Even though your genuine watch is water resistant, it is not advisable wear it in the shower. They are not designed to withstand warm water. When your watches cools down after the shower, moist air gets sucked into the case. Doing this repeatedly will deteriorate the movement, even if your watch is water resistant or if it’s a dive watch with a depth rating of 100 m or more.
Because swimming and diving are simply not the same things as showering.
Most watches are not air resistant. When the watch heats up under warm water, the air inside the watch expands air gets pushed out of the watch case. This is because the seals used in the watch are not designed to prevent gas or air from passing, just water.
So when your watch cools down after getting out of the shower, the air inside the watch cools down as well, it contracts, and new air is now sucked back into the watch. Since your watch is now likely to still be in a moist environment (aka your bathroom full of humid air), the air that gets into your watch is moist, too.
Do that repeatedly and that moisture will oxidise and speed up the break-down of the oils that are used inside your watch’s movement to keep the parts moving.
Also, when showering, you use soap, which most gaskets and seal are not intended to handle or provide a protection against. Any kind of greasy, oily or soapy liquid is really not advised to get your watch submerged in.
You should never wear your watch in the shower. The combination of hot water and soap or shampoo can over time degrade the rubber gaskets that keep your watch’s water resistance. This will reduce the water resistance rating of your watch over time and require more frequent watch services. Even a watch that’s completely waterproof, like a dive watch, can be damaged by wearing it in the shower.
Water Resistance Chart
3 ATM, 30m, 100ft, WR3bar
Suitable for everyday use. Will withstand accidental splashes but not suitable for swimming.
5 ATM, 50m, 165ft, WR5bar
Suitable for everyday use and bathing but not suitable for swimming.
10 ATM, 100m, 330ft, WR10bar
Suitable for everyday use and swimming and snorkeling but NOT suitable for high board diving or sub-aqua diving.
20 ATM, 200m, 660ft, WR20bar
Suitable for all high impact water sports and scuba diving at depths not requiring helium gas. At these depths, it is recommended to purchase a professional watch.
20 – 50 ATM, 200 – 500m
Suitable for all high impact water sports, scuba diving and saturation diving.
100 ATM, 1000m
Suitable for deep-sea diving and intergalactic travels.
I Accidentally Wore My Watch in the Shower, What Should I Do?
- If it’s water resistant, like a dive watch, fill a cup or bowl with a mixture of lukewarm (not hot) water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Let the watch sit in the water for about 10 minutes.
- Take it out, scrub it off with a clean toothbrush, making sure to get all over the watch, including between bracelet links.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean tap water. Make sure to run the water between
- Dry it thoroughly.
