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Here’s the thing. In my view, steam is one of the greatest quiet threats to a watch. That harmless-looking mist rising from your kettle, that warm puff from the dishwasher, even the fog from a boiling pan. Most wouldn’t give it a second thought. But I reckon we should.
Let’s strip this down to fundamentals. Scientifically speaking, what we often call “steam” in everyday life isn’t steam at all. True steam is invisible—pure water vapour in its gaseous state, formed when water reaches 100 degrees Celsius at atmospheric pressure. The mist we see rising in kitchens and showers? That’s condensed water vapour—tiny droplets formed when the invisible vapour cools and condenses. Semantics? Maybe. But clarity matters, especially when we’re talking about potential damage to a watch.
“The moment water enters your watch, time itself begins to rust. Act fast — rice may buy you hours, but only a watchmaker can save the movement.”
-Kev Green
Another wrinkle is that when steam is generated under pressure, like in espresso machines or commercial steamers, even saunas, it’s hotter than 100°C and holds more energy. That heat and pressure combination makes it even more capable of sneaking past your watch’s defences. Moisture in that state isn’t playing around.
STEAM – Safeguarding Timepieces from Environmental and Atmospheric Moisture
What happens next is something science calls thermal expansion and contraction. Everything expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Watch cases, regardless of their material—be it steel, titanium, ceramic or even carbon composite—are subject to these physical laws. So are the rubber or silicone gaskets meant to seal them?
But the catch is this: different materials expand and contract at different rates. The case metal might expand slightly, just enough to distort or ease pressure on a rubber gasket. The gasket, on the other hand, might not react as quickly or might shrink slightly in the cold, just before the heat blast. That micro-shift can create a gap—microscopic, yes, but again, that’s all steam needs.
You’d never notice it at first. You might see a tiny bit of fogging on the crystal and think, oh, that’s normal. But it’s not. That’s your first warning. That’s water vapour that’s already inside the case, cooling and condensing. And condensation inside a watch means one of two things: it’s either a ticking time bomb for rust and corrosion, or your movement is already suffering.
Now, some of you might say, But my watch has been in the shower or kitchen a hundred times and it’s fine. Fair play. You’ve either got lucky with your seals, or your case tolerances are tighter than Fort Knox. But it only takes one slightly aged gasket, one knock that shifts the crown tube, one service missed, and you’re open. It’s not about paranoia; it’s about understanding risk over time.
- Moisture can be present without causing fogging.
- Moisture can negatively impact a watch’s performance.
- Avoid wearing the watch during activities that could expose it to water or steam.
- Walking out of an air-conditioned Mall to the outside, which is humid, can affect your watch.
Result of Complacency
I’ve heard people say, “But it’s rated to 50 metres, surely a bit of steam won’t hurt it?” That’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what water resistance ratings mean. A 50-metre water resistance doesn’t mean it’s safe to swim with or wear in a hot bath. Those ratings are measured under static pressure, in ideal lab conditions, and they have nothing to do with temperature variations, chemical exposure from soap or shampoo, or the mechanical stress of you moving your wrist under running water. Add steam to the equation and you’ve now got pressure, heat, and vapour infiltration happening all at once—and not in a sterile environment.
To make it worse, some movements today are so finely tuned and have such tight tolerances that even the slightest moisture infiltration can cause issues. Capillary action can draw condensed water right along a pinion, into the barrel or escapement. Oils emulsify. Metal corrodes. Shock protection jewels might develop micro-rust at contact points. It’s all downhill from there.
In the worst cases I’ve seen, fogging inside a case was just the tip of the iceberg. Remove the caseback, and the rotor is brown with rust. Screws oxidised. And we’re not talking vintage field watches here—we’re talking modern Swiss or Japanese pieces that simply weren’t designed to deal with steam over time, despite having solid resistance specs.
Let’s also not forget the crown and pushers. If you’re adjusting something while in a humid or steamy room, you’ve broken the seal manually. Even if the crown is screw-down, unscrewing it to adjust the time while standing over a steaming kettle or under a shower head is asking for trouble. I’ve seen that happen in real time to a mate with a £3,000 diver. The watch didn’t flood—it misted. But that mist turned into corrosion over months, and by the time he sent it for a service, the damage was done.
The thing is, heat makes rubber gaskets more pliable. Over time, repeated exposure to hot environments like steam rooms, showers, or dishwashing causes degradation of the sealing material. It can go soft, crack, or compress out of shape. You wouldn’t run a car tyre at 120 degrees for months on end and expect it to maintain performance, would you?
Now I know some brands boast steam room testing or sauna resistance. Fine. But even then, you’d be hard-pressed to find a mechanical watch that truly thrives in those environments long term. Quartz watches are sometimes a little more tolerant—less friction in the movement, less vulnerability to corrosion—but even then, you’re still relying on physical barriers that degrade.
I’m not trying to scare anyone. I’m just saying: understand the enemy. Steam isn’t innocent. It’s subtle, it’s invisible, and it’s persistent. And it’s precisely because you can’t see it doing damage that people overlook it until it’s too late.
My advice? Take the watch off when you’re dealing with extreme temperature changes or steamy environments. Service your seals regularly. Don’t screw or unscrew anything in high humidity. And never assume a watch is “safe” just because it hasn’t failed yet.
Of course, all of this is just my view. It’s what I’ve seen, what I’ve read, and what I’ve come to believe through years of mucking about with these ticking marvels. I’m always open to being corrected—politely, mind you—and I welcome any discussion from those with experience or evidence to the contrary.
But one thing I’ll never do is assume a water resistance rating means steam resistance. In my book, that’s a dangerous game.
What do you reckon?
HOW TO REMOVE VAPOUR – [ CLICK HERE ]
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