A Gucci Dive 136.3 arrived at Ross Watch Repairs with serious water damage. The customer told us he regularly swam with the watch and had not experienced a problem before, but on this occasion moisture had entered the case and affected the movement, dial and stem.
The dial itself is marked 200M / 660FT, but a water-resistance rating does not mean a used watch will remain safe for swimming indefinitely. Seals age, crowns can be left or moved in the wrong position, and previous opening or wear can change the integrity of the case. On this Gucci Dive, the crown is not a screw-down design, so our advice is not to rely on the original 200-metre marking for regular swimming.
Once opened, the damage was clear. The quartz movement showed moisture contamination and the stem had rusted. We supplied and fitted a new compatible movement, cleaned the dial as far as possible, restored the watch’s functions and polished the stainless-steel bracelet. The result was a watch transformed from visibly water-damaged to clean, working and presentable again.
Gucci Dive 136.3 Water Damage After Swimming
The customer had used the watch for swimming before without an apparent problem. This is a common source of confusion with water-resistant watches: a watch can perform normally around water for years and then fail when a seal, crown or other sealing point is no longer in the same condition.
The 200M / 660FT marking on the dial describes the model’s intended water-resistance specification, not a permanent guarantee of every individual watch’s condition years later. Water resistance should be considered something that needs checking, particularly after the case has been opened, after an impact, or as seals age.
We also distinguish between watches with a screw-down crown and those without one. A screw-down system gives an additional mechanical safeguard against the crown being unintentionally left in a vulnerable position. This Gucci Dive 136.3 does not use a screw-down crown, so at RWR we would not advise swimming with it even though the dial is marked 200 metres.
That does not prove the crown was the exact route by which water entered this particular watch. The rust on the stem is, however, clear evidence that moisture reached the crown-and-stem area.
What We Found Inside the Watch
Once the caseback was removed, the extent of the moisture exposure became easier to see. The original quartz movement showed contamination, and corrosion was visible inside the case.
The Original ETA F06.115 Quartz Movement
The removed movement is marked ETA F06.115. ETA’s own technical catalogue identifies the F06.115 as a Swiss quartz movement with hours, minutes, central seconds and a date display. In this Gucci, the movement had been exposed to moisture and was no longer suitable to retain.
Rather than attempt to revive a water-damaged electronic movement, the practical repair was to supply and fit a new compatible mechanism. This gave the watch a fresh movement while allowing us to retain the original dial, hands, case and bracelet.
Dial Cleaning After Water Damage
The dial had visible water staining and residue. With moisture damage, dial work has to be handled carefully because aggressive cleaning can remove printing, lacquer or luminous material along with the contamination.
We removed the hands and dial, cleaned the dial carefully and preserved as much of the original finish as possible. Not every historic mark can or should be removed from a water-damaged dial, but the appearance of this one improved dramatically once the moisture residue had been addressed.
New Movement Supplied and Fitted
A new compatible quartz mechanism was supplied and fitted to the watch. The dial, hands, date display and crown system were then reassembled around the replacement movement and checked for correct operation.
When a quartz movement has been badly affected by water, replacement can be the more reliable solution compared with trying to repair corroded electronic and mechanical components individually. The correct approach depends on the calibre, the level of damage and whether a suitable replacement is available.
Bracelet Polishing and Cosmetic Restoration
The stainless-steel bracelet was also polished as part of the restoration. This removed much of the everyday surface wear and gave the repaired watch a much cleaner overall appearance.
Before and After: Gucci Dive Water Damage Repair
The change is substantial. The watch arrived with visible moisture contamination, a damaged movement, a rusted stem and a stained dial. After the new mechanism, careful dial cleaning and bracelet polishing, it was returned in a condition much closer to how the owner expected his Gucci Dive to look and function.
Can You Swim With a 200m Gucci Dive?
The dial on this watch states 200M / 660FT, but our advice for an individual used watch is based on its present condition rather than the number printed on the dial.
Because this model does not have a screw-down crown, RWR would not advise swimming with it. That is a conservative workshop recommendation intended to reduce the risk of human error around the crown and to recognise that seals and case integrity change with age.
If a customer intends to expose any watch to water, we recommend having its seals assessed and the case pressure tested. Even after a successful test, the owner should follow the advice given for that individual watch rather than assuming the original factory rating is permanent.
Gucci Watch Water-Damage Repair in London
Ross Watch Repairs can assess Gucci watches for water damage, movement failure, battery issues, crowns and stems, dial and hand faults, bracelet work and pressure testing. See our main Gucci watch repair page for more information.
Visit our London Bridge workshop at The Shard or our Canary Wharf branch for a free initial assessment.
Ross Watch Repairs – The Shard
306 The Shard Retail Arcade
London Bridge Street
London SE1 9BZ
Ross Watch Repairs – Canary Wharf
Unit 4B, Cabot Place Shopping Centre
Canary Wharf
London E14 4QT
Customers elsewhere in the UK can use our postal watch repair service. Postal repairs should be sent to Canary Wharf using Royal Mail Special Delivery with cover appropriate to the watch’s value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did a 200m-rated Gucci Dive get water damage?
A water-resistance rating describes the watch’s specification under test conditions, but seals, crowns and case components can deteriorate or be compromised over time. The exact route of entry was not proven on this watch, although the rusted stem confirmed moisture had reached the crown-and-stem area.
Can water damage destroy a quartz movement?
Yes. Moisture can corrode both the mechanical and electronic parts of a quartz movement. On this Gucci Dive, the damaged movement was replaced with a new compatible mechanism.
What movement was originally inside this Gucci Dive 136.3?
The removed quartz movement in this watch is marked ETA F06.115. The replacement mechanism was selected to be compatible with the watch’s dial, hands, date display and case.
Can a water-damaged watch dial be cleaned?
Sometimes. It depends on the dial material, printing and level of damage. Cleaning has to be conservative because trying to remove every mark can damage the original finish. The dial on this Gucci was cleaned successfully enough to make a substantial cosmetic improvement.
Would RWR recommend swimming with this Gucci Dive again?
No. Despite the 200M / 660FT marking, this model does not have a screw-down crown and we would advise this owner not to use it for swimming. Water-use advice should always reflect the condition and test result of the individual watch.
Get a Free Gucci Water-Damage Repair Assessment
If your Gucci watch has condensation, has stopped after getting wet, shows rust around the crown or has suffered movement damage, contact Ross Watch Repairs for a free assessment.
Ross Watch Repairs is an independent watch repair company and is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Gucci or ETA.
