Never wash a NATO strap ...

[sundial]

Never wash a Nato strap ... when it's still attached to the watch!

I inadvertently left my original Falklands issue Precista W10 quartz in my trouser pocket and thus it went through a longish wash cycle at 60ᴼ. I heard something banging against the washing machine drum and window and should have realised what it was but was too busy to twig what had happened. Long story short, after the spin cycle the watch was discovered in the rubber door seal and not working. However, after removing the battery compartment screw and leaving it dial down on the radiator for approx 1 hour it is working again - but still has some moisture condensed on the glass. This watch must have nine lives - it's been dropped, crushed, and immersed several times previously but always kept perfect time. As it had stopped after its laundering I looked up the replacement cost on the Anchor Supplies website - £145 - which is double the figure I paid over 5 years ago. Now remains to be seen if all the moisture can be 'warmed' out of the case but I'm optimistic; it's my favourite daily wearer. THe watch must have stopped at 20.58 - it was taken out the washing machine at approx. 22.30.







dunk

[Cirrus]

Leave the battery out and the case open and sit it in a bag of uncooked rice - that will suck all the moisture out of your fragrantly clean watch ;)

[sundial]

Leave the battery out and the case open and sit it in a bag of uncooked rice - that will suck all the moisture out of your fragrantly clean watch ;)

Thank you ... I will buy some rice tomorrow ... battery is already out ... it was put back in after the first drying session to see if the watch would work ... surprisingly the second hand started moving ... the watch is still 'dial down' on a piece of paper on top of the radiator ... all the condensation inside the glass now appears to have evaporated.

dunk

[Laurent B]

Pop out the snap back with a knife; you will have more chance to save your watch...

Sometimes you can snap it back by yourself, but even if you have to ask a watchmaker to do it you will have all the moisture removed...

And I would say : never let a watch in your pocket; you'd better wear two watches that loosing one in the washing machine or elsewhere...

[sundial]

Pop out the snap back with a knife; you will have more chance to save your watch...

Sometimes you can snap it back by yourself, but even if you have to ask a watchmaker to do it you will have all the moisture removed...

And I would say : never let a watch in your pocket; you'd better wear two watches that loosing one in the washing machine or elsewhere...

Thank you. I don't think I could get a knife into the join without damaging the case.

dunk

[Laurent B]

Thank you. I don't think I could get a knife into the join without damaging the case.

dunk

Ask your watchmaker to do it for you if you want to save your watch; the moisture is bad for the movement as well for the dial...

[mindforge]

Good tip never to put a watch in your pocket - after that previous thread about some poor guy who left his Speedy Pro in his pocket and then it went into the washing machine.

[Laurent B]

A friend of mine has experienced the same situation with a modern... Breguet Type 20....

Full washing machine cycle, the Breguet lost two pushers and was soaked; he had to pay an heavy bill for repairing it...

:(

[sundial]

Ask your watchmaker to do it for you if you want to save your watch; the moisture is bad for the movement as well for the dial...

The watch needs a new glass ... add the cost of a service and it becomes an uneconomical repair i.e. I could probably buy another for less. Much as I am very attached to the watch, it was always a daily beater to be used and worn and take whatever punishment was accidentally thrown at it - rather than risk my more valuable watches. As a beater, it has exceeded all expectations as regards resilience - especially as it has now survived a full wash cycle including a 1200rpm spin. There was no water sloshing about inside the watch after its submersion - the only sign of moisture was the fog on the inside of the glass. If the movement had been drenched I doubt if it would have restarted. If it continues working after all the moisture has evaporated so be it ... if it fails to continue working I'll sell it for a nominal sum WAF to anyone who needs one for parts ... and then I'll buy another. The reason I posted the story is to show that it is a very tough watch and well worth considering if anyone wants to buy a good daily beater - they are offered for sale fairly regularly.

dunk

[Laurent B]

That's true, CWC G10 are very good daily wearer !

:)

[sundial]

Good tip never to put a watch in your pocket - after that previous thread about some poor guy who left his Speedy Pro in his pocket and then it went into the washing machine.

Yes ... I'll never do that again; lesson learnt

dunk

[ralphy]

Sorry to hear the news, dunk.

I've experienced the same error a couple of years ago: Sub in pocket of trousers which SWMBO put into the wash - thankfully no water ingress or damage done and it certainly came up clean!

R

[sundial]

That's true, CWC G10 are very good daily wearer !

:)

And they cost just £60 ... one of the best value watches available.

Or, you could buy Eddie's PRS-10 version which is built to a much higher spec. i.e. 100 meter water resistance, date, screw down crown and 10 year battery life.

dunk

[JasonM]

You could keep the case as a base for a transplant? It was, as you said, a historical year for British issued watches..

[sundial]

You could keep the case as a base for a transplant? It was, as you said, a historical year for British issued watches..

Keeping perfect time now - and the strap looks very clean!

dunk

[JasonM]

Excellent!

[Laurent B]

Great, those CWC, even early ones, are huge !!

That reminds me the tests submitted to Casio G shock : boiling them, frozing them, hitting them etc.

[sundial]

Immediately after the wash and spin cycle






After drying out with the battery cover removed to make sure all the moisture evaporated


Although the watch is running fine, there are residual stains under the crystal - definitely stains and not moisture - maybe caused by the 1200rpm spin cycle throwing some lube or foreign matter onto the glass.

I'm still amazed the watch survived the laundering.

dunk

EDIT: Just sent it off for an estimate ie service and new glass.

[TaketheCannoli]

And they cost just £60 ... one of the best value watches available.

Or, you could buy Eddie's PRS-10 version which is built to a much higher spec. i.e. 100 meter water resistance, date, screw down crown and 10 year battery life.

dunk

That's what I'd do. I've owned loads of CWCs and several PRS-10s and I would go for the 10 every time.

[sundial]

Just back from service by Steve Burrage which included a new glass ... and has 6 month guarantee. I'm still amazed it survived the wash cycle and 1200 rpm spin; it's my daily wearer and hope it lasts another 5 years. The original NATO has been refitted rather than the grey replacement. A very tough watch and recommended to anyone who wants a reliable and accurate timepiece.

dunk

[Lotus Cowboy]

Just read through whole thread- great news for such an iportant watch to you.

Wear in good health -oh and don't do it again ;)

[fotopetar]

How he open Precista and clean movement?

[sundial]

How he open Precista and clean movement?

The opposite way to which it was assembled ... TTBOMK it snaps apart.

dunk

[Charles]

Ouch! Good advice!

[PRGH]

I wonder if its improved it slightly by ageing the lume a little bit more? :-)

[CH47Driver]

That's true, CWC G10 are very good daily wearer !

:)

Yes it is. I had one issued to me and was a brilliant watch. Wish I still had it now to be honest, rather than my crappy Pulsar Chrono. Oh well, you live and learn!

[Steve27752]

Just back from service by Steve Burrage which included a new glass ... and has 6 month guarantee. I'm still amazed it survived the wash cycle and 1200 rpm spin; it's my daily wearer and hope it lasts another 5 years. The original NATO has been refitted rather than the grey replacement. A very tough watch and recommended to anyone who wants a reliable and accurate timepiece.

dunk

Looks good, so there is hope.

[derek_faker]

Lucky it didn't damage the dial.