Waterproof or Water Resistant Watch? What to Buy?

Q:What is the difference between Waterproof and Water Resistant watches? A: The amount of water pressure the watch can take. Prices differ greatly between Water Resistant or a Waterproof Watches. Which one to get depends on what you need it for.

Waterproof watches cannot take Any pressure but they're sealed enough to survive a shower.Water Resistant Watches are sealed to witstand some pressure.

Water resistance is tested under static conditions. Wearing a watch which is 50 metres water resistant in water will expose the watch to a much greater pressure than during a 50 metre static test. Therefore the number of metres shown onthe watchdoes not indicate the depth that the watch can be taken to.

Some watches show 'M' some 'ATM'- 1 ATM = 1 Atmosphere is the pressure that surrounds us on land. 10 Meters down, under water the pressure will be 2 ATM. Every additional 10 meters below water will add an other atmosphere. So on 30 Meters the pressure will be 4ATM (3 1) - Only a 200ATM Water Resistant Watch can take that amount of pressure!

Here is a general guide50M = Shower Proof - it's ok to get it wet a bit. 100M = Extended Water Exposure good for swimming or snorkeling. 200M = Pressure Resistant made for Scuba and Skin Diving

Scuba Diving Watches also have a One Way Rotating Bezel that only rotates counter clockwise. This is used to measure elapsed time underwater. -Turn the bezel until the dot is ontheBig (minute) Hand when you begin your dive and note the elapsed time upon surfacing. Must have as a back up for Dive Computers.

Q: A 100M watch is surely strong enough on a shallow dive?! A: No! It isn't because it has not been high pressure sealed. 100M watches are only good for Snorkeling! Q: What will happen if I try to dive with a watch that is less than 200M Resistant? A: The watch's seal will be broken, it will flood and break..irrepairably. Q: So which watch to buy? A: Think about what you need it for and bear in mind that Scuba Watches (200M) look really cool but tend to be very heavy, which makes them uncomfortable for everyday use.