I decided to treat myself to a new pair of gloves and popped into the Ambleside Alpkit store, I found a pair that fitted well. At the checkout I was told they were on sale too, so I got a bit of cash off.
They were Pola gloves and were described on the packaging as waterproof. When I got home I looked on Alpkit's own website and saw that a buyer had left some negative feedback, so I decided to test the gloves by immersing them, fingers first, into some clean cold water in the sink.
Within two seconds my fingers in the right glove were wet at the tips, and the left glove started letting in water a mere two seconds later but at the base of the fingers/palm area.
Not only that, when I took the gloves off the water had spread by capillary action in the lining so that both gloves were sodden up to the wrist. This after a total of four seconds immersion.
I was not very happy and took the gloves back to the shop, to be fair they gave me a full refund, they offered a replacement set but I declined. I was asked what I had been doing with them, maybe to see if I had broken the terms of their guarantee, but I was honest and told them about the test.
The most annoying part is that I find it difficult to get gloves that fit me, either the fingers are too long, too short, or too tight. Going a size larger means a lot of excess material flopping about. (I've got Sealskinz which are waterproof but they are tight and I can't wear them in winter as they restrict circulation.)
I'm not asking for recommendations for gloves, as it's a personal thing and I'll keep up the search, but it's worth questioning claims for gear advertised by manufacturers.
Here is a quote from the website with the description of the Pola gloves:
"Our softest and most dexterous waterproof insulated gloves for protection from the cold, wind and rain when hiking and hillwalking; lightweight and ideal for autumn, winter and spring."
(Italics are mine.)