Rolex and steam?

[HauteHorlogerie]

So I shower and go in hot tubs with my Rolex pieces....but curious how a steam room would do? Any experience haha, or a really steamy shower... when I know I'm taking a super hot shower I usually take my watch off (then take a shower that's wayyyy too long because I don't have my watch hahahaha)

[HogwldFLTR]

If you can take it the watch can; I asked the same question a long time ago.

[997.2]

I do it all, you can too

[Old Expat Beast]

Back in the late 1920s and 30s, when comparatively few people would swim and dive, the Oyster case was marketed as a watch to be worn safely in environments like the humid and steamy far eastern ouposts of the British Empire. A steam room will be fine as long as all seals and the crystal are intact.

[Thailawson]

The AD near my house provide free life time steam cleaning for all purchased rolexes.

[Chadridv]

Here we go! OP get ready for a string of uproar and sarcasm.

Quick answer: yes, your watch can take it.

Long answer: RSC stance (as told to me by multiple reps) is that very hot showers, baths or hotubs will speed the process of drying out rubber, specifically in this case the watches rubber gaskets. Rubber will react to heat and cold by expanding and contracting. Evanutially the rubber gaskets on our watches will crack and fail. This is inevitable, the question is how long will it take? Certainly if you regularly use a hot tub or take an excessively long and hot shower every day, your rubber gaskets will dry out and crack quicker than those that were not exposed to the same conditions.

My opinion: once and a while I shower with my watch on at home. I try not to use hot tubs with my watch on. And if I'm on vacation or away from home, my watch never comes off for any/all of the above, or for any reason.

[Andad]

That may be true if the gaskets were made of rubber.

Steam and hot tubs will only clean your Rolex.

The biggest problem when wearing a watch in a sauna is burning your wrist.

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by directioneng

That may be true if the gaskets were made of rubber.

Really? What is the material used?

I only claim to repeat what the RSC reps in NY have told me, but I don't claim What they say is always right ;)

[Andad]

Google Viton and check out the specs.

[D111s]

There was an old Rolex advertisement where a watch was boiled and survived. Should be fine thesedays!!

[crowncollection]

No problem


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[antbkny]

Originally Posted by D111s

There was an old Rolex advertisement where a watch was boiled and survived. Should be fine thesedays!!

yep

[brandrea]

I suppose it's ok, but it would irritate the heck out of me to wear a watch in a steam room or the shower.

[airchitect]

It's fine. I take scorching showers daily. It's fine.

[Tools]

Here in the Desert and down in the Tropics it's over 110 degrees out, all day, every day in the summer.

No "steam bath" can beat those constant temperatures...

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by HauteHorlogerie

So I shower and go in hot tubs with my Rolex pieces....but curious how a steam room would do? Any experience

Been wearing my Sub 16610 daily for the past 5 years with, regular 2 or 3 x times a week sessions in pool/sauna/steam room after the gym, and with no obvious ill effect on it.

[D111s]

Originally Posted by antNYC

yep

That's the one!

[superdog]

If it can be submerged, it can take any kind of steam

[HauteHorlogerie]

Awesome answers :) also! surprised I didn't get flamed hahahaha. Thanks guys!

[Propofol]

Originally Posted by superdog

If it can be submerged, it can take any kind of steam

Not true. Vapor pressure is higher with steam.

E.g., the fastest/best way to 'boil' an egg is actually to cook it in 0.5 inches of water. Don't ever "boil" an egg, i.e. submerge it in boiling water like cooking pasta.

The boiling water has less energy than 0.5 inches of water, so the egg will cook faster in the steam environment of 0.5 inches of water, rather than in a bath of boiling water.

Don't cook your Rolex.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Propofol

Not true. Vapor pressure is higher with steam.

E.g., the fastest/best way to 'boil' an egg is actually to cook it in 0.5 inches of water. Don't ever "boil" an egg, i.e. submerge it in boiling water like cooking pasta.

The boiling water has less energy than 0.5 inches of water, so the egg will cook faster in the steam environment of 0.5 inches of water, rather than in a bath of boiling water.

Don't cook your Rolex.

I am not disputing your science. And I am certainly ignorant to the facts relating to boiling an egg.

But are you sure the science is applicable? If a watch can be submerged to 100 feet, steam can still potentially effect it?

[AK797]

Didn't think this thread would teach me about boiling eggs, but I will try that method, cheers.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

If you can take it the watch can; I asked the same question a long time ago.

unless he takes hammer hits to the face

[antbkny]

Originally Posted by AK797

Didn't think this thread would teach me about boiling eggs, but I will try that method, cheers.

same here, will report back

[jon_jon]

My local AD offers to "steam" my Rolex whenever I want. I assume it is safe and also cleans out some dirt.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by jon_jon

My local AD offers to "steam" my Rolex whenever I want. I assume it is safe and also cleans out some dirt.

similar to steam cleaning a diamond engagement ring.

[wantonebad]

Your Rolex can take any temperature/humidity extremes your body can, no worries!

[Brenngun]

Can anyone report back on the results of the "egg" experiment??

[sco]

I bought a house with a steam shower in the basement. After some investigation, it turns out I needed a few parts for the steam generator. I am currently waiting on a bracket that is the size of a quarter to arrive from Sweden. (Part $14.00 / shipping $17.00) Once I am up and running again, I'll let you know how it affects my watch!

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by sco

I bought a house with a steam shower in the basement. After some investigation, it turns out I needed a few parts for the steam generator. I am currently waiting on a bracket that is the size of a quarter to arrive from Sweden. (Part $14.00 / shipping $17.00) Once I am up and running again, I'll let you know how it affects my watch!

Or, since there is zero reason to needlessly strain your watches gaskets you could always take it off since you are at home.