A few of us today at work discussed the upcoming Apple Watch (pre-orders from 10th April) and the topic of water-proofing came up.
A little research on Google reveals no “definitive” answer, so I took matters into my own hands and hunted the main official Apple Watch (web-)pages for any hint.
Sure enough I found this:
*Apple Watch is splash and water resistant but not waterproof. You can, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise, in the rain, and while washing your hands, but submerging Apple Watch is not recommended. Apple Watch has a water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. The leather bands are not water resistant.
Cite: Footnote on https://www.apple.com/watch/health-and-fitness/ accessed 2015-03-30
Wikipedia helpfully explains the meaning of “IPX7”:
Where there is no data available to specify a protection rating with regard to one of the criteria, the digit is replaced with the letter X.
The first digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g., electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects.
The second digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water.
Cite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code#Liquid_ingress_protection
So no data available re. solid particles.
Regarding water though there is, it’s rated at “7”:
Immersion up to 1 m
Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). Test duration: 30 minutes
The lowest point of enclosures with a height less than 850 mm is located 1000 mm below the surface of the water, the highest point of enclosures with a height equal to or greater than 850 mm is located 150 mm below the surface of the water
So “waterproof”? I’d say not. “Survive use in the shower and bath”? Absolutely. “Come out of a swimming pool working”? I’d personally not risk £400 on it.
For cross-reference against Wikipedia, this PDF explains in a very readable fashion: http://www.osram.co.uk/media/resource/hires/342330/technical-application-guide—ip-codes-in-accordance-with-iec-60529-gb.pdf