How Do Water-Resistant Watches Work?
Right now, everyone expects them to be Water-Resistant watches. But have you ever thought about what it means for watches to be water-resistant? There may be watches in the same collection that can’t handle even a tiny splash of water and others that can handle water up to 30 meters deep. The question is whether or not water resistance is as easy as it sounds. Could a watch with 30 ATMs last 30 meters underwater? Let us find out!
What Does “Water-Resistant Watches” Mean?
Labels that say something is Water-Resistant watches are everywhere. Between 5 and 50 ATMs are usually present. Water resistance tells you how well a watch can handle getting wet. It can be anything from a measurement with no room for error to one that lets the item be fully submerged.
When reading about a watch, it’s essential to remember that the water resistance section only gives you a general idea of how well the watch will handle water. You should pay less attention to this rating because it’s not as exact as it might seem. A static pressure test must be done on a watch in a science lab before it can be given a water resistance rating. This shows you a rough idea of how much water is safe.
Terminology
There are three main ways to measure how resistant something is to water. This can be hard to understand initially, but we’re here to make it all easier. To begin, many watches are said to have a certain amount of ATM. This is the watch’s operating pressure, which tells us how much stress it can handle.
Many people used ATMs in places like Germany and Austria, but in 1977, bars took their place. It is equal to about 1.01325 bars. One atmosphere is equal to one atmosphere at sea level. Second, the bar is a metric way to measure pressure. Just below the earth’s surface pressure at sea level is one bar.
To wrap up, we sometimes talk about water resistance in meters. This may be the unit of measure people use the most in 2021. Again, water resistance ratings are not exact, so a watch that says it is waterproof to 50m does not necessarily mean it will work after submerging in that deep water.
Most watches work better when they are not wet. Unless told otherwise, keep water from touching your watch for long periods. If the watch’s label says “water resistant” but doesn’t say how much water it can handle, you should treat it like it can only handle splashes.
Water Resistance Levels
Now that you know what “water resistant” means, you may be interested in the rules for each measurement unit.
What Does Water-Resistant Up To 3 ATMs Mean?
The only thing that makes these watches waterproof is water. They can handle being in the shower if you watch out for them. However, these watches should only be submerged in water when they are brand new. The seal wears down over time, and the watches become less waterproof.
What Does Water-Resistant 5 ATM Really Mean?
5 ATM: A watch that can handle water up to 5 meters deep and is splash-proof will still work in the shower, pool, or sea. 5 ATM, or 5 bars, is about the same pressure as a home faucet.
What Does Water-Resistant Watches Up To 10 ATMs Mean?
A 10m Water-Resistant watch is okay for mild water activities like swimming and snorkeling but not excessive water sports.
What Does Water-Resistant Watches Up To 20 ATMs Mean?
You can do high-energy water sports with these watches, like surfing, but not the most dangerous ones.
What Does Water-Resistant Watches Up To 30 ATMs Mean?
If your watch is waterproof to 30m or more, you’ll be glad the rules are flexible! You can scuba dive or do other dangerous water sports while wearing these watches.
What Does 200m Water-Resistant Watches Mean?
Many high-end watches say they can handle water up to 100 or 200 meters deep. Even though you should always be careful with your watch near water, it should be fine to wear all day at the beach, even if you do water sports. Always be very careful when you put your watch in water, and try to do it as little as possible, especially if it isn’t a Water-Resistant watch.
Conclusion
To summarize today’s article, a watch can still work well after being submerged in water. Different watches have different ratings for how they react to water immersion. Every modern watch should be able to handle water, so all of our watches can handle water up to 5 ATMs.
