gold bracelet watch

Watches and Water Resistance

By Ken Hood

There is much confusion and not a few myths surrounding the topic of water resistance in watches. The purpose of this article is to bring clarity to this subject for the sake of consumer education.

Several features contribute to the water resistance of a watch. First is the gaskets, or 0 rings. These are made of rubber, nylon or teflon. They form the watertight seals at the joints where the crystal, case back and crown meet the case. Chronographs also have gaskets at the pushers.

Further, water resistant watch cases are sealed with a quick hardening liquid.

The material of the case and its thickness are also large factors which help to determine how well a watch can safely withstand underwater pressure. Generally, to be sturdy enough, the case must be made of steel or titanium or a gold plated steel case. Solid gold cases can be water resistant, too, if there is sufficient thickness.

A screw down case back is more water resistant than one which simply pushes or snaps in. A feature of many divers' watches, the screw in crown, helps to prevent the watch-stem hole from leaking water into the case. When screwed down a water tight seal is formed.

Always bear in mind that the various levels of water resistance are strictly theoretical. These rating, expressed in meters, refer to the depth at which a watch will keep out water if both the watch and the water are motionless. Naturally, such conditions cannot be met outside lab testing machines. In the real world, just the movement of one's arm through the water dramatically increases pressure on the watch.

Am I saying that there is no such thing as water resistance for watches and it's all just a big con game? No, but it is best to follow the guidelines below, which are suggested by most responsible watch manufacturers at the indicated ratings:

30 meters/100 ft.: Should not be worn for swimming or diving, but will will withstand splashes of water or rain

50 meters/165 ft.: Suitable for swimming in shallow water

100 meters/330 ft.: Suitable for swimming and snorkeling

150 meters/500 ft.: Suitable for snorkeling

200 meters/660 ft.: Suitable for skin diving

Diver's 150 meters/500 ft.: Meets ISO standards and is suitable for scuba diving

Diver's 200 meters/660 ft.: Meets ISO standards and is suitable for scuba diving

Obviously, it is not recommended to swim or dive while wearing your watch unless it has at least a screw down crown and a rating of at least 100 meters.

Caring for your water resistant watch cannot be overlooked, either. You should never wear it in a sauna, a hot tub or even a hot shower. The extreme heat causes the metal parts and rubber gaskets to expand at different rates, creating small openings through which water may penetrate. As with the human body, a sudden temperature change is particularly harsh. So, if you chance to wear your watch in something like a hot tub, be careful not to dive into a cold pool after.

Salt is corrosive. Therefore, after swimming in salt water, immediately rinse the watch in flowing fresh water. Also, if the watch has a rotating bezel, turn the bezel several times while rinsing to prevent salt buildup and corrosion of the bezel ring.

Heavily chlorinated water can damage your watch as can some chemicals. Spray-on perfumes and hairsprays can work into the seams and damage the gaskets. The watch's finish can be marred in the same way.

There are water resistant leather straps,too, but in general leather straps do not fare as well if frequently exposed to water. A metal bracelet or a rubber or nylon diver strap is recommended.