Congratulations! You have finally come across a watch which is stylish, made of quality material, and fits your personality. Before you dive in (pun intended), there's one crucial detail to consider: Is your watch water resistant?
Despite the Swiss-made symbol of luxury, a great time piece can turn into a soggy mess in no time if you do not know what you are dealing with. This guide will teach you about various water resistance tests so that you get a watch that will withstand any situation that you may encounter.
Demystifying Water Resistance: Not a Diving Licence
To clarify, water resistance is not the same as being waterproof. The key difference is that a watch with WR rating is able to withstand a certain amount of pressure exerted by water. A watch with 100m WR means that it is waterproof, and you can take it diving up to a depth of 100 metres, though in a laboratory environment. Real-world conditions like the temperature of water, any abrupt twist or turn and even the type of chemical, all influence the water resistance capabilities of a watch.
Here's what water resistance ratings truly represent:
Pressure Resistance: It shows the depth of pressure they can handle which could be in metres (m), atmospheres (ATM) or bars (BAR). It measures that one atmospheric pressure is equal to approximately 10 m of water depth or that of sea level.
Decoding the Numbers: Choosing the Right Watch for Your Lifestyle
Now, let's delve into what the different water resistance ratings mean for your everyday activities:
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No Rating/3 ATM (30 metres): These watches are good for those that do not mind getting their watches wet once in a while or for occasions such as light showers. Do not wash, swim, or fully immerse them in water as the material gets easily damaged by water.
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5 ATM (50 metres): Good for hand washing and light rainfall, best for casual wear or non-routine outdoor wear in clean environments. But there are certain activities for which it is advised not to go, such as swimming and diving.
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10 ATM (100 metres): Perfect when swimming and snorkelling. It can be used in moderate water pressure situations but not too suitable for deep diving or activities that have a highly impact force from the water.
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20 ATM (200 metres) & Above: These watches can stand the harshest water activities and that is understandable why they are tagged as such. It is good for swimming, snorkelling and you can do a form of recreational diving as well, depth wise.
Important Considerations:
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Water Resistance Over Time: The gaskets and seals that make the device watertight can wear out or get damaged by chloride and salts. It is recommended that the watch is taken at least once a year to a professional watchmaker for servicing to ensure the water resistance is always maintained.
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Hot and Cold: Proof of the stress that it places on the seals and so do not change your water-resistant watch from a hot sauna to cold water pool.
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Crown and Pushers: These are some of the points that water can enter into a building. Always make sure that the crown is screwed down and do not use pushers underwater on models that have a chronological feature.
Understanding Activity Levels: Matching Your Watch to Your Needs
Now is the time your understanding of your own lifestyle becomes vital. Have you been a casual swimming person who goes swimming occasionally, maybe during the weekends? Not a leisure diver or a one-time tourist? Are you a scuba diver who goes diving often? However, people should align their watch’s water resistance with their activity level to make certain it can handle all the activities.
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Everyday Wear: If your water related activities include splashes, rain and washing hands only, a 3 ATM or 5 ATM is enough.
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Fitness Enthusiasts & Swimmers: Therefore, a 10 ATM rating is considered as a starting point for those who swim more often and sunbathe at the pool.
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Snorkeling & Recreational Diving: If anything under water, such as scuba diving is the intended use, then the 100-metre or 200-metre water resistance rating is advised.
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Serious Diving: For the professional divers it's recommended to use watches that are water resistant more than 200m. Such watches also come with bonus features like the unidirectional rotating bezel and the helium release valve.
Thus, by realising your level of activity and selecting a watch with corresponding waterproof degree, you can turn your timekeeper into a faithful companion.
Beyond the Numbers: Additional Features to Consider
While the water resistance rating is a key factor, some additional features can enhance your watch's aquatic prowess:
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Screw-down Crown: This crown provides a substantially better seal of the internal workings of the watch and therefore gives it better water resistance.
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Screw-down Caseback: Acts as another defence line for the movement of the watch.
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Uni-directional Bezel: An inner ring on a dive watch that rotates and also assists the divers to tell the time that has been spent under the water.
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Helium Escape Valve: A kind of valve that is seen only on some of the professional diver’s watches that enables the expulsion of helium gas during the decompression phase of a deep down dive.
In any case, it is recommended to read official information from the manufacturer or ask a professional watchmaker about the freshwater resistance of your watches.
Ready to find the perfect watch for your aquatic lifestyle?
Just In Time is India’s number one watch retailer with a store network over 65 stores across the nation including all the largest cities. It is home to an impressive range of timepieces from the world’s leading watch makers, for every level of activity and price. If you need more options, pay a visit to our website or one of Just In Time stores and the staff will gladly help you to choose the watch that fits your style.
