Bridlington.

Swiss-Serv

Water Resistance

· Wet Pressure Testing.

· Dry Pressure Testing.

· Vacuum Testing.

· Hot Plate Testing.

 

Forms of water resistance testing.

 Ans.  According to guidelines issued by Trade Commissions, watch manufacturers are not allowed to label their watches "water-proof." Even watches designed for deep-sea diving cannot claim to be water-proof.

 

 

Ans.  The different levels of water resistance as expressed in meters are only theoretical. They refer to the depth at which a watch will keep out water if both watch and the water are perfectly motionless. These conditions, of course, are never met in the real swimmer's or diver's world. in real life, the movement of the wearer's arm through the water increases the pressure on the watch dramatically; so it can't be worn to the depths indicated by lab testing machines.

 

 

Ans.  Watches with the lowest level of water resistance are labelled simply "water-resistant." or 3ATM They can withstand splashes of water but should not be submerged. Above that (or below it, literally speaking), the most common designations are

 

 

 

 

 

Watches in this last category can endure deep-sea diving. Their gaskets are made of materials that can withstand the helium used in decompression chambers. Some have valves that let the wearer release the helium that has seeped into the watch so the case won't explode as the watch and diver adjust to normal atmospheric conditions. Keep in mind that the depth specified on the watch dial represents the results of tests done in the lab, not in the ocean (see question 3).

 

 

Ans.  It stands for "atmosphere" and it's equal to 10 meters of water pressure. Another word for "atmosphere" is "bar," which is often used in Europe.

 

 

Ans.  No. Water resistance depends on several factors (see question 1), some of which can be affected by wear or simply by time. Gaskets can become eroded, perished or misshapen, cases dented or crystals loose or broken. That is why your watch, like your car and your teeth, need preventive maintenance.

 

 

Ans.  At least once a year. Most manufacturers say water resistance needs to be tested every time the case back is opened, because opening the case can dislodge the gaskets. This rule applies even to a simple battery change. Swiss-Serv change  gaskets whenever a watch comes in for service or battery change.

 

 

Ans.  There are basically two ways of machine-testing water resistance, referred to as "dry" and "wet" testing. In the former, the watch is subjected to air pressure and measurements taken to see whether the case deforms (defamation) as a result of air leaking into the case. If it does, the watch is not water resistant.

In one type of "wet" testing, the watch is first subjected to air pressure, then submerged in water. If air bubbles come out of the watch when it is underwater, it means air seeped into the watch before it was submerged, and it is therefore not water-resistant. In another type, the watch is placed in a small water-filled chamber which is then subjected to pressure from a piston. If water gets into the watch, it's not water resistant (this is obviously the riskiest form of water-resistance testing). A final check is Hot Plate testing which consists of placing the watch that has been wet tested on a temperature controlled hot plate, the watch allowed to heat up to a pre determined temperature and then a small drop of cold water or small ice cube placed on the glass. If the glass mists then damp atmosphere or water is present in the watch.

 

 

Ans. No. Exposing your watch to heat, whether it's in a hot tub or sauna can cause the gaskets to lose their shape and their ability to keep out water.

 

 

Ans. Some chemicals can erode the gaskets and make it vulnerable. Heavily chlorinated water can cause problems, as can spray-on perfumes and hairsprays that work their way into the watch's seams and damage the gaskets. They can also damage your watch's finish.

 We recommend rinsing your watch in fresh water after use in sea water. Failure to do so can allow a build up of salt and corrosion under the time elapse bezel and ultimately cause the bezel to lock up.

    

Page Last Revised  December 16th 2009

100 Years of Horology Over three generations.

Home

Rolex Repairs

Omega Repairs

Tag Heuer Repairs

Westar Repairs

Battery Fitting

Water Resistance

Repair Enquiries

Mailing Form

Omega Repairs

Secure Payments

Feedback

Contact us

Why aren't watches ever labelled or described in advertising as "waterproof" even if they can be worn for deep-sea diving?

My watch is labelled "water-resistant to 50 meters" but the manufacturer's instructions say I can only wear it swimming, not snorkelling or diving. Why is that?

What are the various levels of water-resistance?

I've seen the abbreviation ATM used in labelling degrees of water resistance. What does it mean?

Is water resistance permanent?

How often does water resistance need to be checked?

How is water resistance tested?

Can I wear my water resistant watch in the hot tub?

What besides extreme temperatures will jeopardize my watch's water-resistance?

Swiss-Serv have a fast efficient  pressure testing service.

See the Battery Fitting page.