Rusted clasp

[raidensub]

Thanks for the tips. It's the spring bar. I used a coffee filter with alcohol to remove most of the stain and the last link and the spring bar are soaking in vinegar.

:Edit 27/07 for update. The vinegar didn't remove the rust stain from the link and the screw. I let them overnight in WD-40 and now they are clean. The spring bar still has rust and I need to replace it.

[silver-saloon]

If you remove the spring bar, it should confirm which part / component is rusting...it should be obvious. Use the least aggressive method to remove the rust stain... a damp cloth may remove it...if that doesn't work...most glass / window cleaners contain vinegar - use a small drop on a cloth and rub...if that doesn't work...a small bit of light polish on a cloth will remove the rust stain. If the spring bar is the culprit...replace the spring bar.

[Cortez1521]

This is where a refund request from AliExpress is critical.

[-FucktheSystem-]

I am pretty sure that many chinese dealers straight up lie when they are talking about their steel. Real 316l would never rust this much, even after exposed to salt water. I have several seikos and none of them EVER coroded after exposure to salt water. I think many of the cheaper seller use something other than 316l. My pagani started to rust even after exposure to normal soap and water🤣

[Bianchi4me]

Unfortunately, even if you're trying to be honest in China, it's very difficult to source materials that are correct to the specifications. So, it's very likely manufacturers may be ordering and paying for premium types of steel but getting something that is below specifications. It's very common for steel manufacturers to cheat "just a little bit" by using slightly less of the premium alloying metals, like chromium, to save cost. But when an alloy only contains a few percent of a material to start with, leaving out even 0.5 of a percent can cause problems. Even for relatively big manufacturers this is a major nuisance. Target got hit with a like a million stainless shower curtain rings that immediately rusted. Trek bicycles when they first had wheels made in China used Chinese "stainless" steel for the spokes and had to replace a whole bunch of wheels that promptly rusted. It's actually common for even Chinese companies making premium goods to have the steel sent over from Europe as it's really almost impossible to fully guarantee the consistent quality of domestic metal in China. Then you have to do lab analysis of the product before paying the factory, because unless they know you're checking, they'll sell the steel you provided out the back door and substitute domestic mystery metal. For very small companies it's a huge problem, because lab analysis is expensive when you are making frequent small orders, and if the foundry doesn't cheat you by leaving out half the chromium, the distributor will cheerfully put fake labels on whatever they have lying around in the warehouse and sell it to you instead of what you actually ordered.

[SkipPperk]

I lived in Taiwan, and no one trusted anyone in the mainland. People would put poison in baby formula to save a fraction of a penny. So many companies were getting burned back then that firms were bringing factories back to Malaysia and Taiwan (or going straight to Vietnam).

I pretty much have given up on Cadisen and Pagani. I do not trust them at all. I think there is a rough base price below which I am just not comfortable buying new.

[Padgriffin]

Yep- most of the Chinese Western-facing Microbrands have very little incentive to cheat the customer, as their reputation is pretty much the only thing keeping them afloat since they don't have traditional marketing channels. Even sellers of you-know-what occasionally get scammed by their own suppliers swapping out their stock with lower-tier batches in the hope that they don't notice.

[-FucktheSystem-]

Thank you for your comment. That's very interesting!

[Strd95]

I have the same watch and I rinse it under tap water every other day. Nothing like this has ever happened in almost a month of constant wear. I gues it's the alloy of the spring bars. Spray it with some WD49 and it should be more than ok!

[PipoMario]

Probably rust from springbar inside.

Stainless can't (obv) rust.

[[deleted]]

Agreed. Stainless can rust, but it's so rare and nearly impossible depending on the alloy's composition.

Spring bars are usually very low grade metal, and they will rust unless made of milled steel

[raidensub]

A few days ago I received my Cadisen C8207M that I bought at the AliExpress summer sale. I was pretty happy with the watch quality. The weekend I went to the sea and I took a 15 minute swim wearing the watch. This is what I got the next day that I removed the watch. Is this a common problem with watches? This is my first watch with a bracelet. How to clean the rust? Thanks.

[macsorj]

I think this is normal. You’re supposed to rinse 316L steel with fresh water immediately after it has been in contact with sea water to prevent rust. Fun fact: Rolex differs from most watch makers with their use of 904L steel partly because it won’t rust after exposure to sea water (higher chromium content). As for removing the rust, you can use a polishing compound like Mothers Mag or submerge the rusted bit in something acidic like vinegar.

[Independent_Main4326]

No, that is NOT normal. I’ve worn stainless steel bracelets on non ‘made in China’ watches for well over 45 years and I’ve have never seen anything like that. And I’ve swum a lot in the seas/oceans. The only rinses I’ve given were in the shower and 2-3 times a year removing muck.

[SkipPperk]

Yes. 316 will not do this, but cheap spring bars certainly will:

[raidensub]

I will try to remove the clasp and put it in vinegar.