Pugwash Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 I just took delivery of The Legend, my Panerai PAM111h, and I read on the Silix website that they claim it's waterproof. After a brief discussion with Edge, whereby he said "I'll run it under the tap. Wait there ... MINE IS 100% watertight", I felt that I was confident that mine too would be water-resistant. Now, how do you do a safe test for watertightness? Here's the trick: Hot water. Air escapes before water enters, in theory. Here's what we'll do. Take that strap off that watch with that screwdriver, and dunk that watch in that glass. Elliot asked if we have big balls, and I reckon Edge and myself have proven we do, by testing our PAMs so you don't have to. I'm removing the strap because we know it's waterproof, right? Note TTK lens cloth. Test it all fits, with help from Yoda. "mmMMmm, full it is, the glass, yes yes?" Thank you Yoda. Here goes. New watch, arrived today, how big are those balls? Just do it, click of a pic and whip it out, yes? "Do or do not, there is no dry." Oh, ha ha ha. At this point, I was a little nervous. I left it in for a while and saw no bubbles at all. None, zero, nada. Oh, apart from that one at the top of the crystal. Oh, well, it doesn't seem to be getting any bigger ... Pull the watch out, it still ticks. We have a winner. Just like Edge said, in his own inimitable style "caution to the wind, and it passed with fluing colours" whatever fluing means. I presume it's something edinburghese for something or other. These Palnoobai cheap 111h reps are totally amazing value for money. A solid watch that is waterproof and cool-looking. The next time anyone asks what PAM they should get for their first Panerai, just send them to this article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostfaceZX Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Why don't you pull the movement out and seal everything up before the watertesting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Why don't you pull the movement out and seal everything up before the watertesting? Because that defeats the purpose. This was a test for whether or not a new watch needed opening up and sealing. This one doesn't. Also, doing that requires a PAM caseback tool, and I don't have one of those. Where's your spirit of adventure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostfaceZX Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Also, doing that requires a PAM caseback tool, and I don't have one of those. Where's your spirit of adventure! The RWG Casino is all the adventure I can handle! I got my PAM 090 today and am going to watertest it as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005SUBMARINER Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 very nice man ! im not a PAM fan but the more i look at the 111h the more im likeing it i think ill break my pam cherry & go with the 111h / rubber strat iv never owned a manual watch how many times should you wind it to get a full power supply going ? & how long does the wind last 1 - 2 days ? oh is the original pam movement on the 111h similar to the unitas movement ? thanx great post ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 I got my PAM 090 today and am going to watertest it as well... If you're removing the movement, you don't need hot water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Been there.. done that... I am the first one who said most of the reps are waterproof. And I challenge you to put the strap in the water Oooops forgot.. plastic straps are indeed waterproof :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 iv never owned a manual watch how many times should you wind it to get a full power supply going ? & how long does the wind last 1 - 2 days ? I got mine today. I'll tell you how long a wind up lasts. As for how much it needs winding, you wind it until its wound. You can feel when it's done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005SUBMARINER Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 I got mine today. I'll tell you how long a wind up lasts. As for how much it needs winding, you wind it until its wound. You can feel when it's done. thanx man ! enjoy your new pammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Oooops forgot.. plastic straps are indeed waterproof :D Keep your personal stuff out of my posts. Really, what is the point in calling my strap plastic? Are you accusing me of being tasteless and stupid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lagae Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 That is one way to test it of course, but I'd rather loose my RWG$ playing blackjack than loose a watch like that... Now granted, more than likely the PAMs are water resistent as received, especially to a depth of 3 inches or so. However, I would at least make sure the backs are tight, since I've received watches where I could unscrew them with my bare hands. I've also received a couple that were missing the O-rings on the back, but that's just really bad luck if you end up with one like that. Personally, I'd rather test the watches in a pressure tester. Granted, that's easy to say if you own one, but before I got my own I took my watches to have them tested. I think I paid $10 once, and the other times it was free. Taking out the movement will of course save it if the case does leak, but you still wouldn't know if the watch is water resistent when you put it all back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Now granted, more than likely the PAMs are water resistent as received, especially to a depth of 3 inches or so. All I wanted to know was if I had to take off my PAM when it rained or when I had to get something out of the sink or bath with both hands. Now I know it's safe to shower in. I'm not a swimmer really, and I don't wrestle crocs or fish or play about on boats, so for me, the 3" test is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJGladeRaider Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 First, a couple of misconceptions. Testing a watch in a glass of water isn't much of a test - you need a pressure tester. There is absolutely no reason to take any steps to protect the movement if you use a pressure tester because of the way it works. Put it in tester, pump up pressure If the watch is not aitright, this will pump air (not water) into the watch Then crack valve so pressure drops SLOWLY As pressure is SLOWLY dropping, submerge watch Watch for bubbles -None None None None If you see bubbles rushing out of the watch, pull it out of the water while pressure is decreasing. No water can get in while bubbles are blowing out. The Pams I tested have been perfectly watertight to 4ATM - 132FT Enjoy Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Testing a watch in a glass of water isn't much of a test - you need a pressure tester. Even if it accurately models the amount of water my PAM will see? Not having a pressure tester means I don't get to test it with one. There is absolutely no reason to take any steps to protect the movement if you use a pressure tester because of the way it works. See, that stuff is the good stuff. I never knew how pressure testers were supposed to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutima Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Do you have a plastic watch to test..?? I am sure that will be water proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Keep your personal stuff out of my posts. Really, what is the point in calling my strap plastic? Are you accusing me of being tasteless and stupid? Sorry if I offended you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossanti Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Nice Pug...really have a big ball..I can see it ... ...THe Legend eh ??? Im wondering who said that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomtofa Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 how big are those balls? Just do it, click of a pic and whip it out, yes? ah no, no, no . . . you don't want mix big balls with whipping it out while taking pics. Let's keep this family-friendly . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finepics Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 It should be remembered that the reps are made in watch factories that make legitimate watches as well and so they all employ standard techniques and materials in their construction. Most parts will be bought in like crown tubes, which all have an internal O ring, chrono pushers which have internal O rings etc etc so should be waterproof to a reasonable depth (and not just shower proof). I would happily swim with any of mine - but you do need to check the caseback seal is present (and a wise move would be to lube it with silicone grease) then make sure it's done up tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgjav Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 water resistance.... pls do not try this without having each watch checked for seal and case back tightness... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8o8 Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 wow, are they floating in the tub?!!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focker Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 The Pams I tested have been perfectly watertight to 4ATM - 132FT 4 ATM is actually 99 feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanerich Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 4 ATM is actually 99 feet I don't know where the 99ft comes from. 4 ATM is 40meters -- 135.6 feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwai02 Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 (edited) I don't know where the 99ft comes from. 4 ATM is 40meters -- 135.6 feet in salt water. atm = depth in ft/ 33 i.e. 4atm ~ 132ft. Edited May 27, 2006 by cwai02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgjav Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 wow, are they floating in the tub?!!? hehe...no mate, they're underwater cause they're submersible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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