What Exactly Is A Water Resistant Watch?

Nearly all watches designed for sports and active lifestyles have some water resistant qualities in their design.

The degree given for the water resistance is the maximum sustained water resistance under laboratory controlled circumstances. It's a good rule of thumb for measuring water resistance, but if your watch is water resistant to 50-meters that doesn't mean you can take your watch repeatedly to 49-meters underwater with no ill effects.

The resistant part of the water resistant definition means it only resists water, if you want a watch that for certain won't get water into the case, look into some of the fantastic diving watches out there like the styles that both Citizen and Seiko offer up. Those type of diving watches are more than water resistant - they are made to dive deep and they are pressurized and can only have batteries replaced and such at authorized dealers as the watch must be pressurized again once the work has been done.

A water resistant watch is going to hold up just dandy against the occasional rain storm you get caught in, snorkeling, showering, and other day to day activities and is usually a great choice if you are looking for a watch that can go pretty much everywhere.

Last word about water resistance,don't forget that the water resistance label is referencing only the case of your watch. A leather watch strap won't hold up to repeated wetting without degrading. If you're going to wear your watch when you swim, snorkel, or dive- get a watch with a steel or even better nylon or rubberized watch band.
 posted by Watches Giant