Hey Watch Nerds That Shower With One On...
I think we all agree that, at the very least, showering with a watch on makes water intrusion issues more likely, whether by temperature shock, soap on gaskets, or just greater exposure to water. The verdict is out on just how damaging it actually is, so I'm curious about people's experience. I don't personally shower with a watch unless I got it filthy, but I want to ask those who regularly shower with a watch on: Have you ever actually had a problem because of it? What watch was it? If you've never had a problem, let me know too.
If a bunch of people are out here showering daily with watches without issue, the soaps must not be all that damaging. I'm sure they're not ideal, but it would be interesting to me to see just how many days of soap some of these gaskets will put up with.
Spent years and years wearing watches without really getting into them. Fell into the deep end looking for a new watch a couple years ago, and there's no going back now. Mostly into utilitarian design...
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Never had an issue, regularly shower with a watch on. Screw down as well as push/pull and non of those are divers.
Never had an issue, regularly shower with a watch on. Screw down as well as push/pull and non of those are divers.
I have a suspicion that will be the experience of pretty much everyone aside from people wearing $9 "water resistant" casios in the shower for like 17 years straight.
My experience comes from two very different ends of the market.
Two watches I wear in my life are my 1995 Seamaster and a £30 Tandorio field watch from Ali express.
The Seamaster sees the shower daily, no drama
The Tandorio up until Monday got pummeled in my car mechanic job that I now left. It got every fluid on it known to man, and would go from wrist to the bottom of the bath to “soak” the grime off and would stay there for 20-30 mins while I cleansed with absolutely no intrusion at all despite the temperatures.
The temperature shock theory doesn’t sound realistic to me. The gaskets and rubber rings will expand quicker than the steel will and thus seal better. It sounds like an excuse someone used for showering with the crown pulled.
The temperature shock theory doesn’t sound realistic to me. The gaskets and rubber rings will expand quicker than the steel will and thus seal better. It sounds like an excuse someone used for showering with the crown pulled.
I also don't think it's relevant, but I threw it in because I know some people consider it. The tiny bits of water that make contact with the actual gasket surfaces will mostly stick there, cool, and insulate while the case warms not all that much really, during a hot shower. From wrist temp to wrist-in-shower temp isn't a whole lot of expansion for steel, if it is even expanding in ways that would open the gap.
I shower with the watches in my collection that are at least designed as divers, no issues. I do have a friend bit of a goofball who will not even wear his Rolex Subs and Sea dweller walking in the rain.
My experience comes from two very different ends of the market.
Two watches I wear in my life are my 1995 Seamaster and a £30 Tandorio field watch from Ali express.
The Seamaster sees the shower daily, no drama
The Tandorio up until Monday got pummeled in my car mechanic job that I now left. It got every fluid on it known to man, and would go from wrist to the bottom of the bath to “soak” the grime off and would stay there for 20-30 mins while I cleansed with absolutely no intrusion at all despite the temperatures.
Hell yeah to that field watch. What a trooper. I'd rather be wearing a g shock if my watch gets doused in oil or fuel, but I feel like my other watches would probably handle it on occasion, especially if I have time to rinse it afterwards. I'm sure it would technically be compromising, but I'm not so sure it would ruin things in one or two exposures.
I shower with the watches in my collection that are at least designed as divers, no issues. I do have a friend bit of a goofball who will not even wear his Rolex Subs and Sea dweller walking in the rain.
I'm surprised he ever puts them on if he's that worried.
I'm surprised he ever puts them on if he's that worried.
👍
Not sure why someone would shower with a watch 🤔
Not sure why someone would shower with a watch 🤔
Me too… i feel like you wont able to properly clean your wrist if you do 🙃
I don’t agree with your basic premise on showering and water intrusion. That’s just something that keeps getting parroted on internet watch forums so much that people start believing it’s true.
I only shower with my watch on if I’ve been swimming and I need to get rid of the chlorinated water or sea salt.
I think the soap is more of a problem if it builds up over time - it can collect in tricky to reach areas of cases and bracelets and attract dirt and grime - which can make your bracelet feel a bit clunky/sticky. I guess it could even start to interfere with crown or bezel operation depending on where the gunk builds up.
Second downside is when your skin is damp it’s soft and more susceptible to abrasion from a strap. That can get kinda sore and/or bacterial growth / allergic reactions can ensue.
Any issue with showering has only to do with steam, as the water molecules separate and go airborne. This is a much smaller particle than liquid water which is many water molecules bound together. If your watch seals have any weak points, this is what will ingress into your watch, the steam. It’s exactly the same principle as the way gortex works. It allows any small airborne h2o particles (evaporated sweat) to escape because the particle size is tiny. But a rain droplet from the outside cannot penetrate because of its size.
So if you have rock solid seals you’ll be fine. If there’s any defects there, steam can get in. Simple as that. 👍
I see no reason now to keep my watch on in the shower, and the watch is banned in bed but when I was on active duty I wore my watch at all times. You simply don't have time to put it on in an emergency.
I only really shower with my watches when I first get them, as a baptism of bubbles
I don’t agree with your basic premise on showering and water intrusion. That’s just something that keeps getting parroted on internet watch forums so much that people start believing it’s true.
Personally, I think it is very nearly a non-issue, but I don't think I can say that it is precisely as healthy for the gaskets as not showering with a watch on. I said I thought we could agree that it makes it more likely, not that it seriously damages anything. I'm hesitant to call it entirely made up by watch forums because pretty much every set of water resistance information and watch care guidelines I see come out of major brands notes that the soaps that can contact the gaskets during a shower can accelerate gasket wear.
I like how I specifically asked about the experience of people who do a certain thing, and I still get comments are from people saying they don't do that thing. I'm not going to bother responding to comments that disregard the entire purpose of my post. They're just clutter.