What is the difference between waterproof and water-resistant watches?
Most consumers are confused by the terminology, they think that the “water-resistant” stamp on their watch means that it is waterproof. This is not the case. Water proof watches are just as they say they are, they can withstand being submerged in water and usually have a specific depth of water pressure also marked on the case; i.e., 20 feet, 35 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet, etc. These are usually sports, divers or fashion watches and are more expensive depending on the depth standard. Waterproof watches usually have heavy crystals and lots of gaskets to keep the water out, especially around the stem and crown — the easiest location for a watch to leak. Many watches in this category, such as Rolexes, Bolovas and Mivados, usually have a screw-tightening crown to further insure that the watch does not leak. These types of watches are expensive to overhaul because once the seals have been broken they must be replaced in order to insure the continuation of the water proofing. Water-resistant w
