are installed to restore factory-level water resistance.

• If needed, a new sapphire or acrylic crystal is fitted.

5. Case Restoration

• While the movement is serviced, the case and bracelet are polished to remove dings and scratches, then deep cleaned in our ultrasonic tank and dried to perfection.

6. Final Testing & Quality Control
Every restored watch goes through an intensive multi-point check:

• Amplitude test to evaluate the movement’s precision and beat error.

• Water resistance test using an air-pressure chamber to simulate submersion.

• Complication check for functions like time, date, moonphase, and chronograph.

• Winding wheel test to simulate wrist motion for 6–8 hours, followed by a 20–30 hour power reserve observation.

Estimated Turnaround

Depending on the extent of the water damage and required parts, our full restoration process takes 4 to 8 weeks. We work meticulously to ensure your timepiece leaves our care performing at or above factory standards—with water resistance restored and long-term reliability secured.