About Waterproof Watches

Waterproof watches are manufactured with seals and other components that prevent the entrance of water under certain circumstances. Because the Federal Trade Commission issued guidelines prohibiting the use of the term "waterproof" to describe watches, including deep-sea diving watches, the proper term is "water-resistant." Before purchasing a water-resistant watch, become familiar with the different levels of water resistance and the limitations of water-resistant watches to ensure you purchase a watch suitable for your purposes.

  1. Function

    • Water-resistant watches use gaskets, liquid sealants and screw-back cases to prevent water from entering the face of the watch. These watches also tolerate high levels of water pressure through the use of strong metal cases, such as steel. Water-resistant watches are most commonly used by water-sports enthusiasts and professional divers.

    Types

    • Watches advertised as water-resistant are tested at various water depths and are categorized based on their maximum depth level. Water-resistant watches intended for everyday use have a water-resistance level of under 50m. Sports watches intended for more rigorous use, such as for water sports, fishing and swimming, have water-resistance levels ranging from 50m to 200m. Diving watches have a water-resistance levels between 200m and 1,000m. Some watches designed for professional deep-sea diving have water-resistance levels of over 5,000m.

    Features

    • Water-resistant watches may be digital or analog and offer special features in addition to water resistance. Many sports watches and diver watches feature digital chronographs, which allow the watch to be used as a stopwatch. Some operate on solar power. They are often equipped with a backlight on the face of the watch for easy reading in low light. They also have water-resistant straps made of stainless steel, nylon, rubber or plastic. More fashionable water-resistant watches intended for every day use can feature gold plating and can be worn as jewelry. Some advanced deep-sea diving watches feature a helium release valve button located on the side of the watch face that is used for relieving pressure while the diver is in a helium environment. Some diver watches also have the capability to record and upload data retrieved during dives.

    Warning

    • To prevent water-resistant watches from sustaining damage and corrosion, certain activities and substances should be avoided. Prolonged exposure to salt water or chlorine corrodes the sealing hardware, namely the gaskets. Hot tubs, saunas and other environments with high temperatures can cause the gaskets to warp and expand, reducing their ability to keep water out. To maintain the integrity of the watch, owners should have the watch serviced and tested by a professional annually.

    Misconceptions

    • The water-resistance level of a watch does not necessarily represent the watch's true water resistance. This is because its water-resistance level is based on a motionless depth test. The depth level advertised on the watch does not contemplate sudden changes in depth, nor does it take into account temperature changes. Water-resistant watches can still experience water damage if the owner quickly descends underwater, or if the watch is removed from cold water into warmer air. Consumers should also note that these watches do not remain water-resistant for their entire lifetimes, as their water resistance will naturally decrease with time.