Wrist Watches and washing your hands.

[pfrsantos]

More seriously, I don't take my watch off when washing my hands. If you go out in the rain, the watch will get some drops on it. When it's hot, you sweat and even the natural skin oils rub into the watch/strap. Unless you dip your hands elbow deep in water, the droplets that might hit the watch won't be more damaging than the other examples I gave (IMHO).

[Steinar]

Soap helps water penetrate some types of seals, so soap and water really isn't the same as just water.

[pfrsantos]

I think that only would happen if you let it stay on for a while. I'm carefull when washing my hands not to make much of a splash. If it happens to fall some on my watch I dry it quickly. Never had any problems, even with one with a small crack on the glass from a fall.

But yes, it's safer to take the watch off and get a good scrub, without being concerned with it. Specially if the watch is easy to take off (or difficult to take off but expensive).

[Cupboard]

It depends on how dirty my hands are and how thoroughly I'm cleaning my hands. There are many times when it's just my immediate hand that needs a wash, in which case the watch stays on. If I'm needing a more thorough scrub then the watch comes off.

It's a metal watch with a rubbery strap and whilst it was once waterproof leaks a bit now.

[AlephZero]

When I used to wear a watch, I just yanked it higher up my arm (I tender to wear the strap quite loose), but these days I just carry my old reliable Sony Ericsson Z520i in my trouser pocket, cause my smartphone has some battery life issues and feel like i need a emergency back up (found a replacement battery for the Z520i and let me tell you, that stays on standby for at least 2 weeks) 

[sawman]

My watch does not come off. I wear it all day, sleep and shower with it on. The only reason I would take it off is to change watches or if I were working around paint or certain chemicals.