Any self-respected replica watch store will inform its customers about the potential damage that the water can produce to replica watches. Even though most replica timepieces do provide water resistance protection, moisture is still a big enemy. Regular exposure to moisture is a silent “killer” for the replica watch, gradually and consistently corroding the inner components.
Many mistaken beliefs suggest that only submerging the replica timepiece into the water can potentially cause damage (especially when talking about non-water-resistant watches). However, this is far from being the only factor that affects the intricate watch universe. Similarly, humidity increases or temperature changes can as well affect the timepiece.
Therefore, you can wake up one day and notice a kind of fog on the replica watch class, without even assuming that the recent rain has elevated the air humidity. In a great scenario, the negative effect is the difficulty in reading. In the worst one, the inner components suffer severe damage that can be hard to solve.
You, as a responsible owner of a replica watch, have to be aware that even the most promising replica timepieces from the water resistance point of view, can be affected by condensation.
In addition, keep in mind that regular exposure to moisture will negatively impact your watch performance in the long run. The primary recommendation once you observe the first signs of condensation is to react promptly. This article is going to inform you about some ways to prevent and remove condensation.
Sometimes, you have to seek an expert in order to repair the affected replica watch. However, you might try to minimize the moisture effect by yourself, even without removing the watch back case. Here is how you can do it!
First aid steps to urgently remove condensation from your replica watch
Undoubtedly, the greatest thing you can do is to bring the affected timepiece to a watchmaker. He will evaluate the damage degree and will perform professional procedures to remove the water impact.
But, what if there is no watchmaker near you or you have your watch damaged during the weekend when nobody is working? These home remedies teach you to react promptly in order to prevent further water expansion within your replica timepiece.
All you need is…rice
Uncooked rice, obviously. The technique of eliminating moisture from devices comes from China, naturally. China is rich in both devices and rice :). Seriously speaking, this ingredient has the ability to absorb extra moisture drying out the condensation, even without disassembling the timepiece. Lots of Internet users dispute this tactic since they see no efficiency in it. However, the procedure has been tested live by various YouTube bloggers and proved to be truly effective. This is the simplest and quickest aid technique whenever your replica watch suffers water damage.
All you have to do is to cover your timepiece with a paper towel and place it into a container with rice. The type of rice, country of its origin, and other aspects don’t matter at all whenever the rice is uncooked. Leave the watch in the container for at least 24 hours and observe the improvements. Even though you notice great improvements, it is recommendable to place it back for another 12 hours to strengthen the effect. Only after keeping about 36 hours in the rice can you take the replica watch to an expert, if you see no improvements. The expert will perform more complex procedures and most probably will have to open up the watch case back.
Sun rays are your replica watch partners
While the rice technique implies moisture absorption, direct sunlight implies moisture evaporation. Right after exposing your replica watch to humidity, look for direct sun rays to heat the moisture out. For a better effect, you should accurately pull the crown out in order to enforce the heat penetration into the intricate compounds.
But, there is always a “but”. Take into consideration the temperature degrees. Long exposure to extreme heat can reversely impact the replica timepiece, as any other device. A couple of hours under the heat is more than enough for the first iteration. After the device cools down, you can resume the process for the next couple of hours. Therefore, some hours a day, in an intermittent cycle, is likely to solve the issue.
The benefit of this technique, however, depends on the air humidity as well. In case you are on a seashore vacation, the humidity is increased in the sunlight exposure might not provide a quick effect. Either way, it’s worth giving a try, considering that no watch repair service is available near you.
The hair dryer is not only for your hair
An indispensable household tool can solve your replica watch issue: the blow dryer. The procedure is evident and easy. All you have to take into account is to avoid placing the replica timepiece too close to the blowdryer. The appliance is to be set to low heat so that it spreads hot air. This procedure requires attention since both the watch and the hairdryer can get extremely hot. Moreover, certain watches have sensible straps that hardly withstand heat. Therefore, a possible solution could be to iterate the process, similarly to the previous procedure.
Silica gel
This component might be found in every house, even though you might have disregarded it. Traditionally, when you buy new gadgets, small white bags are found in their packages. These contain silica gel and their primary function is to drain the potential moisture. You might not find such a bag right away, but keep in mind that if you come across one in the near future, you should better keep it. The principle of silica gel action resembles a lot the principle of the rice technique. It absorbs any degree of condensation and removes the fog away.
There is nothing you wouldn’t do to preserve your replica watch for as long as possible.
Your cat-your partner in crime
An extreme solution when there are no alternatives is to place your affected replica watch in the… cat litter. Does it sound crazy? Yes. Is it effective? Absolutely. The main objective is to reduce the moisture from your watch. And since the cat litter has absorbing properties it can be viewed as a potential rescue method, in case there are no others available.
The procedure is as simple as it can be. Wrapt the timepiece in a paper towel to avoid watch corrosion. Leave it there for a couple of days, regularly monitoring the ongoing improvement. Of course, there is a higher chance to have some rice at home than cat litter. But, you never know under what circumstances your watch can be damaged, so keep the advice into account.
Finally, the expert visit
Now that you know what steps to take in order to minimize the moisture impact, it doesn’t mean that you should skip the expert visit. Why is this necessary, if there seem to be no negative effects? Actually, it is indeed necessary because the recommendations above only apply to prevent the expansion of moisture. As for the evaluation of the real impact, it is necessary to remove the watch case back and see the components’ condition. This is definitely not a procedure to be done by yourself. The experts will use additional tools to remove the case back and all inner components if needed. Additionally, they can perform professional techniques to dry all the components out. Finally, they will reassemble the timepiece back, without affecting the initial construction. Can you do the same? Most probably, not. So, don’t even try it.
Now, we have all possible techniques to remove moisture covered. But remember that preventing a problem is always better than solving it. Therefore, we would like to offer you a bonus: a quick guide to avoiding condensation on your replica watch. We hope it will be helpful for you.
Techniques to prevent condensation
The cardinal aspect to consider is to inform yourself about the characteristics of your replica watch. It’s not enough to know that it’s a Rolex Daytona replica or an Omega replica. You have to find out what functions it features, what complications it contains, and what is the water resistance level. Acknowledging these aspects encourages you to handle your watch according to all specifications.
Water resistance
Don’t let replica watch dealers convince you that water resistance is equivalent to waterproofness. In addition, pay attention to the extent of water resistance. When the description of a replica watch features 100 meters of water resistance potential, this means that in fact, it is resistant up to 5-60 meters. Check out more details in the related article to discover more specifications.
Warranty policy
Speak to your dealer about the warranties it offers. Talk honestly to each other and express your concerns on the matter. If the vendor is responsible, he will offer you a warranty policy that covers the moisture damage, in case the timepiece is water-resistant.
Last, but not least…
All luxury watches require care and attention in handling them, be it an original timepiece or a replica version. Being aware of the moisture potential damage will encourage you to avoid the circumstances that cause condensation. Keep the above-mentioned notes into account for whenever an unpleasant situation happens. We strongly hope such events don’t happen, but if they do- you are completely prepared to interfere.