A watch is not only a stylish accessory, but also a practical and functional accessory that we want to rely on. When choosing a new watch, we come across the term waterproof, which is a key factor for those who want to use their watch in a variety of conditions, from casual wear to diving. But what exactly does this feature mean and how does it affect the choice of watch?
What does waterproofing a watch mean?
Water resistance refers to the watch's ability to withstand water and pressure under specific conditions. Watches with a higher water resistance rating are usually able to withstand more pressure and can be used for activities that involve water, such as swimming, diving, or even diving to great depths.
Degrees of waterproofing:
The watch is marked with a scale that indicates its water resistance. The most commonly used scales include the atmospheric measurement (ATM) or meter/depth methods. For example, a watch marked 5ATM can withstand normal rain and hand washing, while a watch marked 10ATM is suitable even while swimming.
However, it is important to note that the water resistance of a watch is not permanent and may decrease over time due to wear of seals, impacts or water ingress into the mechanism. Therefore, we recommend that you take your watch to experts from time to time, who will check it in order to ensure its optimal functionality.
What do the grades mean for your watch?
1ATM (10M) - rain
3ATM (30M) - rain, hand washing
5ATM (50M) - rain, hand wash, better protection
10ATM (100M) - rain, hand washing, high protection, + showering, swimming without jumping into water, diving max 3m below the surface
20ATM (200M) - rain, hand washing, high protection, + showering, swimming, jumping into water, diving max 8m below the surface
30ATM (300M) - rain, hand washing, high protection, + showering, swimming, jumping into water, diving max 12m below the surface
100ATM (1 000 M) - extreme types of diving such as wreck, rebreather, and altitude diving
How to use a waterproof watch properly:
- Even if the watch is marked as water resistant, it is important to follow a few precautions to keep it water resistant.
- Careful use of buttons: For watches with functions such as chronographs or date displays, it is important to seal the buttons to prevent water ingress.
- Check the seals: Regularly check the condition of the seals and have them replaced by a professional if they are damaged or worn.
- Caution in contact with chemicals: Contact with chemicals, such as aggressive cleaning agents, may damage the seal and reduce water tightness.
- Watch out for the screw-down crown: Watches with a higher water resistance of 100M and above tend to have a so-called screw-down crown. All water resistance properties are conditioned by the screw-down crown, which we recommend to always check.
- To the sauna without a watch: You can permanently damage your watch in the sauna.