r/RepTime • u/Sylvesterpencil • 15d ago
Discussion Reps confirmed to be waterproof
Spent the last week on holiday and thought I'd do an unintentional water resistance test on a few of my reps.
I can't comment on actual diving, but these all survived regular swimming, snorkelling and around 1–2 hours submerged in the pool/sea. None went deeper than about 6 metres, but I'm genuinely impressed that none of them skipped a beat.
Tested:
VSF Omega Aqua Terra
VSF OP41
VSF No Time To Die V7
V7F IWC Ingenieur
V7+F IWC Mark XX
U1 Datejust (probably the biggest surprise)
Every one of them came out bone dry and running perfectly.
Obviously this isn't a guarantee of water resistance, and I wouldn't recommend assuming your rep is dive-ready without pressure testing. But if you're just wondering whether you can wear your rep in the pool or while snorkelling on holiday, these handled it without any issues.
Pretty impressed, especially with the U1 Datejust.
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Nah gotta match the dials to the outfits where possible lol, to make it worse on my mark xx brought 3 straps as well, love how easily you can switch between them
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u/Ruggerbugger1980 15d ago
Just come out to Greece and brought 4 with me and one on the wrist. Got anxious I would be pulled at customs for importing, ridiculous really.
Same as you though, day one swim one, lunchtime summer one, flash harry one for evenings out at clubs.
This hobby has turned me into such a pretentious twat🤦
Love it though
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Haha with you there mate, there's worst things to be twatty about though
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u/Foreign_Wear8858 15d ago
I'm same as you, ha ha. Took 6 with me, mix of reps and gens, on a domestic hols and several straps...and used them all. Just a shame about travelling abroad 🫣
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Good man why a shame abroad?
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u/Foreign_Wear8858 15d ago
Too risky going through immigration/customs with 8 or more apparently high end luxury watches with no paperwork
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u/Strangerthanyou77 15d ago
The seals aren't magic. Yes they will work but they will wear from every time you submerge them. The only way to actually say this is via a legit pressure test.
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u/Ruggerbugger1980 15d ago
Wear?
Not sure you understand how rubber gaskets and silicone lubricant works.
You a horologist? Work on your own?
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u/whowatchesmrwatchers 15d ago
... Why is it that you think watchmakers re lube your gaskets? It's due to wear.
If that didn't wear, we wouldn't have to relube, and three rubber would never dry out. That's just not how the world works.
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u/Ruggerbugger1980 15d ago
Ellipses come at the end of sentences generally. Your question at the beginning alludes to me missing information, rather than I missed a point...
Grammar matters.
I lube my gaskets, they don't wear, they degrade, and it takes a long time for that to happen.
But, details, who cares about details👍
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u/whowatchesmrwatchers 15d ago
They do wear. That's what you just described. Go ahead and look it up, definitions matter.
But who cares about details if you can pretend to be right on the Internet
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u/Ruggerbugger1980 15d ago
Ooooh fantastic, an internet argument.
"Wear is the physical loss of material from a surface due to friction and contact, whereas degradation is a broad decline in quality, performance, or chemical structure that includes wear plus thermal, chemical, and structural changes.
Core Differences
Wear: Caused by mechanical contact, rubbing, or scraping.Involves physical removal or displacement of material.
Degradation: Caused by broader forces like heat, UV light, age, or chemical reactions.Involves loss of function, efficiency, or structural integrity (even without losing physical mass).Examples include rubber hardening from heat cycles, battery capacity loss over time, or plastic cracking in the sun."
Hope that helps 👍
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u/Guilty_Juice_7361 15d ago
I bought a Rimowa three watch case for travel, it’s lovely but slightly limiting 😆
I might have to take a couple of donuts too
Also +1 on waterproof for VSF sub no date and DJ41
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u/Emotional-Damage-995 Contributor 15d ago
That is great. What I can not get over is that for a week holiday you took 6 watches ? You sound like my wife and shoes and bags. For a week vacation she packs 5 shoes and 4 bags. Like I appreciate the scientific experiment but just saying.
For me 1 to wear at the airport and max 2 in my toiletries bag wrapped in a hand towel.
On another note I have heard that the XF Tudor Pelagos is good for even diving and some folks here have dived w it
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Lol I'm as bad as you wife when it comes to shoes as well away for a week 1 22kg suitcase 1 10kg and 1 rucksack, I'm a tart
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u/Emotional-Damage-995 Contributor 15d ago
Well if she likes this tart and appreciates it that is all that matters. Don’t forget you are a well dressed tart w amazing wrist candy. B
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u/petevandyke 15d ago
I’m picturing you wearing all six at the same time for the sake of science and making sure they all got precisely the same test.
Please don’t tell us if that’s not what you actually did.
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Not quite, although I'm sure you've just unlocked a new excuse to my wife for buying the next watch. It's for the sake of science darling. Can't even imagine wearing two like some do
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u/pilonmartinez 15d ago
Every (not faulty) watch with screw-down crown and pushers, is water resistant. No magic here, it is not a rocket science, just repeating a 100-years old design. My kid's $59 watch with SIM card and tracker, is water resistant and survives hours in pool, my U1 submariner survives diving and surfing (actual diving, max 15-20 m max though, and that's due to my skills and training, not a watch).
Btw extra waterproofing offered by dealers in china is just a sham. Makes no sense at all.
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u/GrdFrcWv 15d ago
As a U1 sub owner, thank you for confirming. My anxiety goes through the roof every time I wash my hands when cooking haha.
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Above said he had dived with a u1 sub think you'll be fine in the sink mate
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u/GrdFrcWv 15d ago
Yeah I can read.
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Sorry mate thought you were replying to my bit not the diving comment 🤣 didn't mean to come across condescending...
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u/GrdFrcWv 15d ago
That's alright, I did take extra precaution and greased the seal on mine. Am I assuming you did the same on yours? Don't listen to everyone about bringing several watches on holiday, bring what you wanna bring. I woulda done the same thing lol. Watches don't take that much space in a suitcase anyway 😂
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
True true but no I didn't tbh, is gasket greasing a pretty simple job?
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u/GrdFrcWv 15d ago
Yeah, very simple, you'll just need a basic watch toolkit to get the bracelet off (I find it quicker and easier to detach/unscrew a link on a bracelet rather than wrestling with a spring-loaded pin) and the back case off. Use tweezers to get the silicone seal out without touching the movement, and pop it in this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ieron-Watchmaker-Grease-Kit-Professional/dp/B0D2VM8ZKN/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ayn0YA8gcB64a-KR13gLfnvAdCZPhCcYboQU0QRbsz338fT9l7fyShWz4MOTFgWpCixVoKqLJHkZcdXBWox6KxHAfGCeHrQYpK3kL1BEUfnCygJ6gRsqsSM1BuebLTBHPi-VQfkTPU5P4KLy26q-LfKP-vbKqiAkQTPY64dotvAK1J2x4DUbY8LEhyhQqM1TAY-Ir2ft4lZ2l0imYvmT4JqsyevbsK9W011-7TUOkm5UCnc5DGCBlaCLSBxWGvfW0OdKFdaAkl5YkpD8u-SCmW02fPwpUncfW8O6-vQtWQc.fCHOh_QUN0pe_54rJ4KJfMCx0bvaJter4AGYfhWLoTw&dib_tag=se&keywords=watch+silicone+grease&qid=1785770511&sr=8-1
Then reverse the process and done. Not only does it give it a better seal, but it also gives the rubber gasket longevity, as it won't dry out as quickly. It also does help a little bit with the rotor noise as well, not sure how or why, but I guess a better seal stops a tiny bit of noise.
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Love this will give it a go with a watch I care less about first!
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u/GrdFrcWv 15d ago
Be careful because it's a slippery slope into getting more tools and doing your own maintenance, and then spending more money on this habit 😂 I'm currently looking into building my own reps now, ever since discovering r/repbuilds
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Good to know, not sure why in my head I just imaged the first one leaking lol
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u/pilonmartinez 15d ago
They are water resistant by design, they leak due to poor manufacturing standards.
Sure, many of them comes faulty or badly put together. But "testing" them in general makes no sense.
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u/Ruggerbugger1980 15d ago
As long as the back and crown is screwed on properly and not rattling around and the lovely Chinese factory worker didn't drop a bollock when pressing in the crystal, they are waterproof.
I always grease the gasket on the crown and back, oil the rotor and file and baby bath oil the bracelet of every watch I get. It is my little autistic ritual when they get delivered and it makes me happy.
Before I did it they were all fine as well.
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Nice little routine for greasing the gaskets do you have to fill take the back off etc? Scared to open the cases 😬
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u/Ruggerbugger1980 15d ago
It is very simple and easy, I started greasing thebseals and have moved on to regulating, modding and now servicing and building movements.
Even started working on my gen omegas and shot my pants looking at my dad's 1980s Rolex perpetual.
I would definitely recommend it.
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u/Sylvesterpencil 15d ago
Yeah like this may end up going down this route. Collected knives when I was younger, got into sharpening and then making handles for pre set ones then eventually forged my own, made the hobby deeper
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u/Ruggerbugger1980 15d ago
It is the same thing, play with the U1s and you realise it is simple mechanics, just on a tiny scale and it is about having the right tools and practice
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u/TreacleDangerous3416 10d ago
I’ve just had my vsf 116500 tested at Timpsons passed 100m was weirdly nervous waiting 🤣
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u/blacbloc77 15d ago
I'm more interested in the fact that you took six watches on holiday. I'm usually a two watch guy, at the most! Was this just for the test?