Water has got into the watch – Sternglas Help Center

My watch has got wet

If your watch has got wet or you notice moisture inside it, you should act as quickly as possible. Moisture that has got in can damage the movement and other components.

What should you do now?

Carefully dry the outside of the watch.
Use a soft, dry cloth for this.
Do not operate the crown or pushers.
Do not pull or turn the crown while the watch is damp or wet. Pushers on a chronograph should also not be operated in this condition. Doing so could allow additional moisture to get into the case.
Leave a screw-down crown closed.
If your watch has a screw-down crown, it should remain fully closed.
Do not try to open or dry the watch yourself.
Please do not open the case back yourself, and do not dry the watch with a hairdryer, on a heater or using any other strong heat source. High temperatures can cause additional damage to seals and other components.

How can I tell that water has got into the watch?

Typical signs include:

visible drops of water under the glass
persistent or heavy fogging of the glass
moisture on the inside of the glass
malfunctions after contact with water
for a quartz watch: irregular running or the watch stopping intermittently
for an automatic watch: noticeable timekeeping issues or the watch stopping

If you notice any of these signs, the watch should be checked as soon as possible.

Is slight fogging under the glass already a problem?

Brief, very slight fogging can occur, for example, with a sudden change in temperature. If it disappears completely again within a short time, this doesn't necessarily mean that water has got into the watch.

However, if the moisture remains, keeps occurring, or if drops are even visible under the glass, you should stop exposing the watch to water and contact our customer service.

Why can water get in despite the watch's water resistance?

The stated water resistance of a watch refers to test conditions and is not permanently unchanging. Seals can lose their effectiveness over time, for example due to ageing, temperature fluctuations or external influences.

The type of contact with water also plays a role. The following can be particularly hard on the seals, among other things:

hot water
showering or bathing
soap and shampoo
salt water
chlorinated water
sudden temperature changes
high water pressure or a direct jet of water

A crown that isn't fully closed can also allow moisture to get into the case.

Can I keep wearing the watch?

If only the outside of the watch has got wet and there is no visible moisture under the glass, you can generally keep using it once it has fully dried.

However, if there is moisture inside the watch, or you're not sure whether water has got in, we recommend not using the watch until it has been checked, if possible.

What happens during a check?

If water or moisture may have got into the watch, it should be professionally opened and checked. This can determine whether there is moisture in the case and whether the movement or other components have been affected.

The sooner the watch is checked, the better. If moisture stays in the case for a longer period, it can cause corrosion, among other things, leading to further damage to the movement or other components.

How can I contact customer service?

Please contact our customer service as quickly as possible and briefly describe what happened.

The following information is helpful:

your order number, if available
the model of your watch
when and how the watch came into contact with water
whether moisture or drops are visible under the glass
how long the fogging has been present
if possible, a photo of the watch or the visible moisture

This helps us assess your case more quickly and let you know the next steps.