Saunas might be great for your body and soul, but they’re basically torture chambers for wristwatches. Sure, your trusty dive watch can handle 300 meters or more of ocean pressure, but throw it into a 100°C steam room, and it’ll either tap out immediately or quietly suffer damage that shortens its life. Enter the Casio Sauna Watch, a timepiece that thrives in the very environment that melts lesser gadgets.
This analog wonder isn’t just sauna-resistant; it’s sauna-approved. Designed for sauna enthusiasts who obsess over the perfect “totonou” (that blissful post-sauna state), the watch features a simple yet brilliant design. One push of a button switches between a standard clock display and a 12-minute timer, letting you monitor those all-important sauna-cold water-rest cycles without the need for foggy glasses or fumbling with your phone (which shouldn’t be in there anyway).
Casio didn’t stop at heatproofing. The watch uses a heat-resistant battery and a moisture-resistant resin case to survive high temperatures and humidity, all while keeping the lens from fogging. Its small, rounded design is a nod to the sauna’s relaxed vibe, while the band, inspired by traditional spa accessories, ensures easy wear and removal. It’s as sauna-friendly as a bucket of ladled water.
There’s also a special edition for hardcore sauna fans: the “Sauna Ikitai” model, created in collaboration with a prominent sauna search site. Sporting its logo and color scheme, it’s the watch equivalent of showing up in custom sauna merch.
The Casio Sauna Watch measures a modest 40.2 x 35.4 x 12.9 mm and weighs just 24.5 g, making it light enough to forget you’re wearing it—until it’s time to check the clock. It also boasts 5-bar water resistance, good enough to survive a dunk in your post-sauna cold plunge.
Prices? The original model comes in black or orange for 9,800 yen (around 63 USD), while the limited “Sauna Ikitai” edition is priced at 11,300 yen (about 73 USD). Both will hit the crowdfunding platform Makuake on December 2, with early-bird discounts for the first takers.
Finally, a watch that thrives in the heat without breaking a sweat—literally.
Images: Casio [JP].
