Can your watch really be damaged by household water pressure?

Hello, this is Classical.
Today, we’ll explore one of the most common myths among watch enthusiasts — the so-called “Faucet Water Pressure Myth.”
You’ve probably heard something like:

“Household water pressure is 3–5 bar, so be careful when washing your hands!”

Is that really true?
Let’s find out.

1. Where the Myth Began

In some online communities, you’ll often see claims like this:

“Bathroom faucets can reach over 3 bar, so even a water-resistant watch could get damaged.”

That sounds alarming, but it’s based on misunderstanding.
As I’ve explained in earlier posts and videos — and even demonstrated using an Oris Depth Gauge — the actual pressure from a faucet is far less than people think.

The result was clear:
It doesn’t even reach 1 bar.

2. The Experiment – Measuring with a Real Pressure Gauge

Some people asked, “How accurate can a watch’s depth gauge be?”
So this time, I used a dedicated water pressure gauge for verification.

The faucet tested was the high-pressure bathtub tap in my home — the strongest one I could find.
When you place your hand under it, the water pushes hard enough to make it difficult to keep still.
It feels powerful, and water splashes everywhere.

When the faucet is completely closed, the gauge shows around 3 bar, with the red marker indicating the peak pressure.

But here’s the key point:
That’s the static pressure inside the plumbing, measured when the faucet is shut off.
It has nothing to do with the pressure applied during actual water flow.

3. The Reality of Everyday Water Flow

What happens when you actually open the faucet to wash your hands?
When I turned on the water and checked the gauge again, it read 0 bar — zero.

Why?
Because once water is flowing freely, it’s no longer under pressure in an open system.
In fact, most faucets have an aerator (a small bubble-filter at the tip) that softens the water stream and significantly reduces the perceived pressure.

So in everyday use, the pressure your watch experiences while washing hands is practically equivalent to normal atmospheric pressure — effectively zero bar.

4. Then Why Do Some Watches Still Leak?

If the pressure is so low, why do some watches still get water inside during hand-washing?
The answer is simple: poor maintenance.

If a watch hasn’t had its gaskets or seals checked in years, even light moisture can penetrate.
On the other hand, a well-maintained watch will not leak under normal faucet water flow, no matter how strong it feels to your hand.

Conclusion

The idea that “faucet water pressure can damage your watch” is one of the most persistent urban myths among watch collectors.

The static pressure in a closed pipe and the real-world pressure during water flow are completely different.
Under typical household use, your watch is not exposed to any significant water pressure at all.

The real secret to protecting your watch isn’t avoiding tap water — it’s regular maintenance and water-resistance inspection.