Here we are, back from summer holidays: at the seaside, in the mountains, in the country, at the lakes... Wherever we were, our beloved watch was always with us. During this period dedicated to rest and fun, it is possible that some inconvenience may have happened to the watch. The most probable, the classic of classics, the Milan-San Remo of mishaps is flooding... Even more adrenalin-pumping if with the infamous sea water, which is the cause of so much often irreparable damage. What good is all the advice lavished on these pages, the appeals, the instruction manuals, the warnings in the after-sales phase, if on holiday we forget the basic rules for keeping the watch safe and sound? Have you carried out those blessed checks that we insist you do before the summer holidays, especially on watches that will be subjected to stress from diving, immersion, temperature variations and high humidity (and which would have prevented unpleasant surprises)? Our hunch is that only 15% of watch owners have them regularly serviced. So what to do now that the damage is done? And what are those diligent owners who have not suffered any damage to do instead? For the former, promptness in 'rescuing' the flooded watch will be decisive for the future of the same, so wherever you are, immediately start looking for a watchmaker who, even if not authorised for the brand of the 'sick' watch, will certainly know how to stop the damage in progress with a pre-wash. So, if he will be able to carry out the complete repair, all the better. If not, he will have saved what can be saved; your trusted workshop will take care of the rest. Not to be underestimated, as is often pointed out, is the formation of condensation under the glass; even in these cases, it will be a good idea to have an inspection carried out promptly. For the latter, i.e. those who have carried out the necessary checks before leaving and who have therefore predictably brought their watch safe and sound home, we recommend having a good external wash to remove any salt residues, having the screws and clasps of the bracelets checked and, where present, removing any residues inside the rotating bezels.
