Water-resistance refers to how much pressure a watch can withstand as you go further down into the sea. Pressure refers to the amount of force exerted per unit area. Since a watch’s area is fixed, as the force exerted on it increases, so does the pressure. The deeper you go into the sea, the greater the force of the water on your watch.
If you plan to go on a deep-sea dive, read on to find out how to tell and which watches can survive the trip.
Water-Resistance
All watches are not equally water-resistant. They come with a bar- or ATM-tolerance (atmospheric pressure measurement). 1 bar or ATM refers to a depth of about 33 feet under the water (or 6.6 kilograms per square inch). However, this shouldn’t be interpreted literally. These ranges are determined in a lab, but pressure, and tolerance to it, can change in different circumstances. For example, when anything suddenly dives into water, there’s a rapid change in pressure.
The water-resistance numbers on a watch can be extremely deceptive. For example, if your water says it’s resistant up to 30 meters, that means it can only tolerate splashes of water, not a 30-meter dive. Diver watches are ISO-regulated. If you’re looking for a diver’s watch, you should look for a watch that has “ISO-6425” or “Diver’s” written on the watch or case.
Seiko SKX007
This is probably the most affordable, ISO-certified watch you can find in the market. It’s tested for up to 200 meters (or 656 feet) and costs about $300, since it’s been discontinued. It’s also generally a great watch to wear, with a legible dial and snugly fit bezel.
Longines Legend Diver Black
Part of Longines’ heritage collection, the Legend Diver synthesizes its modern black PVD coating with the classic aesthetic of an inner bezel. Even if you don’t plan to go diving, this is a sturdy and eye-catching watch to wear wherever you go. However, if you’re diving, the watch is water-resistant up to 30 bar (300 meters). It’s a jack of all trades, except diving; it’s a king in that department.
Rolex Submariner
The Submariner is like the Star Wars of watches, in that it’s inspired almost every sports watc
h since its inception in 1953. The first model was the first watch that was water-resistant up to a depth of 100 meters. The current Submariner is certified for depths of 300 meters. Despite not subjecting their watches to ISO testing, the Submariner has been a favorite among divers for decades. Their experience reflects the quality of the watch.
Despite the durability of these watches, they’re not indestructable. Hitting a part of your watch on something sharp can damage it, since that could involve more pressure. Whatever the reason, the last thing you want to do is take your high-quality watches to a swindling repairer. Instead, contact Fast Fix Jewelry and Watch Repairs for fast and professional watch repairs in Irvine, California. We’ll have your watch ready for your next swimming adventure in no time.