Safe to swim wearing IWC Mark XVI?

[jrgannon]

Hello - is it safe to swim wearing an IWC Mark XVI. The watch is rated at 60m. Never quite sure how these ratings related to real life though. Seems to vary by manufacturer. The watch was a screw down crown and case back. In terms of swimming it would be in the pool and ocean. Would not go deeper the 10 or 15 feet underwater. Appreciate comments. Thanks.

[iim7v7im7]

Originally Posted by jrgannon

Hello - is it safe to swim wearing an IWC Mark XVI. The watch is rated at 60m. Never quite sure how these ratings related to real life though. Seems to vary by manufacturer. The watch was a screw down crown and case back. In terms of swimming it would be in the pool and ocean. Would not go deeper the 10 or 15 feet underwater. Appreciate comments. Thanks.

http://www.iwc.com/en/water-resistant/

[sierra11b]

You'll be fine. But remember, if you plan to swim regularly with the watch it's good to get it pressure tested once a year at your nearest watch maker. Any watch is only as good as its seals/gaskets.

There's so many debates on this it's hard to know what's factual. There's threads floating around on watch forums debating the dynamic pressures exerted on a watch as you swim -- some engineers have even chimed in with complex equations on the matter with most suggesting the force is very minimal.

Then there's certain manuals (Grand Seiko for example) that clearly state dynamic pressure is a factor and to avoid high pressure running water and vigorous swimming activities with some WR. Although it's probably more a preventative measure on their part...

I feel the debate is so convoluted without any real world experiments that I won't be satisfied until Stephen Hawking chimes in on the matter.

[jrgannon]

That link was very helpful. Thank you.

[kilyung]

I miss my XVI.

[jrgannon]

Mike - I hear you. The XVI is a great watch. I also have a 14060m sub no date. I seem to switch back and forth but to be honest the XVI is way more comfortable and accurate. I would say they almost wear the same size as well despite the XVI being 1mm smaller.

[kilyung]

The bracelet I had on my XVI made it very rugged.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by jrgannon

Hello - is it safe to swim wearing an IWC Mark XVI. The watch is rated at 60m. Never quite sure how these ratings related to real life though. Seems to vary by manufacturer. The watch was a screw down crown and case back. In terms of swimming it would be in the pool and ocean. Would not go deeper the 10 or 15 feet underwater. Appreciate comments. Thanks.

If the watch has been pressure tested it's fine. If it hasn't, no amount of stated water resistance should make you comfortable.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by jrgannon

Mike - I hear you. The XVI is a great watch. I also have a 14060m sub no date. I seem to switch back and forth but to be honest the XVI is way more comfortable and accurate. I would say they almost wear the same size as well despite the XVI being 1mm smaller.

My Mark XV (38mm) wears larger than my GMT2 (40mm) due to the dramatically larger dial. It's also a million times more comfortable.

[mineral]

The mark pilot is gorgeous. I judt got my mark 17 in bracelet and love it.