How waterproof is a diving watch?
We are now in the height of summer and, with seaside holidays drawing ever closer, it is necessary to prepare the right accessories to take to the beach. One of these is undoubtedly the diving watch, waterproof to the right degree, to always keep track of time, even while swimming. But have you ever wondered just how diving a diving watch really is? How deep can we go, knowing it will keep working? Can we wash and swim calmly with the watch on our wrist?
Today I am here to reveal the mystery and let you discover just how diving a diving watch really is!
The first diving watch
A brief historical note: the first diving watch was born in 1927, made by Rolex and bearing the grand name Oyster Deep Sea Special. It was worn by the British swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, who swam across the English Channel. Nowadays, all the best watchmaking brands in the world can boast efficient and technologically advanced diving models thanks to Rolex’s experiment.
How diving? The 4 levels of waterproofness
It is good to know that a diving watch is not just a simple waterproof device: it is made to face abyssal depths, as a safety device for divers, who must be able to precisely calculate their immersion time. In short, the diving watch must guarantee its effectiveness even at depth. But how deep?
Here the Swiss watchmaking industry comes into play, which has established in the Norms of the Swiss Watchmaking Industry four different levels of waterproofness in the mechanisms of a diving and water resistant watch.
- Water resistant 3atm: these are watches able to withstand a depth of 3 atmospheres or 30 metres. In practice, they are water-resistant watches, but only to occasional splashes. They are therefore not suitable for real dives.
- Water resistant 5atm: in this case, the watches would withstand a depth of 50 metres. They are therefore suitable for hand washing, sweat, showers and... some sea bathing that does not involve diving!
- Diver: this type of watch allows immersion up to 100 m. Not abyssal, therefore, but suitable for breath-hold diving, at least up to 5-7 metres.
- Professional: the true diving watches, suitable for dives into the depths of the abyss beyond 100 m. They resist up to 1000, 2000 and even 3000 metres, guaranteeing effectiveness and precision.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer
After seeing concretely what it really means to be diving, it is time to introduce you to one of the currently most appreciated and beautiful models in the watchmaking industry. It is the gem from TAG Heuer, from the waterproof Aquaracer collection. Titanium case, ceramic rotating bezel, anthracite dial: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 16 "Black Phantom". Beautiful, sporty, elegant. Not to be missed!
In short: one of the must-haves of the summer (and beyond!) is a watch that allows us to fully enjoy the holidays without worrying too much. And you, have you already bought one of the diving models? Find all the best ones in the online shop or at the Ferro Gioielli physical store!
