Is water resistance a factor in way you wear a Rolex

[Fedpete]

Hey Guys—

In an emotional battle between two watches. One 100m water resistance. The other 30m wr.

I love the 30m we watch but fear the whole lack of water resistance bit.

Is this a big factor for you when choosing to wear a Rolex over another watch or am
I over thinking the need for water resistance.

Appreciate the feedback.


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[pickettt]

How deep is your bathtub?

[Nikrnic]

I'd like 100m minimum just for the fact you'll have a screw down crown and know you can go swimming and water won't do any harm.

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[psv]

Min 100m if I am taking a watch near water.

[Tools]

Yep.. If I'm snorkeling or diving I will usually look for at least 100m.

At the Country Club the only worry is a spilled drink. Most every watch I have can handle that.

[214270Explorer]

30m is not all that great, and that is not JUST for "depth rating."

Pressure also comes in to play. For instance, water pressure from a blasting garden hose may very well exceed the ability of the watch to resist leakage.

Just saying -- there are other factors involved beyond your basic "depth ratings."

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by 214270Explorer

30m is not all that great, and that is not JUST for "depth rating."

Pressure also comes in to play. For instance, water pressure from a blasting garden hose may very well exceed the ability of the watch to resist leakage.

Just saying -- there are other factors involved beyond your basic "depth ratings."

It's not really intended literally as a depth rating unless it's a dedicated dive watch and tested to the relevant ISO standard.
As the watchmaking industry standards apply for all other types of watches, then with this in mind 30 m is deemed to only be adequate for washing hands and a sprinkle of rain as depicted in the chart Pim has posted.
That's not to say that at the time of manufacture the 30 m watch hasn't been statically pressure tested to an equivalent depth.
But to be certain and for more clarity on the issue. Where is the test certificate to verify???
The short answer is there isn't one, and this is standard industry practice.
As a result and by default, the chart is the best guide with a healthy dose of prudence.

[Andad]

Tell me how a 'blast' of water from a garden hose is going to travel up the crown, past the crown seal and down past the 'o' ring seals on a twinlock or triplock?

Seriously?

Next thing will be not to swim too fast or splash your hands around?

Just saying.

[subtona]

Absolutely a factor.

But having 2 watches allows them to coexist nicely.

[djyolky]

Originally Posted by Fedpete

Hey Guys—

In an emotional battle between two watches. One 100m water resistance. The other 30m wr.

I love the 30m we watch but fear the whole lack of water resistance bit.

Is this a big factor for you when choosing to wear a Rolex over another watch or am
I over thinking the need for water resistance.

Appreciate the feedback.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Question for you... Do you know what 30m water resistance means? That means your watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps you're American like me. For simplicity sake 30 meters is roughly 90 feet. When was the last time you were 90 feet below the surface of water?

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[Pim]

Originally Posted by djyolky

Question for you... Do you know what 30m water resistance means? That means your watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps you're American like me. For simplicity sake 30 meters is roughly 90 feet. When was the last time you were 90 feet below the surface of water?

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Well this is not true

Water resistance is an indicator and nothing more than that. The WR of a watch can be influenced by age, wear and damage of a watch.

A general rule of thumb is that a WR of 30m is NOT WR at all, you might wash you hands but that is it. The pressure of streaming water is to high and if you gat water in your watch you better be at the AD within a day or it is gonna cost you.

I have a Patek that has 60m or resistance and I do not dare to take it into the water. Do a little Google search and click on 'images'... you will fil this:



And on how the way it influences my daily wear, I never take my PP's on holidays or business travels. This because I do not like to leave my watch in the hotel room, so I wear it when swimming.
The PP's are dailies, just not when I plan to go near water

[214270Explorer]

Pim --- thank you for your very informative post and graph which reinforces what many of us know, especially those of us who are mechanical engineers.

[Fedpete]

Originally Posted by 214270Explorer

Pim --- thank you for your very informative post and graph which reinforces what many of us know, especially those of us who are mechanical engineers.

I think the graph is helpful for those who’ve been members of the forum for five minutes and are flexing their watch knowledge out here.


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[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Pim

Well this is not true

Water resistance is an indicator and nothing more than that. The WR of a watch can be influenced by age, wear and damage of a watch.

A general rule of thumb is that a WR of 30m is NOT WR at all, you might wash you hands but that is it. The pressure of streaming water is to high and if you gat water in your watch you better be at the AD within a day or it is gonna cost you.

I have a Patek that has 60m or resistance and I do not dare to take it into the water. Do a little Google search and click on 'images'... you will fil this:



And on how the way it influences my daily wear, I never take my PP's on holidays or business travels. This because I do not like to leave my watch in the hotel room, so I wear it when swimming.
The PP's are dailies, just not when I plan to go near water

Thanks

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Pim

Well this is not true

Water resistance is an indicator and nothing more than that. The WR of a watch can be influenced by age, wear and damage of a watch.

A general rule of thumb is that a WR of 30m is NOT WR at all, you might wash you hands but that is it. The pressure of streaming water is to high and if you gat water in your watch you better be at the AD within a day or it is gonna cost you.

I have a Patek that has 60m or resistance and I do not dare to take it into the water. Do a little Google search and click on 'images'... you will fil this:



And on how the way it influences my daily wear, I never take my PP's on holidays or business travels. This because I do not like to leave my watch in the hotel room, so I wear it when swimming.
The PP's are dailies, just not when I plan to go near water

Originally Posted by Dirt

Thanks

Rolex watches aren't tied to that chart. They truly are water proof to the depth they're marked. This chart is for lesser brands that are only water proof to the pressure at the marked depth. Adding pressure from movement/motion makes them fail at reduced depths. This just isn't true with Rolex. If a 30m Rolex fails at 25m underwater it will be covered by warranty.

But to answer the question; I generally choose lesser value watches for pastimes that are more likely to cause loss or damage. I don't own a Rolex which I wouldn't take to depth however. I clearly won't wear anything on leather in the water.

[danyvw]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Rolex watches aren't tied to that chart. They truly are water proof to the depth they're marked. This chart is for lesser brands that are only water proof to the pressure at the marked depth. Adding pressure from movement/motion makes them fail at reduced depths. This just isn't true with Rolex. If a 30m Rolex fails at 25m underwater it will be covered by warranty.

But to answer the question; I generally choose lesser value watches for pastimes that are more likely to cause loss or damage. I don't own a Rolex which I wouldn't take to depth however. I clearly won't wear anything on leather in the water.

^^^^^^^What he said.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Rolex watches aren't tied to that chart. They truly are water proof to the depth they're marked. This chart is for lesser brands that are only water proof to the pressure at the marked depth. Adding pressure from movement/motion makes them fail at reduced depths. This just isn't true with Rolex. If a 30m Rolex fails at 25m underwater it will be covered by warranty.

But to answer the question; I generally choose lesser value watches for pastimes that are more likely to cause loss or damage. I don't own a Rolex which I wouldn't take to depth however. I clearly won't wear anything on leather in the water.

Quite right
It's a central part of the solid nature of the reputation that Rolex watches have earned.

As we know, when new a standard Oyster model is tested to 110% of it's depth rating and a Rolex diver is tested to 125% of it's depth rating.
In terms of policy at RSC's this is in place until they can no longer fully support a reference and ensure water resistance.

However the OP originally mentioned a watch with a hypothetical 30 m of depth rating, so by extension I assumed the question was of a general nature about depth ratings and the impact on daily practice with a view to the depth rating of any watch

[Andad]

Originally Posted by djyolky

Question for you... Do you know what 30m water resistance means? That means your watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps you're American like me. For simplicity sake 30 meters is roughly 90 feet. When was the last time you were 90 feet below the surface of water?

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A watch rated and tested to 30 meters is safe to 30 meters and as for a water jet from a hose I repeat.

Seriously.

All figures stated by any recognised manufacturers are obviously with seals in good condition and would be expected to meet their claims.

The Triplock on a Rolex is rated to >500 Bar or just under 7500 psi and on the Rolex website at one time this figure this was described as ‘with the crown unscrewed’.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by djyolky

Question for you... Do you know what 30m water resistance means? That means your watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps you're American like me. For simplicity sake 30 meters is roughly 90 feet. When was the last time you were 90 feet below the surface of water?

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Incorrect. Do some research. Pressure is a key part of depth rating.


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[jvb.nc]

no.

i will never dive deeper than any of my rolexes can.

if i do, i have a whole heap of other problems.


*for clarity, i’m not dumb about this particular issue - not that it’s an issue - i just don’t routinely worry about water resistance. i just check that my crowns are tight before i jump in the shower or the pool or the ocean.

[Fedpete]

Originally Posted by djyolky

Question for you... Do you know what 30m water resistance means? That means your watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps you're American like me. For simplicity sake 30 meters is roughly 90 feet. When was the last time you were 90 feet below the surface of water?

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You know zero about watches. Stay on the sidelines man and. Absolutely false.


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[Paul7]

Originally Posted by djyolky

Question for you... Do you know what 30m water resistance means? That means your watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps you're American like me. For simplicity sake 30 meters is roughly 90 feet. When was the last time you were 90 feet below the surface of water?

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Ask the SeaDweller owners.

[jvb.nc]

Originally Posted by Paul7

Ask the SeaDweller owners.

when my instamodel GF drops my SD into 3750’ of water off of monaco, i can send my personal submarine down to get it, and it’ll still be running.

[Onikage]

Loads of crappy watches that aren't fit to wash your hands in are 30m 'water resist'. It basically means some effort is made to keep water out. Ie a badly seated o ring on a press on caseback.
50m slightly more effort is made like an equally badly installed seal around the crown stem making it possible to splash around and submerge these (at your own risk).
100m is more serious territory - a screw back and often crown comes on these giving them jam jar-like properties. Rolex oysters are all above this category as they pioneered the waterproof watch. A Datejust basically has diving watch specs. So no water resistance generally isn't a factor for me.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Onikage

Loads of crappy watches that aren't fit to wash your hands in are 30m 'water resist'. It basically means some effort is made to keep water out. Ie a badly seated o ring on a press on caseback.
50m slightly more effort is made like an equally badly installed seal around the crown stem making it possible to splash around and submerge these (at your own risk).
100m is more serious territory - a screw back and often crown comes on these giving them jam jar-like properties. Rolex oysters are all above this category as they pioneered the waterproof watch. A Datejust basically has diving watch specs. So no water resistance generally isn't a factor for me.

Agreed.
Water resistance is only a consideration for me whenever I'm not wearing a Rolex Oyster. With two of my other watches, I do have to be mindful.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Agreed.
Water resistance is only a consideration for me whenever I'm not wearing a Rolex Oyster. With two of my other watches, I do have to be mindful.

I should have mentioned for the newbs that water resistance is by no means an indication of quality or price tag it's just something that among watches cliaming to be 'water resist' that Rolex does very well.

[kieselguhr]

Yes it is. Due to my lifestyle, a 100m WR is the bare minimum due to convenience. It is also suitable for the activities that I enjoy which primarily involve water.

[LandWatch]

The trusted Oyster case and Triplock crown are some of the reasons I wear Rolex. Very functional. I wear swimming all the time, and on my twice-yearly scuba trips with my son. I never need to even think about my watch.

[Megalobyte]

To safely submerge a watch you want 100m or more. 30 isn’t suitable for swimming or even showering. Ratings of 50 or 60m are questionable for swimming or Snorkeling, and it depends very much on the brand. For example, the only 60m watch I’d trust for swimming is an IWC as they make it clear, their 60m rating is an actual depth rating, not merely an indication as it is with other brands. And I’d not risk a 50m Speedmaster even though it seems like it might be ok.

[ijpx]

Not at all choosing which to wear, unless your work, lifestyle, or event you’re attending is water related.