Are you looking at investing in a new watch? Are you an active person who doesn’t want to worry about what a little water will do to your watch, and having to remove it at the first sign of rain or splashes? If so, there’s no doubt you’re looking at waterproof options as a great option. But here’s a question to ask, is your “waterproof” watch waterproof?

Here are some important tips and facts to know when it comes to waterproof watches. These will help you to care for your watch and ensure it sticks around for the long run.

Waterproof Doesn’t Exist – Don’t Be Fooled by Marketing Lingo

The first thing to know may come as a shock, but no watch is 100% waterproof. If you see the claim that it’s waterproof, be aware that it means water resistant. There will always be a limit as to how much the watch can handle, so you don’t want to push your luck too far. If you go past what it can handle, the water will seep into the inner parts of the watch and you risk it being badly damaged, possibly beyond repair.

Experts like to refer to how much water pressure a watch can withstand before the water seeps in. This is a more realistic, and frankly accurate way to measure its capabilities. This is classified as water resistance, now waterproof.

What If the Watch Claims to Be Water Resistant?

That leads to the next question of water resistance. Many watches will claim to be water resistant but be careful about what this truly means. Water resistance refers to humidity levels and the watch’s ability to resist them. This is still an important and useful feature, but it may not be what you expected.

So What Can You Do with Your “Waterproof” Watch?

Now that you better understand what a “waterproof” watch is, and the fact it has limits, it’s only natural to wonder what you can do with it. What kind of conditions can it withstand? Those who have a luxury watch and assume it’s okay to go swimming with it, think again. Both waterproof and water-resistant watches aren’t built to withstand diving and swimming. Unless it is a dedicated diving watch, there won’t be a good enough seal to keep the water out.

When you first purchase your watch ask about its specifics where water resistance is concerned. Generally speaking, there will be a depth it can handle and a time limit. Both tend to be much less than you assumed.

This also means bathing or showering with your watch on isn’t wise, and let’s point out that the soap can also be damaging.

What If It’s Over-Exposed to Water?

Even knowing the best tips and advice, things happen and sometimes your watch is exposed to water longer than intended. So then what? Be sure you don’t press any of the buttons, turn dials or mess with it. It shouldn’t be worn either. It needs a chance to dry out in a baggie with some sort of absorbent material. This could be something like rice or silica gel.

If you’ve tried these tips and it’s still not working, it’s time to pay us a visit at Martins of Glasgow. We handle a wide array of repair jobs on high-end and luxury watches, making sure to deliver top-notch customer service. Give us a call at 0141 946 6333 or visit us online at https://www.martinsjewellers.co.uk/ for more information. We want to help you with any of your luxury watch concerns, including waterproof watch concerns.