Series 4 Watch Water Resistance

I read the below claim on their website but didn't go over the warranty with a fine tooth comb, who does?

So if you can make the claims below but then refuse to honour a warranty claim for water ingress is this not misleading?

About Apple Watch water resistance

Learn about water resistance on your Apple Watch and what to do if your device gets wet.

Is my Apple Watch waterproof?

Your Apple Watch is water resistant, but not waterproof.* For example, you may wear and use your Apple Watch during exercise (exposure to sweat is OK), in the rain, and while washing your hands.

Can I go swimming or take a shower with my Apple Watch?

Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch (1st generation) are splash and water resistant, but submerging Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch (1st generation) isn't recommended.

Apple Watch Series 2 and newer may be used for shallow water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, Apple Watch Series 2 and newer shouldn't be used for scuba diving, water skiing, or other activities involving high velocity water or submersion below shallow depth. 

Showering with Apple Watch Series 2 and newer is ok, but we recommend not exposing Apple Watch to soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and perfumes as they can negatively affect water seals and acoustic membranes. Apple Watch should be cleaned with fresh water and dried with a lint free-cloth if it comes in contact with anything other than fresh water.

Water resistance isn't a permanent condition and may diminish over time. Apple Watch can't be rechecked or resealed for water resistance. The following may affect the water resistance of your Apple Watch and should be avoided:

• Dropping Apple Watch or subjecting it to other impacts.
• Exposing Apple Watch to soap or soapy water (for example, while showering or bathing). 
• Exposing Apple Watch to perfume, solvents, detergent, acids or acidic foods, insect repellent, lotions, sunscreen, oil, or hair dye. 
• Exposing Apple Watch to high-velocity water (for example, while water skiing). 
• Wearing Apple Watch in the sauna or steam room. 

Not all bands are appropriate for water use. For example, the stainless steel and leather bands aren't water resistant and shouldn't be exposed to liquids.

What should I do if my Apple Watch gets wet?

If water splashes on to your Apple Watch, wipe it off with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Don't use heat, compressed air, or sprays. Clean and dry your Apple Watch, the band, and your skin after workouts or heavy sweating. After swimming, gently rinse Apple Watch Series 2 and newer with warm tap water. Dry Apple Watch and the band thoroughly if they're exposed to fresh water. Learn more about cleaning your Apple Watch. 

If your Apple Watch got wet and now its speaker sounds muffled, follow the steps below. Don't insert anything into the openings—for example, the microphone or speaker ports—and don't shake the watch to remove water. Allowing your Apple Watch to charge overnight might speed up evaporation.

On Apple Watch Series 3 and newer, measurements from the barometric altimeter may be less accurate if water gets into the air vent (for example, during swimming). Normal altimeter performance returns after the water has evaporated.

Apple Watch Series 2 and newer

When you start a swimming workout, your Apple Watch automatically locks the screen with Water Lock to avoid accidental taps. When you're done, turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear any water from your Apple Watch. You hear sounds and may feel some water on your wrist. 

To manually clear water from Apple Watch, swipe up on the bottom of the watch face to open Control Center, tap Water Lock, then turn the Digital Crown to unlock the screen and clear water from the speaker. 

Apple Watch Series 1 or earlier

Check to see if water is in the microphone or speaker by placing the device, speaker side down, on a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth to see if any water drips out. Water in the port may degrade speaker or microphone performance until it completely evaporates. 

* Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch (1st generation) have a water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. Apple Watch Series 2 and newer have a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. Classic Buckle, Leather Loop, Modern Buckle, Milanese, and Link Bracelet Bands aren't water resistant.

Here in the UK we have the following sale of goods act and to my mind if Apple wont even consider a warranty claim for water ingress then they hardly match the description given above

Product quality - what should you expect?

As with the Sale of Goods Act, under the Consumer Rights Act all products must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.  

The rules also include digital content in this definition. So all products - whether physical or digital - must meet the following standards:  

• Satisfactory quality Goods shouldn't be faulty or damaged when you receive them. You should ask what a reasonable person would consider satisfactory for the goods in question. For example, bargain-bucket products won’t be held to as high standards as luxury goods. 
• Fit for purpose The goods should be fit for the purpose they are supplied for, as well as any specific purpose you made known to the retailer before you agreed to buy the goods. 
• As described The goods supplied must match any description given to you, or any models or samples shown to you at the time of purchase.

Hi Deggie

It would appear I have purchased a wearable from a company that does cover water damage if you read my subsequent posts, but apparently so I would advise anyone who has a warranty claim refused by a Store escalates the case and doesn't just accept the stores decision

So if you cant claim under the standard 12months warranty how can the Water Resistance claim be valid?

If this is the case surely it needs to be loud and clear when purchasing a watch?

I could understand it if the watch had been abused but come on, damaged by water ingress in a heavy shower after only 3 months without even an offer from the store to investigate it or take it up with a higher authority, that doesn't even come close to the service I'd expect from Apple, As a small business man I wouldn't even dream of treating my customers in such a shoddy manner if I did I wouldn't have any!

Yep I know I wont win anything here, but if I'd been aware of this policy I'd have most likely never bought the watch or at least taken if off when it rains!!

I feel that it is a misrepresentation to claim it's water resistant then refuse any warranty claims Apple can use some sort of legal justification for it I'm sure, but personally I feel it's reprehensible to hide behind it and not even offer to investigate a watch that is less than 3 months, old may have been incorrectly assembled or have some other sort of manufacturing defect, but just carte blanche flatly deny the claim, is not the sort of response I'd expect from a company that prior to this I have always felt to be a model of customer care is disappointing to put it mildly.

If anyone on here has had the same issue and achieved some sort of satisfaction I'd appreciate any advice

You can champion Apple as much as you like however,I still feel its very misleading to the average consumer

And after less than 3 months and no marks etc on the case, you'd think they would at least investigate it, it leaves a very sour taste tbh, especially after the off hand way the store dealt with me, I guess maybe they get fed up with customers assuming that what is widely published as a water resistant device has a massive caveat that is hidden away in a warranty

And well done you for studying the warranty (no sarcasm intended), I would guess the majority of customers just like me wouldn't expect such a prominently advertised feature to be excluded from the warranty a lesson learned I guess but even so for a rain shower to have turned the watch to toast is frankly less than what I would expect for 3 yr old watch let alone a 3 month old watch

At the very least I would expect Apple to have some way of having the watch inspected and at least try to reach a compromise with the customer not an arbitrary "not under any circumstances"

I have championed Apple ever since I purchased an original iPhone I'm afraid though this has really coloured my view of the whole Apple customer care

Well I’m sorry but I guess my expectations of Apple are a little higher than that

As for Timex they aren’t exactly comparable to Apple they where about as cheap as you could get so the expectations of their products where much lower

I used to be a Casio dealer and they certainly had a much better attitude to warranty claims than Apple

And I supply Touch Screen terminals to the hospitality industry and believe me the IP67 rating they are manufactured too is covered under the 5 year warranty from the manufacturer and I’ve never had any issues

And besides reading up on this it applies in Apples case to the phones as well so it’s not just a watch issue is it?

I didn’t work at Casio I was a dealer, and yes me and you will have to agree to disagree so more than happy to end my dialogue with yourself

And at the risk of repeating myself a 3 month old watch in a rain shower!

And while you may well have more experience and knowledge of watches how do you explain exactly the same issue with IPhones that are advertised as water resistant? I have dealt with electronic devices for most of my working life and never experienced these sorts of issues with warranties on water resistant devices unless they have obviously been misused

But thank you for your insights into this issue

Just a quick update I had a response from the email I sent to Apple support and subsequently had contact via a senior adviser who has been extremely helpful and is now arranging for the watch to be collected and repaired/replaced

Which goes some way to restoring my faith in Apple as a company, but leaves a very sour taste regarding the particular store that I used (they will remain nameless)

So I guess the moral is don't just be fobbed off by the store or the nay Sayers on this forum and do contact Apple and escalate if you feel justified

I'll hold off give them a complete thumbs up however until it's back and working on my wrist (I wont leave it on if it rains though!)