Is SQL Server 2005 Symmetric Encryption affected by the SMK and DMK?

[nju0843]

I was playing around with Symmetric Encryption on a SQL Server 2005 test database last night. I set up a table with some encrypted fields and also encrypted the DMK with the SMK. I then simulated a corrupt database or a broken server by moving my test db from computer A to computer B with a different SMK. I tried decrypting the fields from the table in the test database using the symmetric encryption and everything worked fine. From everything I have read I should have had to RESTORE my SERVICE MASTER KEY, for me to be able to decrypt the fields from the table in the test db again.

I am running this simulation to give me a better understanding of under which circumstances the SMK encrypts the DMK, and so forth.

Thanks for your time
Nick