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owadays we take for granted that most watches are water resistant and by that we assume that we could deep dive with them. Reality is that water resistant watches are relatively new (early XX century) and that it is not possible to dive with many of them. In fact, only some of the so-called water-resistant watches can be used for diving depending on their level of resistance to water pressure.
In fact, there are no waterproof watches, but there is always a limit to the level of water pressure a watch can withstand. In a water-resistant watch this limit is generally clearly indicated either in the dial or in the back of the case and it is expressed either in meters, feet or atmospheres. If the watch does not indicate the limit but just that it is “water resistant” then the only thing one can do with it is washing his/her hands. Conversely, the limit indicated gives a clear direction about what is possible to do or not to do with the watch.
Unfortunately, the indication of the limit is not clear and for some people it might even be misleading. The following section underlines the meaning of water resistance and what to look at in order to ensure we make the best use of our watches.
Water is the biggest enemy of a watch.
Watch movements are made of many small mechanical parts and sometimes they also include electrical parts (e.g. quartz watches). As such, watch movements should never be in contact with water or other liquids as they might create rust, short cut the electrical system and/or deteriorate the movement over time.
The watch case tends to protect the movement from external factors but not necessarily from water and liquids in general. For this reason, the first water resistant watches, were made via using a secondary water-resistant case to house and protect the traditional watch (same technique as the one still used today for some photo cameras). Only in a second stage the watchmakers started developing real water-resistant watches. Those were made of materials resistant to water (e.g. stainless steel) and sealed hermetically via leveraging new elements like the o-rings/gaskets generally made of rubber, silicon or teflon. Needless to say, if the watch has a leather strap also that one might suffer from water contact.
Different levels of water resistance.
As mentioned, the simple descriptor “water resistant” is not a guarantee. This mark only indicates that you might keep the watch while washing your hands. In order to use the watch in other occasions that foresee the contact with water it is paramount to understand the level of resistance to water pressure. This last is generally measured in “meters”, “feet” and/or “atmospheres” (indicated as “atm”). It is very important to underline that the measures in “meters” and “feet” do NOT denote the water depth to which a watch can be worn. Those, in fact, refer to the height of a column of water that would generate a specific water static pressure on the watch – for example 1 atm is equal to about 10 meters. However, when worn, the watch is subject not only to static but also to dynamic water pressure.
The resistance to water pressure is measured accordingly to some international standards (e.g. ISO 2281, ISO 6425) and watches are generally grouped in five / six classes depending on their degree of water resistance: water resistant / 3 atm, 5 atm, 10 atm, 20 atm, diver’s watches and diver’s watches for mixed-gas diving. Depending on the class, the watch might be used for different water activities as described in the following table.
Hence, if you are looking for a diver companion, then explicitly ask for either a diver watch or look for at least a 300m / 1000ft water resistant watch.
Maintenance is important
The water resistance of a watch is mostly guaranteed by elements like the gasket/o-ring. Those elements, unfortunately, might deteriorate over time and with contact with certain chemicals like chlorine and perfumes. As a consequence, the resistance to water pressure of the watch might be impacted and for this reason it is a good habit to i) wash the watch with fresh water after use in swimming pools and/or sea ii) avoid spraying perfumes or contact with other chemicals on the watch and iii) regularly change the gaskets/o-rings. If you by accident use your watch in a not appropriate way, then try to warm up the back case so that water can move away from the delicate movement and bring it to your watch store. They will open, dry and clean and repair it from any damage if possible.
As a general rule of thumb, the most classic watches as well as the most affordable ones tend to be 3-5 atm water resistant; the divers’ watches are obviously 20+ atm and the watches that are meant for multiple occasions/lifestyles reside in the 10 atm class.
CHAPTER I
Black Watches
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