The Truth About IP67, IP68 & 5ATM
IP67, IP68 & 5ATM: What Your Water Resistance Rating Really Means — and Why You Shouldn't Swim With Your Watch
You've seen the labels — IP67, IP68, 5ATM. They sound impressive. But what do they actually mean in real life? Can you shower with your smartwatch? Can you go swimming? The honest answer might surprise you — and could save you from an expensive mistake.
Understanding the Ratings: IP67, IP68 & 5ATM Explained
Water resistance ratings are not all created equal — and none of them mean what most people assume they do. Here is what each rating actually refers to:
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Activity | IP67 | IP68 | 5ATM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light rain or splashes | ✓ Safe | ✓ Safe | ✓ Safe |
| Washing hands (brief) | ✓ Safe | ✓ Safe | ✓ Safe |
| Sweat during exercise | ✓ Generally fine | ✓ Generally fine | ✓ Generally fine |
| Accidental drop in water (brief) | ✓ Generally fine | ✓ Generally fine | ✓ Generally fine |
| Hot shower or bath | ✗ Not recommended | ✗ Not recommended | ✗ Not recommended |
| Swimming (pool or ocean) | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable |
| Water sports / surfing | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable |
| Snorkelling or diving | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable |
| Sauna or steam room | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable | ✗ Not suitable |
This table reflects general industry guidance. Always refer to the specific product manual for your device.
Why Swimming Is Still Risky — Even With IP68 or 5ATM
This is the question we get most often. "My smartwatch or watch says IP68 — why can't I swim with it?" The answer comes down to the difference between laboratory testing and real-world conditions.
The IP and ATM standards test devices in a controlled environment: clean, still, room-temperature water with no movement or pressure variation. When you go swimming, almost every one of those conditions changes:
What IS Safe for Your Watch or Smartwatch
Just because you can't swim with it doesn't mean your watch or smartwatch isn't practical and durable in real everyday life. Here is what each rating comfortably handles:
Real-World Factors That Reduce Water Resistance Over Time
Even if you never swim with your watch, water resistance naturally degrades over time. Here are the main factors to be aware of:
- Age: Seals and gaskets are made of rubber and silicone, which degrade naturally over time through exposure to UV light, heat, and everyday flexing.
- Drops and impacts: Even a small knock or drop can microscopically crack a seal or shift a component, compromising the water resistance without any visible damage to the case.
- Extreme temperatures: South Africa's heat — including leaving your watch in a hot car — causes materials to expand and contract, stressing seals over time.
- Chemical exposure: Sunscreen, perfume, hairspray, and cleaning products all attack rubber seals and can cause premature degradation.
- Unauthorised opening: Any attempt to open the watch case, replace the battery at an unqualified workshop, or modify the device can permanently compromise its water resistance.
How to Protect Your Watch or Smartwatch
- Remove your watch before showering, bathing, or swimming — no exceptions.
- Avoid saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs — the combination of heat and steam is particularly damaging to seals.
- Rinse with fresh clean water if the watch is exposed to salt water or chlorine, then dry thoroughly.
- Clean the case with a soft, dry cloth — avoid chemical cleaners, alcohol wipes, or abrasive materials.
- Keep the watch away from perfume, hairspray, and sunscreen — apply these before putting on your watch.
- Do not press buttons or the crown while the watch is submerged — this breaks the seal at the button point.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight when not being worn.
- Have battery replacements done by a qualified technician who can reseal the case correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shower with my IP68 smartwatch?
No — we strongly advise against it. Hot water, steam, and soap all attack the seals in ways that the IP68 standard does not test for. Even a single shower session can begin to degrade the gaskets. Over time, this leads to water ingress that is usually only discovered when it is too late. Remove your smartwatch before showering.
My watch survived a swim — does that mean it's waterproof?
Not exactly. Water damage can be cumulative — it may take several exposures before moisture finds its way through a degraded seal and causes damage to the internal components. The fact that your watch survived once does not mean the seals are intact for next time. Water resistance also diminishes with every exposure, drop, and temperature change.
What's the difference between water-resistant and waterproof?
No consumer watch or smartwatch is truly waterproof. Water-resistant means the device can withstand limited water exposure under specific controlled conditions. Waterproof would imply complete protection in all conditions — which is not achievable or tested for in any consumer watch product. The industry specifically uses "water-resistant" rather than "waterproof" for this reason.
Does 5ATM mean I can swim to 50 metres?
No. 5ATM means the device was tested to withstand 50 metres of static water pressure in a laboratory — not that you can dive to 50 metres. The dynamic pressure created by swimming strokes, jumping into water, or any movement far exceeds this in real-world conditions. A 5ATM rating covers everyday splashes, rain, and accidental brief contact — not swimming or diving.
How long does water resistance last?
Water resistance is not permanent. It can degrade from day one depending on how the watch is used, stored, and maintained. Drops, heat, chemical exposure, and normal ageing all reduce it over time. There is no reliable way to tell from the outside whether the seals are intact — which is why following care guidelines is so important.
Is water damage covered under warranty?
No — water damage resulting from use beyond the rated limits (showering, swimming, water sports, saunas, hot water) is specifically excluded from our product warranties. Our warranties cover manufacturing defects under normal use conditions. See our Warranty page for full terms per product.
The Bottom Line
IP67, IP68, and 5ATM ratings are valuable — they mean your watch or smartwatch can handle the realities of everyday life without any anxiety. Rain, sweat, splashes, and the odd accidental dunk are all fine.
But they are not swimming ratings, not shower ratings, and not sauna ratings. The testing conditions that produce these numbers bear little resemblance to those environments. Understanding this distinction is the single most important thing you can know about caring for your watch — and it can save you from an entirely avoidable and non-warrantable failure.
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