Unless you’re extremely careful it’s likely your watch will come into contact with water at some stage of its life. It doesn’t matter if it’s a splash of rain, from washing your hands, taking a shower or plunging into a swimming pool or even deep sea diving, your watches need some protection from the elements.
When you buy a new watch you should have some information or documentation to say if your watch is water resistant or not. Most watches will have some form of water resistance and will be suitable for every day exposure to some amount of water or rain.
Unless specified otherwise, most watches will be sealed against rain damage, swimming or deep water sports using marks indicated on the front or back of the watch.
Other measurements of water resistance include BAR (where 1 bar is the equivalent of 10 metres) and A.T.M (an abbreviation of atmosphere, where 1 A.T.M. is the equivalent of 10 metres).
It’s important to choose a watch with a minimum of 50m water resistance if you want to wear your watch whilst swimming. Choose a higher level of water resistance if you are scuba diving or deep sea diving. At this level, choosing a specific divers watch is best.
Water resistance technology applies to all types of water including household water, rain water, rivers and sea water. It also includes exposure to common liquids such as tea or coffee spills and shampoo, conditioner and bath oils.
If you notice specks of water inside your watch face, misting or fogging, or if the face has condensation or is unclear, it’s likely your water resistance seal has broken. As well as not being able to tell the time, the inner workings of your watch may have incurred some damage and it is important to get your watch repaired as soon as possible. This will ensure that your watch does not become permanently water damaged.
Remember to check the water resistance level for the activities you want to do. The higher the water resistance the more water exposure your watch can take. Choose your water resistant watches from Watches.org.uk. In particular, check out our selection of performance divers watches from top brands and leading High Street retailers.
