How much water resistance is good for watches?
This states that a watch should have a minimum depth rating of 100 meters, which is ok for snorkeling and swimming, but for serious dives, it is best to have a watch that is water-resistant to at least 200 or 300 meters.
200M Water Resistance: Wearable around sinks, during swimming, poolside diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, but not while scuba diving. DIVER'S WATCH 200M: Wearable while scuba diving at depths not requiring helium gas.
So what do these markings actually mean? 50m - Water resistant up to 50 meters means it can withstand swimming and cold showers. Hot showers are different as hot water would allow the watch to expand and potentially allow water to get in.
| WATER RESISTANCE GUIDE | |
|---|---|
| 50m/165ft - 100m/330ft | Light poolside swimming |
| 100m/330ft - 200m/660ft | Swimming, snorkeling, showering (no hot water) |
| 200m/660ft - 500m/1650ft | Impact water sports such as board diving and scuba diving |
| 500m/1650ft+ | Appropriate for serious deep water diving. |
IP68: The Top IP Waterproof Rating
Since 8 is the highest number on the IP water rating scale, any IP enclosure with a rating ending in 8 offers the best possible waterproof protection. However, IP68 is usually acknowledged as the most protective IP waterproof rating in common use.
200 metres (20 bar/20ATM)
This is considered a rather high water resistance rating for a watch. Timepieces with a water resistance rating of up to 20 bar can be worn for swimming, high-impact waters sports and scuba diving. A watch with this rating would be perfect for avid swimmers and surfers.
3 bar = 30 metres. 10 bar = 100 metres. You should not take your watch swimming unless it says 10 bar or 100M or more in water resistance. Anything less and basically it can handle humidity, rain, or splashes of water while you're doing the dishes.
A watch stamped with "Water Resistant" means that it is humidity-protected. It can endure a bit of water splashes from washing your hands or being caught in the rain. However, water resistance does not mean you should swim or shower with your watch on. Water is the biggest enemy of a watch.
If your watch claims to be water-resistant up to 100m, you can swim with it. However, for diving activities such as scuba diving and freediving where a higher level of water-resistance is required, your watch should be able to resist up to 200m of water pressure.
If your watch claims to be water resistant to 30 meters, it actually means it's just splash resistant. It does NOT mean the watch will be fine if you bring it 30 meters below sea level.
Which watch can I wear while swimming?
- Apple Watch Series 8.
- Garmin Forerunner 945 Smartwatch.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2.
- Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch.
- Garmin Swim 2 Watch.
- Timex Ironman Classic Watch.
- ⭐ Waterproof rating.
- ⭐ Tracking.
5 BAR / 5 ATM / 50m / 165ft:
Your watch can withstand splashes, shower and is suitable for swimming.
The watch is heated, and then a cold drop of water, or ice, is placed on the crystal. If any water found its way into the case in the wet test previously, it will reveal itself as condensation on the underside of the crystal. These tests all have its place in testing water resistance.
Waterproof clothing provides complete protection from external water and moisture that may otherwise come through your clothes and make you feel wet or cold. Water-resistant clothing provides protection against outside moisture, but not full protection so you still may feel some moisture get through your clothing.
Solid resistance is rated on a scale of 0 - 6 and liquid resistance is rated on a scale from 0 - 8. IP00 or IPXX is the lowest protection on the IP rating scale and IP68 is the highest.
The term “waterproof” is for products that can withstand submersion (IPX7 or IPX8 rating). The term “water-resistant” describes earbuds that can resist splashes and sprays of water to some degree (IPX6 or lower).
Zone 0 - Inside the bath or shower. Any fittings used here must be SELV (Separated Extra Low Voltage - Max. 12V) and have a minimum rating of IPX7 (IP67) (protected against immersion in water - total immersion proof).
1 bar corresponds approximately to the air pressure on the surface of the earth or a water column of 10 meters height. 10 ATM corresponds to about 10 bar, which is approximately the pressure that prevails at a depth of 100 meters.
Never swim with your watch on!
I tell them that they need to get the watch serviced quickly to make sure that the watch does not rust. Keep in mind that fresh water is bad, but salt water is deadly to a watch movement.
Every one of Rolex's Oyster models is water resistant to at least 100m. The brand's trio of dive watches – the Submariner, the Sea-Dweller and the Deepsea improve upon that considerably, coming in at 300m, 1,220m and 3,900m respectively.
How deep is 20 bar water resistant?
100 meters/ 328 feet/ 10 bar: are often called divers watches and can be used for snorkeling, swimming, and other water sports, but not high board diving or sub aqua diving. 200 meters/ 662 feet/ 20 bar: Suitable for high impact water sports and aqua diving not requiring helium.
All Rolex wristwatches are waterproof to depths of at least 100 metres for Oyster Perpetual models, and 50 metres for the Perpetual 1908 models.
With all factors considered, a 100M rated watch, in mint condition, can safely go to 100M depth without failing (most recreational scuba diving goes to a maximum depth of around 45M). That's the factory standard.
All G-SHOCK watches are water resistant up to 200 meters (660 feet), which means they are suitable for swimming, non-professional diving, showering or swimming in the sea and not have to worry at all.
Ultimately, every timepiece has its limits. That's why today, modern luxury watches aren't described as waterproof, but rather as possessing varying degrees of water resistance. It's a subtle but important difference. Before 1960, waterproof was a far more widely used descriptor than it is today.
100 meter watches are fine to wear in surf, snorkelling and shallow diving. 200 is fine for recreational diving and active water sports. Professional diving.
Waterproof luxury watches are constructed to withstand water at a much greater level than a water-resistant watch. One that is waterproof has the ability to be completely submerged in water and some waterproof watches are also able to withstand a great level of pressure, too.
Simply put, a water-resistant luxury watches can withstand contact with for a certain amount of time or under certain conditions, while a “waterproof” watch should, in theory, be impenetrable by water. But the truth is, no watch can guarantee perpetual waterproofness.
This rating indicates a water resistance of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. Apple Watch may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or an ocean. It is also safe to wear Apple Watch while showering or in a hot tub.
Some smartwatches are water-resistant to a certain degree, which means that they can withstand splashes of water or brief exposure to water, but they are not suitable for swimming or diving. Other smartwatches are designed to be fully waterproof, and they can be worn while swimming or diving.
Can you swim with your Rolex?
All Rolex wristwatches are waterproof to depths of at least 100 metres for Oyster Perpetual models, and 50 metres for the Perpetual 1908 watch.
However, if you aren't spending long hours relaxing in a Jacuzzi or deep sea diving, then you don't need to take many precautions. Go ahead and wear your watch while in the shower or as you do your morning laps in the pool.
The 5 atm water rating on a wristwatch depicts that the timepiece can withstand water pressure up to a depth of 50 meters before it suffers water damage. The 5 bar/ atm watch can be taken swimming for brief periods of time, worn in the shower or the rain but should never be used for water sports of any kind.
Water resistance is measured at a static or motionless state. ATM or “atmospheres” is the amount of pressure a watch can withstand. 5ATM will withstand pressures equivalent to about 50 meters, or 164 ft under water. It is important to note that this is a measure of pressure NOT depth.
The term “25-metre” and “50-metre” refers to the length of the swimming pool. The width depends on the number of lanes. Olympic-sized swimming pools have 10 lanes, each with a width of 2.5 metres making them a total width of 25 metres.
No matter how hard you try, your watch will have an unfortunate encounter with water. Watches are complicated equipment and any kind of water damage can ruin their internal mechanism and their external beauty. Luxury watches and other high-end watches often are unsuspecting victims of water damage.
You can swim in your watch if it claims to be water-resistant up to 100m, but this still means that it should only be worn for snorkelling at the surface rather than diving. For diving, water-resistance should be up to 200m.
Fake Rolex watches are not going to last the multi-lifetimes that an authentic Rolex will offer. They will also not be waterproof, or not even provide any water resistance, meaning the movement, case and dial could all be compromised at the first exposure to moisture or water.
Is water resistant good enough for rain? The short answer; yes. Water resistant jackets are designed for wet-weather conditions but only drizzle to light showers. They are designed to be completely impervious but over time, the water resistant qualities start to wear and let water in causing water damage.
Examples of using Water Resistance
The air particles hit the aeroplane making it harder to move through the air. Water resistance is the same as this but with objects moving through the water. For example, if you go swimming, you have to push the water out of the way in order to move forward.
Does Water Resistant mean it can be submerged?
So, what does it mean when a watch is water resistant? To sum up today's article, it means a watch is still capable of performing well after being submerged in water.
| Rating | Water-Resistant to | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 3 ATM | 30 meters/100 feet | Everyday use. No swimming. |
| 5 ATM | 50 meters/165 feet | Short periods of swimming. No diving or snorkeling. |
| 10 ATM | 100 meters/330 feet | Swimming and snorkeling. |
| 20 ATM | 200 meters/660 feet | High-impact water sports and some diving. |
A 10 ATM watch indicates 10 atmospheres or 100 meters of water resistance, which, in real-world environments translates to casual underwater submersion. For extended water use, a screwdown crown is an important feature to look for in all 10 ATM watches.
You should not take your watch swimming unless it says 10 bar or 100M or more in water resistance. Anything less and basically it can handle humidity, rain, or splashes of water while you're doing the dishes.
You can swim in your watch if it claims to be water-resistant up to 100m, but this still means that it should only be worn for snorkelling at the surface rather than diving. For diving, water-resistance should be up to 200m.
Water-tested to 150 meters (500 feet) - These watches can be worn for general water sports, including snorkeling. The case back designation is Water Resistant 15 BAR. Water tested to 200 meters (660 feet) - These watches can be worn for general water sports, including snorkeling and skin diving (without scuba gear).
Watches with a 200M water resistance rating
This capability will withstand scuba diving and is considered good enough to be a proper dive tool. Topside, it is extremely unlikely any 200M watch will let you down in high humidity, heat, cold or during any water borne activity.
All Rolex wristwatches are waterproof to depths of at least 100 metres for Oyster Perpetual models, and 50 metres for the Perpetual 1908 watch.
100m (330ft, 10 Bar, 10 ATM)
Fine for swimming and snorkeling, but still not ideal for anything with dynamic pressure changes like high board diving or Scuba.
If your watch is water resistant to a particular depth, that will be stamped on the watch somewhere highly visible – usually the case back. 200 + meters means you can dive with the watch, but there are typically other factors built into a good dive watch.
How deep is 100M water resistance?
100 meters/ 328 feet/ 10 bar: are often called divers watches and can be used for snorkeling, swimming, and other water sports, but not high board diving or sub aqua diving.
100m water resistant watches are suitable for recreational surfing, snorkelling, sailing and other water sports but not diving.
The Seiko 5 GMT's water resistance is on par with most watches, at 100m and making it ideal for swimming. While it may be considerably lower than some high-end products in Seiko's catalog, its ability to withstand extreme temperatures sets the 5 GMT's water resistance apart.
For example, if your watch has a water resistance rating engraved on the back that says it's water resistant until 30 meters, it doesn't mean you can dive 30 meters deep with it. The water resistance rating is given by the manufacturer and is based upon 3 factors: the crown, the case back and the gaskets.
What Rolex Watches Are Not Waterproof? Only a few exceptionally old or vintage Rolex watches are not waterproof unless the watch case is damaged. There is one exception to this, which is the Rolex Cellini, which will still be waterproof but only to 50 m – not the standard 100 m that all other Oyster cases will provide.
Amongst technical divers, there are divers who participate in ultra-deep diving on scuba below 200 metres (656 ft).
3 ATM (30 meters / 100 feet) : This is the most common level of water resistance, and is found in almost any luxury watch. This level has enough protection for only accidental splashes, and everyday use such as hand washing or rain. No showering or swimming.