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Watch Water Resistance Testing Basic Information

By Patricia Hughes


A water resistant watch does not mean that you can go ahead and dip it in the water any time. There are predetermined levels of water resistance which is usually marked with the depth it was tested during manufacturing. But this does not mean that it can be used under those specified depths because a lot of other factors like pressure and chemical compositions can affect it.

Overtime, the resistance level changes with regular use and other external factor affecting it. You may want a watch water resistance testing Cambridge to know if your watch is still resistant. Here are some information and tips from the watchmakers and experts from Cambridge, MA.

Three main factors are affecting the resistance of water of a watch. The first of this is the case back and the way it is affixed on it. It could be affixed in three ways such as snap on, by screws or using screw in. Snap on provides the least level at 30 meters meanwhile by screws provides up to 100 meters and screw in gives the most level of resistance possible at 100 meters or more.

The next factor is the crown, the dial that is used in adjusting time located at the edge of the case of watches. Its regular use will cause the gasket to change its shape slightly or not properly pushed in permitting liquid substances to be able to penetrate the inside via its stem hole. Resistant watches usually use screw down crowns because of the gasket it has that seals the stem hole when tightened.

The last one is the gasket which is made of rubber or nylon and forms watertight seals between the case back, crown and case. The chronograph pushers of chronographs will have gaskets as well. Gaskets will deteriorate over time which affects its role and must be replaced when possible.

There are external factors affecting the ability of wristwatches to resist liquid substances too. Rapid and sudden changes in pressure and temperature are one of them. Another is the seals of watches like gaskets start to deteriorate when it ages and will be unable to provide the same kind of protection anymore.

There are two ways to test the resistance of watches and these are dry test and wet test. The dry test is performed by placing the wristwatch in a sealed container where air pressure is gradually raised. If the casing slightly changes its shape then it had failed the test.

The other method is wet test where the wristwatch is placed inside a container with half water and air filled in it. The air pressure is raised while the timepiece is out of the liquid then slowly submerges it in. When it is fully submerged then the air pressure is decreased slowly and if bubbles come out of it then it had failed the test.

Have your watches tested at least once every year to make sure if it is still water resistant. Take note of the rating of your watch and if it has a rating of below 50 meters, only splashes of liquid is allowed on it and not submersion. 100 meters and above ratings mean that showering and swimming while wearing it also is permissible.




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