How waterproof should a watch be?
Water-resistant to 100 meters (330 feet): Watches with this rating are suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Water-resistant to 150 meters (500 feet): Watches with this rating are suitable for snorkeling. Water-resistant to 200 meters (660 feet): Watches with this rating are suitable for skin diving.
| Rating | Water-Resistant to | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Diver | 150-200 meters/500-660 feet | Scuba diving. |
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.
Do not shower or swim with your watch unless it is rated 100m/330ft and has a screw-down crown. Never open, wind or operate the crown while in water. Never press the buttons of a chronograph watch while in water, unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer.
Such watches rated 50m can withstand showers ,washing and swimming pool level swimming, definitely not meant for scuba diving.
For example, a jacket with a label showing 20,000 / 15,000 has a waterproof rating of 20k (an excellent rating) and a breathability rating of 15k (which is also extremely good). An item of ski clothing with a 8,000 / 5,000 rating won't keep you dry for long.
5,000mm or 5 metres (16.4 ft) is how far you could fill the tube before it would start to leak through the fabric. So in theory, you could stand out in the rain until 5,000mm of rain fell before you would start getting wet.
The truth is that no watch is waterproof. There is always a limit to how much water pressure a watch can handle. The term "waterproof" implies that a watch can't leak under any circumstance—that no moisture will permeate the case and get into the movement. However, under certain circumstances anything can leak.
100M Water Resistance: Wearable around sinks, during swimming, poolside diving, snorkeling, but not while jet-skiing or scuba diving. 200M Water Resistance: Wearable around sinks, during swimming, poolside diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, but not while scuba diving.
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.
Is it OK to swim with 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.
“Can I wear Rolex in the pool?” / “Can I wear Rolex in the shower?” / “Can you wear a Rolex in the ocean?” / “How deep can I dive with a Rolex?” All Rolex Oyster Perpetual wristwatches are waterproof to depths of at least 100 metres. The Perpetual 1908 is waterproof to a depth of 50 metres.
In case of doubt, don't take any risk or chances: do not wear your watch in the shower. You never know if your gaskets and seals are still in good conditions, how the crown and pushers have evolved over time or if the water rating is actually real (especially for cheap and fashion watch brands).
A water-resistance level of 30 meters means the watch can withstand splashes of water. A level of 50 meters means that it can be worn for swimming in shallow depths. A level of 100 meters means it can be worn snorkeling and a level of 200 meters or more means it can be worn scuba diving.
A watch labeled at 30 meters is merely water-resistant enough to handle standard handwashing, the occasional rain shower, or puddle splashing while riding your bike. It is not resistant enough to handle swimming, diving, or even showering and bathing.
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.
IP68: The Top IP Waterproof Rating
Technically, the first digit doesn't matter if we're only discussing waterproofing. 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.
Waterproofness, windproofness and breathability. Every product in the original GORE‑TEX products range is waterproof, windproof, and breathable and many come with additional benefits.
The higher the water column a fabric can hold off, the more waterproof the fabric is. Water resistant and waterproof fabrics are usually rated from 2,000 mm to 30,000 mm, also abbreviated to 30K. The performance difference between a 2K water resistant fabric and a 30K waterproof fabric is substantial.
Gore-Tex®, for example, has a waterproof rating of 28,000mm.
How many mm is fully waterproof?
| Waterproof Rating (mm) | Water Resistance Provided |
|---|---|
| 0-5,000 mm | No resistance to some resistance to moisture. |
| 6,000-10,000 mm | Rainproof and waterproof under light pressure. |
| 11,000-15,000 mm | Rainproof and waterproof except under high pressure. |
| 16,000-20,000 mm | Rainproof and waterproof under high pressure. |
The most sustainable GORE-TEX alternative fabric is waxed cotton. Waxed cotton is exactly like it sounds: wax (typically beeswax or linseed) is applied to cotton, giving the cloth a hydrophobic coating.
The Most Important Thing to Understand About Watch Prices
Buying a cheap watch should only be an option when you are on a tight budget and just need a watch for the time being. If you want a watch that will stand the test of time, you should go for those that are slightly on the expensive side.
Each square inch of the GORE‑TEX membrane has nine billion pores. Each of these tiny holes is 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. This is what makes the membrane in everything in the original GORE-TEX products range waterproof: rain and snow simply cannot get in.
All Rolex wristwatches are 'waterproof' to depths of at least 100 metres for Oyster Perpetual models, and 50 metres for the Cellini model. Some Oyster watches can withstand depths of 1,220 or even 3,900 metres.
Yes, you can wear a G-SHOCK watch in a pool as they are designed to be water-resistant and can withstand exposure to water, including swimming. We do however advise that after swimming in the sea (salt water) that the watch is rinsed under warm soapy water to remove any excess salt from the sea.
20-bar water resistance
You can wear your G-SHOCK in all sorts of situations, from working with water in daily life and taking a shower to participating in water activities such as swimming, surfing or jet skiing.
Water Resist 20BAR or W.R. 20BAR, dial marked with WR200
This watch is designed to withstand water pressure up to 666 feet (200 meters). This includes all exposure to water up to and including recreational SCUBA diving.
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.
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.
What watch can go the deepest?
CX Swiss Military Watch 6,000m (20,000 Feet) The CX Swiss Military dive watch currently holds the world record as the only mechanical dive watch that is certified water resistant to a depth of 20,000 Feet. Emphasis on mechanical since other deep dive watches are certified to go deeper but they are oil filled quartz…
So it's safe to say that your Rolex watch is not a particularly delicate item. It can withstand the daily wear & tear.
Innovation in Materials Make Rolex Expensive.
Rolex actually had to replace all of their production facility to cope with machining the new material as it is notoriously difficult to machine. This 904L alloy is exclusive to Rolex no other watch brands use this grade when making their watches.
For Rolex watches that do not have waterproof Oyster cases or screw-down winding crowns, you are going to want to keep them away from water and other cleaning solutions to ensure that your watch does not experience any moisture intrusion.
A Great Eye for Detail – There is a reason many of the world's most detail-oriented men and women sport Rolex. One has to look no further than the fact that Rolex is officially worn by the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Placido Domingo, Tiger Woods, US Presidents, and others who have made amazing contributions to the world.
That being said, it is all right to wear your Rolex into the water with you, weather it's a chlorinated pool, hot tub or salty ocean. Your Swiss masterpiece is built like a tank, and the general rule of thumb is; whatever you can handle your Rolex can handle as well.
All you have to do after diving or a day at the beach is simply to rinse your watch with fresh water to remove any salt and sand deposits: wearing your watch while showering at the end of the day should do the trick. The Oyster case of your Rolex protects it from water and makes it completely dustproof and waterproof.
You should never wear your Rolex in the shower, bathtub, or hot tub. This is because extreme changes in ... No, you should never wear your watch in the shower. The combination of hot water and soap or shampoo will degrade the rubber gaskets that keep your watch's water resistance over time.
Depending on the water temperature, it is recommended that the watch be removed for these types of activities, such as wearing it in a hot tub. For example, heating the watch to elevated temperatures can also lead to increased failure and expand the water seals.
At The North Face®, when we say a fabric is waterproof we mean it's impervious to water. We test our waterproof fabrics in lab conditions to ensure the fabric can withstand a given amount of water. Once the fabric passes that test, it can be called 100% waterproof.
How good is 2000mm waterproof?
If a garment is 2,000mm waterproof this means the fabric can withstand 2,000mm of water over a day before water will start to penetrate through. The minimum standard for a jacket to be waterproof is 1,500mm so a jacket with a waterproof rating of 2,000mm would be suitable for moderate rain.
Apple's iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups feature the best water resistance rating on an iPhone to date with an IP68 rating. This means that the devices can withstand water up to a depth of six meters (19.7 feet) for up to 30 minutes.
Swimming is considered safe for watches with at least 100 meters of water resistance. And yet we are sold (and we buy) watches with up to 1000 meters of water resistance. Being 1000 meters below the surface isn't something we're trained for, even if our watches are.
20 BAR / 20 ATM / 200m / 660ft:
Your watch is suitable for swimming, high-impact water sports and scuba diving.
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.
Many customers ask us if their watch is waterproof. The short answer is no, it is not. Watches can be water-resistant which will generally mean that they have a mark indicating the degree of water-resistance to which they have been tested (this mark is usually BAR, ATM, meters, feet or a combination of these).
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.
Over time, and after repeated exposure to water, the gaskets will begin to dry out and lose their elasticity, which is when the water-resistance will begin to decrease - this is why regular testing is crucial to your watch maintenance, as gaskets can be checked and replaced easily before the damage is done.
10,000mm - Rainproof and Waterproof under light pressure (Light rain, average snow, light pressure.) 15,000mm - Rainproof and Waterproof except under high pressure (Moderate rain, average snow, light pressure.)
A rating of 5,000mm to 10,000mm is suitable for just about all weather conditions but equally at home in lesser ones, great for a Sunday stroll or a serious trek in bad conditions. These higher rated jackets will also be breathable.
What does 10atm mean on a watch?
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.
Waterproof ratings are measured in millimetres (mm) and usually fall anywhere from 800mm to 10,000 mm. These figures indicate the amount of water pressure a fabric can withstand. That means a tent with a 2,000mm rating will endure a 2,000mm or two metre column of water bearing down on it before it starts to leak.
ARE ALL GORE‑TEX PRODUCTS WATERPROOF? No, only GORE‑TEX products - those with a black diamond come with our GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise. If a product has this hangtag or label then it was designed, tested, and developed to be durably waterproof, totally windproof, and breathable.
These provide varying degrees of waterproof reliability but none offer the unique properties of GORE-TEX. You may get 100% protection with a standard vinyl waterproof, but with GORE-TEX you get something that is much more geared towards practicality and an active lifestyle.
10,000mm – 15,000mm: A waterproof garment in this range will withstand most downpours as well as heavy snow, but will soak through over time if subjected to pressure, such as crashing in wet snow, kneeling or sitting down, or a heavy pack.
General water resistant watches should not be used underwater. 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.
10 ATM = waterproof: suitable for surface swimming and snorkeling, not scuba diving. 20 ATM = special waterproof: suitable for scuba diving. However, the watch should not be used at depths where mixed gases such as helium are used. 30 ATM = special waterproof: suitable for deep diving and professional diving use.
10 bar ≈ 10 ATM (≈ 100 m)
The watch is suitable for daily use and can be worn for example when washing hands, in the rain, taking a shower or washing the car. The watch can also be used for light water sports such as swimming or snorkeling.
25,000mm is when you start to get into that more 'black and white' level of waterproofing, ie. if it's above 25k, then it's never going to let water in. Gore-Tex offers a dryness guarantee, and it's rated at 28,000mm, for reference!
3000mm – 5000mm waterproof jackets
At the low end of the waterproofing range, these jackets can protect you against drizzles and light rain. They're suitable for casual use and short trips through the rain. Typically, these will be lightweight and packable jackets or light hoodies.
Is 1000 mm waterproof good?
<1000mm means it's water resistant, not waterproof, and fine for temporary use in light rain. 1000mm~1500mm is a good range for lightweight gear that's waterproof, and with good maintenance it can hold up for long-term use. 1500mm~5000mm is for use in moderate rain for an extended time and it will keep you dry.