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Old 21 November 2019, 04:33 PM   #1
Andad
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Crystal deflection pressure test.

I have had a pressure tester for a while but was never impressed with having to pump up the pressure and then lower the watch into water so I modified the unit to operate on the crystal deflection dial gauge system.

I found a mini dial gauge with a very small scale and 0.01mm graduations.

I made a small jig from PVC and set it up to take most watch case thicknesses.

The dial gauge slides up and down on a dovetail and can be locked at any case thickness position.

From 0 - 6 Bar with good seals I have a deflection of around 25 graduations.

If the watch holds this deflection for 30 minutes at 90 psi then I give it a pass.

If it slowly returns to zero then it fails.

Checking the system at 6 Bar with a solid block gives me no dial movement so I have no correction to make.
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Old 21 November 2019, 08:24 PM   #2
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AWESOME, thanks for posting!
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Old 21 November 2019, 09:27 PM   #3
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just trying to understand so your method if the watch fails is the Crystal needs to be placed or the gasket ? one other Q isn't hard the watch with all the force directed at a point rather over the entire crystal?
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Old 21 November 2019, 10:55 PM   #4
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Just use water, it's the way Rolex does it. This obsession with dry pressure testing drives me insane.
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Old 21 November 2019, 11:32 PM   #5
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I’m guessing you didn’t want to risk a water leak damaging the movement using regular wet test method?

Interesting rig. Won’t you need a table of deflection for different size watch cases? In other words a crystal on a 26mm Lady DJ won’t deflect as much as a 42mm YM.


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Old 22 November 2019, 03:39 AM   #6
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Testing with water requires the watch case sans movement in case of leakage.
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Old 22 November 2019, 03:44 AM   #7
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Innovative.
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Old 22 November 2019, 05:44 AM   #8
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I believe you would have to validate this test by establishing deflections for BOTH pass AND fail (need to establish limits by seeing true failures as reflected in a water test) a number of times to draw a statistically valid conclusion. Even then, I would only be satisfied with testing my watches in the same equipment used by Rolex.
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Old 22 November 2019, 08:44 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gunhose View Post
just trying to understand so your method if the watch fails is the Crystal needs to be placed or the gasket ? one other Q isn't hard the watch with all the force directed at a point rather over the entire crystal?
The pressure inside the vessel deflects the crystal.

The dial gauge just measures this deflection, there is no force applied where the dial gauge touches the crystal.
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Old 22 November 2019, 09:11 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fsprow View Post
I believe you would have to validate this test by establishing deflections for BOTH pass AND fail (need to establish limits by seeing true failures as reflected in a water test) a number of times to draw a statistically valid conclusion. Even then, I would only be satisfied with testing my watches in the same equipment used by Rolex.
There is no deflection for a watch that fails or there may be a small deflection that quickly reverts to zero.

As the pressure is increased there is visual confirmation of increasing deflection as the maximum pressure is applied .

Some typical results:
AP - 0
1 Bar - 7 points.
2 Bar - 12 points.
3 Bar - 15 points.
4 Bar - 19 points.
5 Bar - 22 points.
6 Bar - 25 points.

If the 25 point maximum deflection is held for 30 minutes at about 85 psi (60 metres) I consider this watch safe for most normal water activities.

I call the graduations 'points' because the graduations on the dial gauge are 0.01mm but the angle of the probe does vary this slightly.
In any event the amount of deflection is not important. We are confirming that the crystal deflects in increments as the pressure increases and holds the maximum deflection for a prescribed time.

Paul,
Crystals of different diameters and thicknesses will have different deflections but if the deflection is fairly linear as the pressure increases and the final deflection point is held for 30 minutes at maximum pressure then I am happy that the watch is safe.

I have tested watches that have no water resistance and the dial gauge remains on zero up to 6 Bar as does my solid test block.

Ashton,
I remember a pix here on TRF where a member was demonstrating the use of his tester.
The pix showed the watch in the water at a pressure of 6 Bar.
You wouldn't make this mistake but instructions can be misinterpreted and accidents happen.
This deflection test is far from a new idea and has been discussed many times here and on other forums.
The base tester was not modified in any way and the small jig I made simply sits inside.
I can still use the tester for wet testing if required but why would I?

If this 'obsession' with dry testing drives you insane then I'm sorry I can't help you.
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Old 22 November 2019, 10:08 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by directioneng View Post



Paul,

Crystals of different diameters and thicknesses will have different deflections but if the deflection is fairly linear as the pressure increases and the final deflection point is held for 30 minutes at maximum pressure then I am happy that the watch is safe.



I have tested watches that have no water resistance and the dial gauge remains on zero up to 6 Bar as does my solid test block.




Thanks - I get the ingenuity and that there doesn’t need to be a specific deflection observed by crystal diameter.


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Old 22 November 2019, 06:48 PM   #12
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i got your explanation great work!!
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Old 22 November 2019, 11:53 PM   #13
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Thanks for the additional details. My wife thinks I'm already insane so join the club !
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Old 23 November 2019, 08:52 AM   #14
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All my wife said was ‘doesn’t pumping that up hurt your elbow’?
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Old 1 December 2019, 01:58 PM   #15
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Very cool innovative modification Eddie!

You thought this one out very well.

I love it when guys use their ingenuity to make something good become great!
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Old 4 December 2019, 04:55 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigblu10 View Post
Testing with water requires the watch case sans movement in case of leakage.
I thought the water test was safe -- that you pressurize the chamber with air, then immerse watch in water and reduce pressure. If there's a leak, the pressurized air would have entered the watch, so when you put in water and reduce pressure, air comes OUT of the watch (bubbles) and NO water goes in.

Or is this not correct?? I doubt Rolex would use a test that would inherently endanger the watch...

-Dan
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Old 4 December 2019, 08:53 PM   #17
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Dan you're thinking spot on. Some have to over think what already works.
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Old 4 December 2019, 09:41 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dchernikoff View Post
I thought the water test was safe -- that you pressurize the chamber with air, then immerse watch in water and reduce pressure. If there's a leak, the pressurized air would have entered the watch, so when you put in water and reduce pressure, air comes OUT of the watch (bubbles) and NO water goes in.

Or is this not correct?? I doubt Rolex would use a test that would inherently endanger the watch...

-Dan
Quote:
Originally Posted by gunhose View Post
Dan you're thinking spot on. Some have to over think what already works.
Afraid it is not spot on. The test you are thinking of (utilising the Bergeon 6bar chamber) is not the ‘proper’ wet test.

The Rolex, industry and ISO standard test uses chamber (Roxer Natator 40 or 125 are the standard models) where the watch is fully immersed in water before the pressure is increased. The point is to force water in to the case which will present itself as condensation after the test is complete if the watch has leaked.

And yes, this test is done on a fully cased up watch including the movement. (At least Rolex do, some watchmakers do not take the risk testing with the movement in).
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