An automatic diver’s watch is built to be water resistant. Because they are taken out in dives, they can withstand dive pressures of up to 660 feet. However, these watches are also generally worn out of the water, where wear and tear can occur. Yes, they are waterproof, but even an extreme change in temperature or pressure can allow water to seep through.
The first thing you should do before touching your watch is decide if it is worth fixing yourself. If your watch is very expensive, you may want to go to a professional to have it fixed. Places like Fossil are willing to repair your watch for free due to their lifetime guarantee. However, depending on the brand of automatic dive watch you buy, they may have a limited warranty that can be voided by opening the back of the watch face yourself.
If you only have a little moisture on your watch face, there are things you can do without even going into the mechanics.
One of the first things you can try is to leave your automatic diving watch in a dry place and preferably somewhere with sunlight. Place the watch on an absorbent towel to help remove moisture. The heat from the sun will evaporate the moisture.
You can also try bringing a hair dryer (set to the lowest setting) or a fan to remove the water. Many hair dryers now come with a setting that allows air to blow out at room temperature and this will be the safest way to do it. The last thing you want is to melt any of the sensitive components due to high temperatures. This can also work with air vents or radiators.
If that doesn’t work, take a large bag of dry rice and place your automatic dive watch inside it. Rice loves moisture and if you leave your watch in it for two or three days, the water can disappear.
Finally, you can try to do it yourself. I suggest buying watch repair tools. You can find them at your local jewelry store. When you have the proper tools, remove the back of the watch as if you were changing the battery. An automatic dive watch doesn’t have a normal battery like most watches, so don’t be surprised. Let the watch air dry and when you see absolutely no moisture, replace the back and stitching carefully so as not to scratch any of the mechanisms.
These are just a few ways you can try to remove water from your automatic diving watch and it is by no means a guarantee. If you try one (or all) of these methods and there is still water on the watch face, take it to a professional. This is especially true for salt water because salt water oxidizes and damages components.