What Are Water Resistant Watches?

Water resistant watches: what are they and how do they work?

For most of us living in Australia, we’re perfectly aware that buying a water resistant watch is a good idea. On hot summer days, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is ruining their watch when they jump into the nearest pool of cold water to cool down. But do you know what water resistant actually means and how it varies from watch to watch?

In this blog post, our watch experts at Hoskings will tell you all you need to know about water resistant watches - what are they and how do they work? We’ll answer questions like “what does water resistant mean on a watch?”, “can you wear a water resistant watch in the shower?” and “can you swim with a water resistant watch”? 

What does water resistant mean on a watch?

The Oxford dictionary defines water resistant as being “able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely”. So, water resistant watches will repel water but they’re not necessarily completely waterproof.

How do we measure the water resistance of watches?

You’ve seen watches with “metre” measurements on them, right? Many people assume that means the watch will be safe to dive to that distance under water, but unfortunately that’s not the case!

We measure the water resistance of watches using a specific pressure test carried out by an expert watch repairer. This gives us a “depth rating” that’s measured in ‘metres’, ‘bar’, or ‘atmospheres’, aka “ATM”. The more the watch is proven to resist pressure, the more it’s likely to cope better under water. A high pressure resistance or depth rating means the watch can be worn deep under water and during high-impact activities like surfing. 

The lower the metres or bar/ATM rating, the lower the watch’s resistance to water. This chart below explains the water resistance of watches according to their rating.

How to tell if your watch is water resistant

The water resistance measurement of a watch can usually be found on the dial or on the back of the watch case. If you can’t see the water resistant rating on your watch, you can bring it into any Hoskings store and we can help you determine how water resistant it is. 

As a general rule, if a watch says ‘water resistant’ without any other information or obvious water resistant measurements, then it’s probably only resistant to minimal water splashes. Water resistant watches without a rating shouldn’t be worn in very humid conditions for too long or ever be submerged in water. Hoskings describes the water resistant rating in metres in our water resistant watch collection. 

How long do watches stay water resistant? 

Hoskings recommends that you re-test the water resistance of your watch at least every year. If you dive regularly or it’s exposed to harsh conditions at work or in the surf, then it’s best to have it tested even more often. This will ensure that the seal that protects the inner workings is intact and won’t allow a leak that could damage the watch functionality.

Can you shower with a water resistant watch?

Technically, most water resistant watches above 50 metres will survive a quick shower every now and then, but we’d really prefer if you didn’t wear your watch in the shower.

There are two main reasons for this:

1. Soap/shampoo might make YOU smell a whole lot nicer, but the chemical make-up of these products could make the rubber seals on your watch break down over time and allow water to leak into the watch.

2. Water resistant watches aren’t tested in high heat or variable temperatures, so you can’t be sure how well your watch will tolerate those changes of temperature. For example, hopping out of a cool pool into a hot shower could cause the metals to expand and contract and make the seal vulnerable to over-stretching. All it needs is a small gap for steam and moisture to breach the seal and compromise your watch.

Why should you choose a water resistant watch?

At Hoskings, we think water resistant watches make a whole lot of sense for everyone. Having a water resistant watch just gives you a little more peace of mind that your watch will withstand the occasional splash of water from a rain shower or enthusiastic hand washing! But there are sometimes wearing a water resistant watch is essential!

For example, this robust youth digital watch is the perfect choice for active/messy/sporty kids. And even the ones who aren’t!

For surfers, divers, sailors, and anyone else who spends a lot of time in the water, a water resistant watch is vital. A customer favourite is our Citizen Promaster Aqualand Divers watch that’s as good as any professional-grade sports watch but looks great in the office too!

And remember, water resistant doesn’t mean you can’t be glamorous. This Olivia Burton Marble & Floral London Grey watch is stunning as well as being splash resistant! 

Click to view Hoskings' full range of water resistant watches.

Can you swim with a water resistant watch?

The answer to this question really depends on the water resistant rating of your watch.

• If it says ‘3 bars/ATM or 30 meters’ on the watch, then swimming is very likely to damage your watch. Like this beautiful Skagen ‘Signatur’ watch, they’re best worn on days where you won’t be hitting the beach!

• At 50 meters you can swim, but that doesn’t include anything more strenuous like diving or water sports. This elegant Armani Exchange watch fits the brief perfectly.

• At 100 metres, swimming and snorkelling is fine. But again, we urge caution when it comes to high impact water sports or diving. The Maserati ‘Traguardo’ Multifunction watch might be ok for swimming, but we’d suggest you change the strap first as leather should not be worn in water.

• A 20 bar/ATM or 200 metres water resistant watch is great for swimming, water sports and can be used for recreational scuba diving. This Seiko Prospex Automatic diver’s watch is an excellent example of a 200 metre dive watch.

• Any watch that’s marked as DIVERS will withstand almost all water sports, including saturation diving. These guys earn their title of dive watches.

How to maintain your water resistant watch

• If you swim, sail, dive or surf a lot, we suggest that you rinse your watch with fresh water after you get out of the sea to prevent saltwater damage or corrosion of the watch case.

• Try to avoid over-exposing your watch to sandy/dirty environments. If it starts to look grimy, then bring it into Hoskings for a quick nip and tuck!

• Be mindful of protecting your watch if it’s exposed to lots of high-impact activity like mountain bike riding. More shocks should mean more regular servicing.

• Avoid wearing your watch in the shower/hot tub or anywhere it’ll be exposed to harsh chemicals, sudden changes of temperature or extreme temperatures.

• Choose a durable watch strap if you’re going to be wearing your water resistant watch every day and during strenuous activity.

• As we said earlier, we recommend you get the watch’s water resistance pressure tested after every service and/or battery changed - ideally at least annually.

We hope we’ve helped you learn more about water resistant watches - what are they & how they work. Now that you know what ‘water resistant’ means on a watch, if you can wear a water resistant watch in the shower (nope) and whether you can swim with a water resistant watch, you should know exactly which water resistant watch will suit your lifestyle the best.

Click to view Hoskings' full range of water resistant watches.

Hoskings will be happy help you arrange pressure testing of your water resistant watch. If you require further assistance, call numbers below to speak to our friendly customer service team:

VIC/ NSW/ QLD & TAS: 1800 819 796

NT/WA or SA: 08) 8981 8895

Written by: Niamh Hislop

Photo credit:
Jeremy Bishop - Unsplash
Concha Rodrigo - Unsplash
Alex Perez - Unsplash
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