Hamilton Jewelers’ Rules of Thumb: Watches and Water Resistance Rules
So you took the extra Spin and Pilates classes to get bikini ready, but have you checked your wrist? Now that Summer has arrived, you have a host of wonderful outdoor activities — most of which involve water. Before you dive in, Hamilton Jewelers wants to make sure the watch on your wrist is ready to take the plunge with you.
If the watch you are wearing says it is water resistant, it will typically have the depth to which it can be worn. In order to rate the depth to which it can be submerged — it has to undergo rigorous pressure tests. If your watch doesn’t say water resistant, it isn’t.
It’s important to note that watch brands use a number of methods to mark their watches for water resistance, including feet, meters, Bars and ATM (atmospheres). To simplify these terms, we offer some basic breakdowns:
1 Meter = 3 feet rounded (actual is 3.28 feet)
1 Bar = 33 feet rounded (actual is 33.455 feet)
1 ATM = 1 Bar or 33 feet rounded
You can find the markings denoting the water resistance of the watch either on the dial or on the back of the case. Generally, a good rule of thumb is if a watch isn’t water resistant to at least 50 or 100 feet it shouldn’t go in a pool. For instance, if a watch is water resistant to 30 feet, it may not have water-tight gaskets or screw-in crowns, and water could seep inside when the watch is exposed to pressure or direct flow.
Founded in New Jersey in 1912, Hamilton has been offering clients the finest quality, value, and design for over 100 years. They are known for carrying iconic timepieces including vintage and represent a variety brands including Panerai, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Breitling, Cartier, Tag Heuer, Chanel and more.
TAKE THE PLUNGE