Wearing your Rolex at the spa?

[Solar]

Wife and I were at a Nordic spa today; its quite a setup, with an amazing series of steam rooms, dry saunas, cold, medium and hot baths all in an amazing mountain setting.

I didn't wear the Rolex because I had heard that wearing mechanical watches in such settings is not recommended, as the hot/cold temp switches can cause seal expansion/contractions. Not to mention smacking the watch into a tile or rock wall surface.

Any experiences from people here?

Thanks,

Chris

[frostie]

I have heard the same stuff about hot/cold temp switches. I have never entered a spa or a sauna with a rolex let's see what other people will say

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Solar

Wife and I were at a Nordic spa today; its quite a setup, with an amazing series of steam rooms, dry saunas, cold, medium and hot baths all in an amazing mountain setting.

I didn't wear the Rolex because I had heard that wearing mechanical watches in such settings is not recommended, as the hot/cold temp switches can cause seal expansion/contractions. Not to mention smacking the watch into a tile or rock wall surface.

Any experiences from people here?

Thanks,

Chris

A Rolex has been designed to go through hell and high water....so I don't think a spa would even manage to "tickle" that baby!!

Now about that smacking into a tile or rock bit......gotta be real careful in that department!!

[frostie]

well is the ceramic bezel going to hold in hot/cold switches?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by frostie

well is the ceramic bezel going to hold in hot/cold switches?

Err.... we are talking about a bezel that has been heat treated to a whopping 1500º Celsius!!

[frostie]

I know about the 1500 i watched the videos also but sometimes you never know cause all this stuff sometimes are marketing traps. Actually i remember once that some guys in a watch forum where testing the ceramic bezels by switching for extreme heat to extreme cold. They were amazed by the durability of the ceramic

[JAD3703]

Originally Posted by Solar

Wife and I were at a Nordic spa today; its quite a setup, with an amazing series of steam rooms, dry saunas, cold, medium and hot baths all in an amazing mountain setting.

I didn't wear the Rolex because I had heard that wearing mechanical watches in such settings is not recommended, as the hot/cold temp switches can cause seal expansion/contractions. Not to mention smacking the watch into a tile or rock wall surface.

Any experiences from people here?

Thanks,

Chris

I've had two different watch makers warn me in general against the rapid shift from hot to cold and vice versa, all with respect to the potential impact on seals for case openings (crowns, etc).

However, in each case, as well as in talking with a Rolex watch maker, I've been told that with Rolex's trip-lock seal system it would take a great deal more exposure over a prolonged period, along with drastic and sudden shifts in temperature and humidty to even marginally effect the afore-mentioned seals.

Unfortunately, I live in Canada, where rapid and drastic temeprate and moisture shifts are an every-day occurence (e.g. coming in from shovelling the driveway when it's -25 degrees C outside, and it's +20 degrees C inside). But I have faith in my SD (and yes, Chris - it still works!).

But I would not expose my Omega or TAG to that kind of thing - probably silly, but ...

James

[frostie]

-25 now that's cold

[Tools]

I always thought you were supposed to wear your Rolex at the Spa. Thats what they were designed for.


Well....and a towel too......

[frostie]

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Tools

I always thought you were supposed to wear your Rolex at the Spa. Thats what they were designed for.


Well....and a towel too......

I prefer a TOGa!!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Had you asked if your Rolex would manage a herd of sheep coming straight towards you, I would have replied , but I guess your Rolex will cope with the spa.

[JAD3703]

Originally Posted by Tools

I always thought you were supposed to wear your Rolex at the Spa. Thats what they were designed for.


Well....and a towel too......

Yikes! Now there's imagery that I really didn't need embedded in my brain!

James

[JAD3703]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I prefer a TOGa!!

Thanks, JJ. Now I'm going to need a mind-scrub.

James

[timebroker]

Didn't think you'd care JJ what to wear in a place like that.
Cleavage all around, but it would be murder for the sheep wool and all.

[mike]

Originally Posted by Tools

I always thought you were supposed to wear your Rolex at the Spa. Thats what they were designed for.


Well....and a towel too......

Humm.... A towel....maybe I'll try that. Will that stop all the shouting??

[timebroker]

Originally Posted by mike

Humm.... A towel....maybe I'll try that. Will that stop all the shouting??

Post a picture, if ye hear people screaming after that you'll know

[steve-o]

If my body can take, I know my Rolex can as well.

[Downing]

"We now interrupt this highjacking momentarily:"

I wouldn't wear my SD under those conditions. I'm sure it can handle a sauna, but I don't see the point in going out of my way to torture test my watch.

When I'm in the sauna at my local club, I don't need to know the time because there's a clock on the wall. I don't need to know the date because, well, why the heck would anybody need to know the date in a sauna?

I suppose I could spend the time gazing at my watch, but I do that enough hours in the day already.

I bet I could drop my SD in a pot of boiling water, then toss it in the freezer once a week with no ill effects as long as I have it serviced regularly. But I don't want to do that either.

"Now back to your regularly scheduled highjacking..."

[timebroker]

Originally Posted by Downing

"We now interrupt this highjacking momentarily:"

I wouldn't wear my SD under those conditions. I'm sure it can handle a sauna, but I don't see the point in going out of my way to torture test my watch.

When I'm in the sauna at my local club, I don't need to know the time because there's a clock on the wall. I don't need to know the date because, well, why the heck would anybody need to know the date in a sauna?

I suppose I could spend the time gazing at my watch, but I do that enough hours in the day already.

I bet I could drop my SD in a pot of boiling water, then toss it in the freezer once a week with no ill effects as long as I have it serviced regularly. But I don't want to do that either.

"Now back to your regularly scheduled highjacking..."

Good point.

[MAXI DIAL]

I used to wear my SS YM at the spa all the time (steam room and cold baths)
Done it more than 20 times. No problem so far