Many of us have had the upsetting experience of emerging from the sea or pool, only to find water in our watch. It’s especially upsetting when the watch was expensive and advertised as “waterproof” and you have bathed and showered in it with no problem in the past!

Well, it’s all down to physics! Invariably, we sunbathe before we go swimming and in that time the air inside the watch expands in the heat. The increased pressure inside the watch can then, if the rubber seal ring(s) (shown in the photo below) isn’t perfect, force air out of the watch past the seal. Then, when you enter the cooler sea or swimming pool, the air within the watch contracts, lowering the pressure and ‘sucking in’ water.

Our tip is, unless you are totally confident of the waterproofing of the watch, take it off, or cool it away from water before entering the sea or pool.