If you are considering buying a watch you would be well advised to determine its water resistance rating before you purchase it. Watches always have their water resistance rating on the case, if you are buying online you should find this information in the product specifications. Most of the customers that I speak to do not have a firm grasp of the differences between the ratings in part because of the different ways that the same information is recorded. You are likely to come across these three ways of denoting water resistance; bar, atmosphere or meter. 1 Bar = 1 Atmosphere = 10m.

It is important to remember that unless a watch is a specified professional divers watch it is probably unsuitable for prolonged use in the water. Watches are tested for water resistance in static laboratory conditions for short periods. The result of this is that a 10m rating does not necessarily mean that the watch will endure being taken to that depth, it is merely indicative of the pressure the watch can withstand in still conditions.

Water Resistance Ratings

Some watches have only minimal water resistance, they will be marked simply 'water resistant'. If this is the case then the watch will be splash proof but nothing more, meaning that it should not be worn whilst washing up or showering. If you need a watch that can be used for these everyday tasks it would be better to go with a watch with a water resistance rating of at least 30m. Watches within this category are not suitable for swimming.

The next common rating of water resistance is 50m or 5 atmosphere. These watches are suitable for swimming but not for diving as the pressure at the moment of impact with the water would exceed 5 atmosphere. If you want to do more than just swim you need a watch with a 100m rating. A watch within this classification is appropriate for everyday swimming, watersports and diving, but must not be used for high board or scuba diving.

A watch within the 200m water resistant class can be used for most water sports. If you are searching specifically for a divers watch, it is imperative that you check that the watch complies with international standards for divers watches. Generally the word 'divers' will be imprinted on the case back of the watch. There are higher classifications of water resistance, 300m or more. In principle the higher the water resistance rating the more durable the watch will be, although this is dependant on the quality of manufacture.

Tips for Maintaining Water Resistance

Water resistance can be compromised if the buttons and stem are not screwed down or pressed in correctly. It is also advisable to have your watch pressure tested after the battery is changed, in order to be assured the water resistance has been maintained. The most common way to do this is to return your watch to the manufacturer for the battery change.

Do not immediately worry if your watch has traces of condensation underneath the glass. This can occur during a dramatic temperature change, for example diving in to cold water. Normally the condensation will disperse without any intervention after a number of hours. If it does not I would advise returning your watch to the manufacturer to be examined.

Many people say to me that they could not live without their watch. But it was not until the last century that this became a realistic possibility for the majority of people. Timekeeping has been possible in a fairly accurate way since the 1400's but it was not until the 1800's, when watches began to be mass produced rather than made by hand by skilled watch makers, that this became accessible technology. The trend of wearing wristwatches began in the trenches in WW1 as they were a more practical accessory than a pocket watch. Since then the technology has developed in leaps and bounds.

Mechanical Watches

The first wristwatches were mechanical. They are powered by the energy stored in a spring which is used to move a number of weighted wheels, or gears as they are also known, that turned the hands. This technology came from spring-powered clocks that were around as early as the 1400's; it began to be used for smaller watches in the 1600's. These types of watches need to wound regularly; meaning that as well as being prone to losing time they rely on their user to remember to wind them. For these reasons mechanical watches are generally collectors items or created primarily for nostalgic purposes rather than for practicality.

Kinetic or Automatic Watches

The modern variation of the mechanical watch that has recently seen a revival is the kinetic watch also known as an automatic watch. These watches have a similar internal structure as the mechanical watches but rely on the movement of the wearer to power the spring. They are often less reliable than other forms of power for watches; there is a greater likelihood that they will lose time, in some cases a few seconds every day. They have made a comeback in certain designers ranges such as Police and Seiko. This is partly because they never need to have a battery change and also the mechanics allow for some additional stylistic features like transparent backs through which the mechanism can be viewed.

Quartz Watches

In 1969 the first quartz powered watch was available on the market. Quartz has special properties so when it is shaped in a certain way and subject to an electrical field it will bend. When the field is removed the quartz generates an electrical field of its own as it moves back to its original shape. This property is known as piezoelectricity. Due to this property quartz crystals can be used to regulate the movement of an electronic oscillator. This energy and movement powers, controls and regulates the hands of the watch. This revolutionary technology is now the most common form of power in wristwatches. It is also the most reliable timekeeping method which also comes at a low price.

Atomic Timekeeping

The most accurate time pieces on the planet are connected to atomic clocks. An atomic clock deviates by around a second every million years! Certain wristwatches such as the Casio WaveCeptor range utilise this technology. This is done through a network of radio transmitters which emit time signals. Radio controlled watches receive this signal and adjust themselves accordingly.

Types of Watch Batteries

There are three main types of battery that are used to power watches. The most common is the silver oxide battery. They are frequently used in watches because they have a high energy to weight ratio. This means that they should last for a long period of time. Due to the silver content they can be expensive to produce which is why they are not often used for products that take larger batteries.

Lithium batteries are long-life and also relatively expensive. They are used primarily in watches that have lights or other energy draining features.

Solar cells are now becoming a popular and effective way of powering wristwatches. High-tech battery cells are fuelled by the light that reaches them through the watch face. This means that the user will never have to change the battery. Citizen's Eco-Drive range has set the standard for the practical application of this technology. As an additional ecological bonus the batteries do not contain any of the harmful chemicals found in regular batteries.

by Amy

No matter what type of watch you wear, you do require getting it serviced and cleaned. Watches are handy and hardy little things which are worn on the wrist but where ever you go, they go! As a result, hot sun, days on the beach, sweat and lots of other gunk get into the working mechanisms and casing. There are chances that the watch will just shut down and you will lose something you really value. Don't let that happen by servicing your watch regularly every six months at an authorized service technician. You might worry that service technicians may not be able to repair valuable watches like a Seiko, Patek Philippe or even a Rolex. Keep these precautions in mind when you take your valuable time pieces to the watchmaker and you should be fine.

Photograph the inside casing and the outside casing of your watch properly before you give it up for repair. Most watches have watchmaker numbers drilled in to the case back to prevent any problems. Note down any serial numbers or engravings on the watch for later reference. High quality timepieces need custom made spare parts. If you note down serial numbers of time pieces, you can order your spare parts well in advance and prevent getting cheated by unscrupulous watchmakers. Do not send valuable watches to unauthorized watch repair sites or personnel. Make sure that your watch repair technician has a BBB rating or is at least an accredited member of some horological organization.

Servicing frequency is also very important. Most watches have to serviced at least once in five years but that varies according the amount of use you put into your watch and the water resistance seal present on it.

ONCE A YEAR: Every vintage watch without a crown seal will require that you get a servicing done at least once a year to preserve working conditions of the watch.

EVERY 2 - 3 YEARS: Most modern watches now have special crowns which seal in the internal workings and prevent leakages. For these watches servicing once in 2 - 3 years is fine.

ONCE IN 5 YEARS: Modern watches are manufactured to last for a long, long time. These watches have a seal and watchmakers number inscribed in to the back of the watch just for that reason. Watches which have these numbers are pressure sealed or water sealed for a specific reason. If the owner has preserved the condition of the original seal then nothing will happen to the internal workings of the watch for a long time. The only issue which is important is oiling as watches have small parts which do require lubrication. Do get these watches lubricated or oiled at least once a year but a servicing or cleaning is not required.

Ian Stathem