Things To Know About Watch Water Resistance Testing

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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.

Regular use and external factors affect the resistance level and changing it over time. You might want to test it by going to watch water resistance testing Cambridge professionals to be informed if it still able to resist. Here are some things to know about it from the professional at 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.

The water resistance can be tested in two ways, either by dry test or wet test. The dry test puts the wristwatch inside a sealed container and the air pressure is increased gradually. It has failed the test if the casing changes slightly.

Wet test is when you put the watch in the container that is half filled with liquid and gradually raise the air pressure of the watch while it is out of the liquid. It is then submerged slowly into the liquid. The air pressure will be slowly released and if bubbles coming out from it then it means it has failed the test too.

It is highly advisable to have your wristwatch tested at least once a year to know if it can still resist liquids. Check the rating of your watches and if it is below 50 meters then it can only survive splashes and not complete dips. Swimming and showering with it is safe if the rating states 100 meters or more so be careful about it.




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