What does water resistance mean for a luxury watch?
What does water resistance mean for a luxury watch?
Ever wondered how important water-resistant ratings are to a watch? Take a read of this article…
It’s a great thing that we have so many genres of luxury watches to explore across both the new and pre-owned markets. Many of our watch collections are home to a mix of different styles, designs and functions depending on our line of work, our hobbies or our general interests in watches. For example, the classic style of the pilot’s watch is very different to a rugged diver’s watch, just like a field watch looks and feels a lot different to a smartwatch. Watch collecting is, after all, a very personal thing and we need them for all sorts of different reasons. But one thing requires a serious amount of attention if you’re planning to take your watch near water. The water-resistant rating of a watch. In this article, we’ll run through why you might need a water-resistant watch and what a rating tells you about where you can go and what you can do with it.
Water can kill a watch
It doesn’t matter whether you own a quartz watch, a mechanical watch, a smartwatch or a solar-powered one – water can kill a watch. When it seeps through the small seams of a watch’s case, it creates humid conditions that are ripe for corrosion. It’s this corrosive environment that can wreak havoc with the small parts of an intricately crafted timepiece. Clearly, the more money you spend on a watch, the more you need to ensure its water-resistant capability is apt for what you plan to wear it for.
What you may not have realised with water damage to a watch, is that when the first signs of moisture show in a timepiece, it’s time to get it seen by a specialist straight away. It’s often an area of watch care that we put off until it’s too late. The first signs of damage could be noticed as condensation or clouding of the crystal to start with. Once immediate attention is sought, a professional watch repair centre like Charles Martin Watch Company can take the elements of the watch apart and dry them out. When these areas have been addressed, the watch can be put back together.
Of course, if we’re talking about a designer watch (maybe even some entry-level watches) you may want to consider whether the work is cost-effective. But in most cases, especially luxury watches, maintaining the condition of your special timepiece is far more cost-effective than investing in a new one and swearing to take care of it much better than your last! But what is water resistance? And what does it mean for your watch?
What is water resistance?
The water-resistant rating of a watch will tell you how well its case can deal with exposure to moisture, as well as dirt and humidity. It is usually displayed in the specification list of a watch in bars, feet, metres, or atmospheres. If you see a watch listed as having “x” amount of bars it will be displayed in the format of one singular number. If you see a watch’s water resistance listed in atmospheres, it will be displayed with the ATM reference beside it. Likewise, meters are displayed as “M” and feet are presented as “Feet” or “Ft”.
Water resistance suitability
So how do you know how far you can go with a water-resistant watch without risking damage to your special timepiece? Well, it’s actually a common misconception that the water-resistant rating on the back of a case is the actual depth of water you can venture down to. For example, you may think that a watch stating a 30-meter water resistance means that it can be worn underwater to 30-meter depths. That’s simply not the case. In fact, the meters stated on the back of the watch refer to static pressure. This static pressure test is carried out on a watch in the laboratory before it is ready to be sold in stores anywhere. The ISO 2281 standards is set out by the International Organisation of Standards and refers to the testing methods, the designation, and the making of water-resistant watches, while the ISO 6425 refers to the standards for a dive watch. Either way, ISO-standardised watches are a good way to tell that a watch will adhere to the limits its case markings suggest.
Many luxury watches in the industry will simply not state that they are waterproof. This is because no watch can ever be 100% waterproof. Under sufficient pressure, any watch can leak, that’s why it is extra important to adhere to the recommendations of the brand to avoid any unwanted harm coming to your watch.
Breaking down what the metres mean
30-meter water resistance
If a watch is to be considered water-resistant in any way, it must have at least a 30-meter rating. It means that you don’t need to worry about getting caught in the rain or splashes of water from washing your hands. The one thing to remember about watches measuring a water-resistant rating of just 30 meters is that they are not suitable for submersion underwater. Watches with this level of resistance are one of the most common. Generally speaking, luxury watches that cost a bit more tend to have a 100-meter water-resistant rating, unless they are highly advanced complication watches crafted intricately from precious metals like solid gold.
50-meter water resistance
Some watches are suitable for gentle and short submersion underwater. These are the watches with a 50-meter water-resistant rating. It’s generally okay to go for a brief swim in the pool with a 50-meter water-resistant watch strapped to your wrist but you wouldn’t want to keep the watch underwater for too long. It’s also inadvisable to go into a jacuzzi with a watch of this water resistance, mainly due to the water pressure and heat. It’s important to remember that when considering water-resistant ratings on watches, it’s not just about water but also about moisture and changes in pressure. Therefore, you should avoid diving into pools and partaking in water sports with a timepiece rated at 50 meters.
100-meter water resistance
When you get to the 100-meter water-resistant category, your options open up a little. Now you get to play water sports, enjoy surfing, boat trips and snorkelling with a 100-meter water-resistant watch. Even so, you should still avoid diving with a watch stating a 100-meter water resistance, as well as activities that may shock your watch and cause unnecessary impact to the case.
200-meter water resistance
If you own a watch with a 200-meter water resistance, you’ve probably picked it for a reason. It could be that you plan to partake in professional marine activities or serious water sports. Either is suitable for this type of watch. You can also use these watches for diving. The very least water resistance needed for a timepiece to be classed as a dive watch is 200 meters, yet other factors define a dive watch too.
300-meter water resistance
A watch with a 300-meter water resistant rating is suitable for high impact water sports, diving and everything in between, including scuba diving.
600-1000-meter water resistance
Most watches that are above 600-meter water resistance are designed for a very specific wearer. That said, you don’t have to have big, daring plans for your dive watch. While some purchase a watch with a high water-resistant rating because they professionally dive or frequently take to the ocean, others may just love a particular design of a dive watch. Even with a rating so high, you should still avoid leaving your watch in humid conditions for long periods, as this can permeate the case of a watch and gradually seep in to affect the more delicate parts of a movement.
About dive watches
Ever wondered what makes a dive watch? That’s a whole other article, but for quickness, some key points define a dive watch which you may want to be aware of if you’re looking to buy your first one. Dive watches should;
· Be compliant with ISO 6425 standards
· Be at least 200-meter water-resistant
· Be legible with a dial enhanced with Super-LumiNova hands and visible hour markers
· Feature a robust case and a strong glass front
· Have a measuring feature to gauge time underwater such as a unidirectional rotating bezel
· Have a durable strap, preferably with a folding clasp for a secure fit
· Be resistant to saltwater
· Be magnetic-resistant
· Be shock-resistant
Some great dive watch options
If you’re in the market for a dive watch, we have some great offers here waiting to be snapped up. We’ve picked three of our favourites, but don’t forget, you can always call us on 01889 560002 for more information on any model you see in our online store.
Breitling Superocean watch reference A17360
The reference A17360 is a fantastic dive watch with plenty of character that symbolises Breitling’s dive watch heritage. The model was in production from 2003 right up until 2010 and is widely recognised for its zesty orange dial – a colour chosen by many dive watch experts for its ability to stand out against the darkness of the ocean. The Breitling Superocean is a 42mm stainless steel model with a 15mm depth. It also features a ratcheted unidirectional rotating bezel in steel with an engraved dive scale for effortlessly measuring time underwater. Its Super-LumiNova-coated Arabic numeral hour track and an inner 24-hour scale complete this practical dive tool, along with its three-link stainless steel bracelet that has been brought up to an exceptional quality by our highly skilled in-house team.
TUDOR Black Bay Bronze watch reference 79250BM
Not just known for its strong connection to Rolex, TUDOR is much more than that. The brand created the iconic Black Bay watch back in 2012 and since then, the collection has grown and grown with so many different iterations added. The first model was an incarnation of the brand’s first dive watch from the 1950s. Its legible black dial and easy-grip bezel are just a few examples of its most desirable features. One variation of the Black Bay is the Bronze model, inspired by the brand’s naval history. This retro timepiece began production in 2016 and measured a confident 43mm. The brown colour of the dial and bezel perfectly ties in the tones of the bronze-coloured case – a popular material for dive watches. We should note here that while the advantage of a bronze case in a dive watch is its ability to develop a patina over time, adding to its character, this model is crafted from stainless steel and instead conveys its rich bronze tones through a PVD-coated finish. The advantage of this is that you don’t get any undesirable discolouration of the skin caused by the bronze case sitting for hours against the wrist.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M GMT Good Planet watch reference 231.92.43.22.04.001
The Omega Seamaster watch collection is a diverse one. The Aqua Terra 150 in particular, doubles up as a robust daily-beater, so it’s a win-win option. Thanks to its modern Master Co-Axial calibre, the watch is resistant to strong magnetic fields and cleverly combines the robustness of a dive tool with the elegance of a dress watch. The Seamaster Aqua Tera 150 GMT Good Planet watch is a perfect example of a great Omega dive watch with its clean white dial and 150-meter water-resistant rating. The watch features trapezoid hour markers trimmed in a deep blue to match the central hands, as well as a triangular GMT hand that points to an inner 24-hour scale. A date window is also supplied at the south of the dial. The 43mm model is a superb alternative to the conventional steel dive watch, with its grade 5 titanium case and a blue-coated nylon fabric strap.
We hope you enjoyed learning about water-resistant ratings and what they mean for your watch. If you’d like to enquire about the water-resistant capability of any of the watches you’ve seen here online at Charles Martin Watch Company, you can contact our service line today on 01889 560002.