How can an individual detect if their watch is waterproof?

Whether you're a diver or just a person who happens to forget to remove their watch before showering, there's a good chance that you'd like your watch's water resistant. While this is now a common feature in many timepieces, it's vital to keep an eye on the hardware to see if it's time to replace a gasket or buy a new watch altogether.

Step 1: Remove the back of the watch and replace the battery to ensure that the watch works. Once you're sure it's in good condition, remove all of the hardware from inside the watch, including the watch face, and set aside on a clean surface.

Step 2: Remove the gasket. After a few years, the gasket, or circular silicone band that protects the watch (also called an O-ring), will become hard and worn. It will lose its elasticity and become much less effective at trapping dirt and moisture over time, so you'll want to replace this guy.

Step 3: Rub the gasket in silicone oil and place it back inside the watch. Silicone oil is key in the waterproofing process because oil and water don't mix and it helps to keep any moisture out. Be sure to use the watch's own mechanism to twist the gasket into place, as this will be much more precise than whatever you can manage by forcing it with your hand. If it's not twisting into place, try adding more oil or adjusting the placement. It's useful to place the gasket into its spot with tweezers for a precise fit if you're having trouble.

Step 4: Inspect the back of the watch and look for any dirt or debris. Clean the watch back and case with a Q-tip dipped in silicone oil.

Step 5: Remove the stem and crown from the watch and clean them. If the crown is damaged, you must replace it before moving onto the next step.

Step 6: Swipe silicone onto the crown and the stem and fit them back into place.

Step 7: Once again using a Q-tip covered in silicone oil, clean the crystal and inspect for cracks or damages. If you find any imperfections, be sure to replace the crystal at this point.

Step 8: Use the ultraviolet epoxy to glue around the crystal and case at the edge. Only use a small amount to seal tiny imperfections in the crystal gasket. Let it dry at room temperature.

Step 9: Replace the watch back and ensure all of the parts fit together. Remove any excess epoxy.

Step 10 (optional): Test out the watch in a Waterproof Tester to ensure all of watch water resistance. By following this method, says that watches should probably be water resistant up to three bar and should be resistant to four or five atmospheres in a Bergeon Waterproof Tester.