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Curious if it’s a smart idea to leave your watch on while swimming? Or trying to understand what these numbers actually mean on your watch, such as 3 ATM? To answer these questions, let's dive into our guide on how to determine if your watch is truly water-resistant, ensuring it’s well protected against potential water damage.
Often watch brands use meters or atmospheres (ATM) to define the water resistance of their watches. Here's a breakdown, what your watch can stand in a nutshell:
What you should remember: the higher the rating, the more you can wear your watch during (extreme) water activities.
To immediately clear up any confusion, a watch marked with 30 meters should NOT be used to dive or even swim with at all. Watch makers are not actually referring to dept, but to the water pressure it could withstand. When a watch is marked with 30 meters, it’s equivalent to a 3 ATM waterproof watch (or in theory able to withstand water pressure of 3 BAR.
In real life, a watch marked with 30 meters / 3 ATM waterproof, is only very slightly protected from water. It can handle splashing water when washing your hands, but it is not wise to shower or let alone swim with a 3 ATM waterproof watch. Starting from 50 meters / 5 ATM, the watch can be suitable to be worn during showers or even surface swimming.
Consult your watch's manual or the brand's website for precise water resistance details. This will give you a good idea on how water resistant your watch truly is. Still in doubt? Don’t hesitate to reach out to your watch brand.
Whatever water resistance your watch is marked with... If you leave room for water to infiltrate via the case or a loose crown, it will heavily damage your beloved watch piece. So, before you take a swim, dive or even go for a shower with your watch... Make sure to always check that your case and crown are locked in tightly
Many water-resistant watches have gaskets around the crown, case back, or crystal. These gaskets create a seal to keep water out, but rubber and silicone do degrade with use and time so it’s important to inspect them for wear or damage.
To confirm your watch's water resistance (and when you’re feeling a bit adventurous), conduct a simple test: submerge your watch halfway into a glass of water for a few minutes. Check for moisture or condensation afterward, indicating potential issues.
Your beloved watch might be resistant to water, but this isn’t always the case for your watch strap. For example, a fancy soft leather strap won’t do well exposed to water and will create stains. The same goes for braided straps that can degrade faster if exposed to water frequently. But even metal straps can get rusty if not properly dried, especially braided metallic straps can be extra vulnerable. Our advice? Switch to a rubber watch strap if you know your watch will be exposed to water.
It all starts with your personal interests and (water) activities. Depending on how much you and your watch get exposed regularly to water, you could go for certain models with a higher water resistance mark. It’s all about finding a qualitative watch piece, suited for your lifestyle. Whether you love swimming, diving, or simply taking hot showers with your watch.
Did you know... At Fjordson, our watches are designed with 3 ATM and 5 ATM in mind. This ensures your Fjordson watch can handle a bit of water, just keep in mind to not dive in the deep ocean with it! But who knows... A true diver’s watch might come soon at Fjordson ;-)
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