The Myth about Replica Watch Water Resistance

Lots of people debate about the water resistance of replica watches. While genuine watches are built to high standards and tolerances to be considered water resistant, replica watches are built to be inexpensive. Because they don't take all of the precautions (seals, fitting parts, quality controls) that Rolex or Panerai might take most replicas aren't guaranteed to be safe to dive with, no matter what the dial might say.

Replica Rolexes may state "300m" (300 meters depth for water resistance) on the dial, remember it's the GENUINE watch that has this rating, not the replica. The replica might not make it 3 meters. If your watch gets water in it there is a strong chance it will be ruined. The crystal could fog up from the condensation, making the watch unusable. The moisture can also affect the movement, causing the watch to run unreliably, or seize up.

Pamper your Replica Watch

My advice? Never assume your replica is water resistant. Baby it; if you're going to take a shower, remove your watch. Going to the pool? Remove your watch. Weigh the risks of damaging your watch whenever you expose it to water. ALWAYS make sure your crown(s) are screwed down tightly before exposing any watch to water. Now your particular replica watch may end up being water resistant. You may have won the replica lottery and gotten a watch that has enough integrity to survive casual swimming or being washed in the shower. Congratulations. But remember, this is an exception to the rule. Many people have inadvertently damaged their watch through carelessness, or the assumption that they were safe.

What to do if your Replica Watch Gets Wet

If you DO get condensation in your watch there are several things you can do to repair it. The most reliable way is to send the watch off to a repair shop and have them remove the movement and dry it carefully. Ziggyzumba at TRC would be able to do so (when he's back from vacation), or if you're lucky enough to have a repair shop local that will work on replica watches.

If you don't want to ship the watch off try unscrewing the crown and sitting the watch crown up in the sunlight. Natural evaportion may occur, removing the moisture. It may also leave minute mineral deposits under the crystal (and on the movement) from the drying water, just be forewarned. I've had a watch that got wet that I used this method and it was perfectly fine.

To me the risk isn't worth it. I've got a cheap Casio digital watch that I wear whenever I need to get wet, or when I'm working in the yard. It takes the bangs and water just fine, and if for some reason it gets damaged I can just throw it away without any feelings of guilt. Remember, replica watches are copies that have the same appearance of the genuine, not necessarily the same functionality. Treat them with care and they can last for years.