There is no such thing as a waterproof watch — in fact it is
no longer a legal term in the USA. That is because as water becomes
deeper, so the pressure rises; go deep enough and anything will begin to
leak. Instead, a watch will be rated in terms of its "water resistance",
which is a measure of the seals' resistance to the ingress of
water, not
their ability to withstand a particular pressure.
Typically, water pressure is measured in atmospheres — ATM or
BAR — and this does have some correlation to depth because one
atmosphere is the equivalent pressure to that exerted by a column of
water ten meters in depth. This is also a source of some confusion
however because manufacturers often say that a watch is water resistant
and provide an accompanying depth or pressure rating. This should not,
however, be taken to mean that the watch can safely be used for diving
or swimming in water of that depth. Below is table showing how a water
resistant watch should be expected to perform.
| Markings | Safe uses |
| Water resistant with no indication of
depth. | The watch has been designed to resist just
accidental splashes with water. Such a watch should NEVER be
immersed in water. |
| Water resistant with a depth indication of 3
ATM/BAR or 30 meters. | The watch has been designed to
resists splashes of water. Therefore, it may safely be worn
whilst taking a wash or in a shower of rain. However, such a
watch should NEVER be immersed in water or worn whilst
swimming, diving or participating in any water sport. |
| Water resistant with a depth indication of 5 ATM/BAR or fifty
meters. | The watch has been designed so that it can be safely
worn in the shower, whilst washing the car or swimming in shallow water.
It should not be worn whilst participating in any water sport such as
diving, water skiing, snorkelling, etc. |
| Water resistant with a depth indication 10 ATM/BAR or one
hundred meters. | The watch can safely be worn whilst
participating in water sports such as swimming, skin diving or
snorkelling. However, the watch CANNOT safely be worn whilst scuba
diving. |
| Water resistant with a depth indication of 20 ATM/BAR or two
hundred meters. | The watch will meet all of the required ISO
standards and can safely be used whilst scuba diving. |
How to Care For a Water Resistant Watch
- Do not expose the watch to high temperatures; for example, never
wear
the watch whilst taking a hot shower, sauna or hot bath. The heat will
cause the metal parts to expand at a different rate to the rubber seals.
This will create small openings that can allow water droplets to enter
the watch. Furthermore, try to avoid subjecting the watch to sudden
changes in temperature.
- Rinse the watch in fresh water immediately after swimming or diving
in salt water. Furthermore, if your watch has a rotating bezel, take
extra care to prevent salt build-up by turning the bezel several times
whilst rinsing the watch. Finally, dry the watch carefully with a soft
cloth.
- Keep the crown pushed in. If your watch has a screw crown, ensure it
is screwed snugly into place. Failure to do so will allow water to
penetrate into the case. Dirt can build up between the case and the
crown preventing it from closing fully. Therefore, it is wise to
occasionally turn the crown in its normal or idle position to clear and
build up.
- NEVER operate any of the buttons or the crown whilst the watch is
wet or under water. Doing so will compromise the integrity of the watch
and allow water to penetrate into the case.
- Keep the watch away from chemicals and protect it against knocks or
shocks.
- There will always be some moisture inside a watch. If the outside
temperature is low then the glass may cloud over. If the clouding clears
quickly then it is not a problem, if it persists the watch should
checked and serviced as soon as possible.
- A watches glass may have a crack that is invisible to the naked eye.
It is wise, therefore, to have it checked every two or three years.
Likewise, the seals are subject to wear and tear and they should also be
checked or replaced similarly.
|
