[Samsung Galaxy Gear] Ryland Johnson:
Shall we talk facts rather than opinion. See below.

"The International Organization for Standardization issued a standard for water resistant watches which also prohibits the term waterproof to be used with watches, which many countries have adopted. The international standard ISO 2281 Horology – Water-resistant watches defines the water resistance of watches. This standard was introduced in 1990 and only designed for watches intended for ordinary daily use and are resistant to water during exercises such as swimming for a short period. They may be used under conditions where water pressure and temperature vary. However, whether they bear an additional indication of overpressure or not, they are not intended for submarine diving.

The ISO 2281 standard specifies a detailed testing procedure for each mark that defines not only pressures but also test duration, water temperature, and other parameters. Besides this ISO 2859-2 Sampling plans indexed by limiting quality (LQ) for isolated lot inspection and ISO 2859-3 Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes – Part 3: Skip-lot sampling procedures concerning procedures regarding lot sampling testing come into play, since not every single watch has to be tested for ISO 2281 approval.

ISO 2281 water resistance testing of a watch consists of:

Resistance when immersed in water at a depth of 10 cm. Immersion of the watch in 10 cm of water for 1 hour.

Resistance of operative parts. Immersion of the watch in 10 cm of water with a force of 5 N perpendicular to the crown and pusher buttons (if any) for 10 minutes.

Condensation test. The watch shall be placed on a heated plate at a temperature between 40 °C and 45 °C until the watch has reached the temperature of the heated plate (in practice, a heating time of 10 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on the type of watch, will be sufficient). A drop of water, at a temperature between 18 °C and 25 °C shall be placed on the glass of the watch. After about 1 minute, the glass shall be wiped with a dry rag. Any watch which has condensation on the interior surface of the glass shall be eliminated.

Resistance to different temperatures. Immersion of the watch in 10 cm of water at the following temperatures for 5 minutes each, 40 °C, 20 °C and 40 °C again, with the transition between temperatures not to exceed 1 minute. No evidence of water intrusion or condensation is allowed.

Resistance to water overpressure. Immersion of the watch in a suitable pressure vessel and subjecting it within 1 minute to the rated pressure for 10 minutes, or to 2 bar in case where no additional indication is given. Then the overpressure is reduced to the ambient pressure within 1 minute. No evidence of water intrusion or condensation is allowed.

Resistance to air overpressure. Exposing the watch to an overpressure of 2 bar. The watch shall show no air-flow exceeding 50 μg/min.

No magnetic or shock resistance properties are required.

No negative pressure test is required.

No strap attachment test is required.

No corrosion test is required.

Except the thermal shock resistance test all further ISO 2281 testing should be conducted at 18 °C to 25 °C temperature. Regarding pressure ISO 2281 defines: 1 bar = 105 Pa = 105 N/m2.

In practice, the survivability of the watch will depend not only on the water depth, but also on the age of the sealing material, past damage, temperature, and additional mechanical stresses."

Further t this please also note the following;

"Water resistance rating Suitability Remarks

Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30 m Suitable for everyday use. Splash/rain resistant. NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing. NOT suitable for diving.

Water Resistant 5 ATM or 50 m Suitable for swimming, white water rafting, non-snorkeling water related work, and fishing. NOT suitable for diving.

Water Resistant 10 ATM or 100 m Suitable for recreational surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and water sports. NOT suitable for diving.

Water Resistant 20 ATM or 200 m Suitable for professional marine activity, serious surface water sports and skin diving. Suitable for skin diving.

Diver's 100 m Minimum ISO standard (ISO 6425) for scuba diving at depths NOT suitable for saturation diving. Diver's 100 m and 150 m watches are generally old(er) watches.

Diver's 200 m or 300 m Suitable for scuba diving at depths NOT suitable for saturation diving. Typical ratings for contemporary diver's watches.

Diver's 300+ m for mixed-gas diving Suitable for saturation diving (helium enriched environment). Watches designed for mixed-gas diving will have the DIVER’S WATCH L M FOR MIXED-GAS DIVING additional marking to point this out.

Manufacturers water resistance classifications are interpretations and are not part of any ISO standard definition."

As you can read for yourself this is not me on some sort of quest to prove any point whatsoever, I don't need to its written for you above.

My aim is to try to prevent people from damaging their watch. Nothing more and nothing less.

From the above quotes you can clearly see that our galaxy gear is not even water resistant by definition and needs care when coming into any contact with water.

Personally speaking

, I find this a total pain in the neck and a very large blunder on Samsung's part. This is a wrist watch and should at least be water resistant too 30m or put this way splash proof. Yes, your other daily watch that has written on the back " Water resistant to 30m does NOT mean that the watch can be submerged to a depth of 30m, you cant even shower or bath in it!.

This is one of the biggest complaints with the watch trade and one that causes numerous problems to all watch retailers and horologists. The 'standard' is absurd. See the above codification for yourself.

The other point that needs to be understood is just because one may shower in the Gear, Sauna in the Gear etc and the watch still functions is certainly NOT an indication that no damage was done, the opposite may apply, its often just a question of time and how long the water inside the Gear will take to cause a possible problem.

Those unfortunate owners who have the lens mist up due to water ingress, How many times do you think one can place the watch in rice and dry it out before corrosion starts to make some affect? Sure the watch may work today, for a week maybe even six months but as yet we simply don't have the living experience of what's to come as the device is so new.

Only now are those who abused the Sony Xperia Z mobile phones starting to find their mobiles are not at all 'water proof' and cannot be taken white water rapids, diving, boiled in soup or cooked in chocolate (I jest not go see the youtube clips) etc. .