“New” Owner Questions

[LSchultz]

I recently purchased a Datejust 1601 circa 1972 and I’m wondering if if it’s a good idea to shower with it on. I’m also a bit concerned about winding it correctly. I overwound a watch as a teenager and broke it. I’m in love with this watch and want to care for it correctly so I can enjoy it for it as long as possible. It has been professionally serviced.

[stewester]

I personally wouldn't wear any vintage watch in the shower, just not worth the risk for me. If you really want to, make sure it passed a pressure test as part of the service, but I'd recommend just not doing it to be honest.

In terms of winding, it will have overwind protection but with it being an automatic, I'd just handwind it enough to get it running, then just wear it and the rotor will take care of the rest.

Congratulations on the watch! Would be nice to see a pic :)

[zapokee]

Very unnecessary to risk wearing expensive vintage Rolex in the shower/pool/bath/whatever - especially dress watches like a 1601 (rather than dive watches).

If you really need to know the time during the five minutes you're showering, just look before you go in.

[motoikkyu]

Plus, wrist hygiene is very important to vintage watch enthusiasts! A watch looks best on a shiny, well-showered wrist!

[swaini3]

As above, I just wouldn't do it. Better safe than sorry.

[Slimpee]

I wouldn’t wear it in the shower unless it was pressure tested. Even then, probably not.

Even if you don’t wear it in the shower, having it pressure tested will give you peace of mind for accidental exposure to water, cleaning the watch, etc.

My DD 1803 passed a pressure test last year and I have not had any issues washing the watch periodically.

If your watch gets wet, you will see fogging or condensation on the inside of the crystal. If that happens, get it to your watchmaker or follow advice from this forum.

[Dan S]

The shower question is asked almost as often as "How old is vintage?", so if you do a search you can enjoy several hours of reading on the topic. ;-)

You can't damage an automatic movement by winding. And honestly, you probably didn't damage that watch as a teenager by winding it. Overwinding is mainly a myth. If something in a watch movement breaks, the next time it is fully wound the mainspring will not be able to run down. Such movements are often called "overwound" by people who don't understand how they operate.

[214270Explorer]

Rolex, among other watches today, have over-wind protection.
Otherwise everyone's watch would be broken and the watch industry would have a bad reputation and a hard time making sales.

[Garywebster]

I wouldn’t

[Andad]

I would not swim with my ‘71 DJ unless it passed it’s pressure test.

So far so good with no issues.