11 Rules of the Watch

Stylish men know not to wear brown shoes with a black belt, a pre-tied bow tie, or pajamas outside of the house. When it comes to watches people are a little fuzzy about the rules. We often see men wearing a completely inappropriate timepiece for their outfit, or they’re checking the time every five minutes in a meeting.

Knowing the rules of watch-wearing will help you avoid making faux-pas, and they apply to watches that are expensive, inexpensive, casual and formal alike.

Few accessories are as classic as a wristwatch

11. Wear your watch on the wrist that suits you

The old rule of thumb was to always wear a watch on the non-dominant wrist. The reasoning was that it is the opposite of the dominant hand. Don’t let tradition dictate on which hand you wear your watch; wear it where you find it most comfortable.

James Bond wearing a dive watch with a tuxedo

10. Never wear a dive watch with a suit

Just because James Bond did it, doesn’t mean you should. James Bond was a spy who might, in fact, jump into a river in a suit at any moment. As far as we can tell, he’s the only one (besides other actors with endorsement deals with Omega) who should wear a dive watch with a suit. Dive watches are bulky, they don’t fit well under a suit jacket and they are a tell-tale sign that you don’t know the rules of watch-wearing…or that you aspire to have your own theme song. The same way that you wouldn’t wear your sunglasses at night, leave the dive watch for casual wear and pair a simple dress watch with your suit.

Pedro Mendes in navy suit with gray turtleneck sweater, wristwatch and signet ring

9. Wear dark with dark, and light with light

If you’re out during the day consider a lighter colored face such as white or cream. However, at night focus on darker dials such as black, grey or browns. Just like a tuxedo is for evening wear and you wouldn’t wear it to brunch, a dark watch dial should be on your wrist at night, rather than during your 9am tee time at the country cl

Checking your watch in front of others will make them feel like they aren’t a priority

8. Beware the implications of checking your watch

Even though a great watch is one of a man’s ultimate accessories, checking it can have some negative social implications even if that’s exactly the reason you are wearing it!

If you’re on a date, in a meeting, or at a social event, don’t check your watch visibly in front of other people. Just like it’s rude to check your phone at a movie or restaurant, checking your watch shows that you have other things on your mind; things that take precedence over your present company. Unless you’re still young and have a curfew, the only way you should know what time a date is over is when she says goodnight.

A men’s dress watch shouldn’t be worn with a casual, brightly colored short sleeve shirt

7. Pair watches with outfits appropriately

Just as you wouldn’t sit on the beach in a morning coat, you also don’t want to wear your dress watch sailing. Try and match the type of watch you wear to the activity you’re involved in each day. If you’re unsure what you’ll be doing, pair it with your choice of clothes; sport watches with athletic wear, dress watches with business wear, or a simple Timex Weekender with beach wear.

A Rolex Cellini Dress Watch would work with black tie

If you’re invited to a formal event or gathering and the dress code calls for black tie, attitudes have changed about wearing a watch. Historically it is considered impolite to wear a watch, but the rules regarding black tie have softened to accommodate wearing a simple dress watch with a black face and band if you choose. A pocket watch is an alternative. For the rare white tie event, tradition demands that you do not wear a watch at all.

6. Admire other men’s watches from a distance

Just as you would never touch another man’s wallet, don’t expect to handle his watch. For many men the watch is the only piece of jewelry they own or wear, and they take great pride in keeping it dust free, fingerprint free and well polished. It’s perfectly okay to politely ask to see a watch, but don’t expect him to take it off his wrist. If he offers, feel free to accept, but try to handle it as little as possible and never place it on a hard surface where it could get scratched.

An oversized watch will never slide neatly under the cuff

In case you shop at amazon, buy the I am Dandy Book and we refer you, prices are the same as normal, as an amazon associate we ear

All Understanding How a Quartz Watch Works

Battery-powered quartz watch movement

First developed in the late 1970s, quartz watches are a relatively new phenomena in the centuries-old craft of watchmaking. Unlike watches with mechanical movements, quartz watches are a whole different breed.

Essentially, a quartz watch is battery powered. The watch uses a low-frequency, tiny piece of quartz crystal (silicon-dioxide) placed either like an integrated circuit and chemically etched into shape, or shaped like a tuning fork. That quartz crystal serves as the oscillator.

The battery sends electricity to the quartz crystal through an electronic circuit. The quartz oscillator vibrates quickly and with precise frequency (32768 times/second) in response to the electronic charge. The circuit counts the vibrations and generates regular electric pulses of one per second.  The pulses drive the small motor that spins the watch’s hands – offering accurate time measurement (until the battery slows and dies).

The first quartz watch put into production was the Astron by Seiko (1969) and, as a result, the Asian market swiftly cornered the watch business.  However, in the early 1980s, Swatch Watch was unveiled and helped to recoup the Swiss watch business that had been ailing since quartz had been introduced due to the Swiss reluctance to embrace quartz technology. After Swatch, other Swiss brands embraced quartz technology, too, adding it to their repertoire of fine watchmaking.

 

Understanding Your Water Resistant Watch

10th July, 2019

Wondering if your watch can survive a shower? What about a swim in the pool or a deep-sea dive? Is it really waterproof? Understanding what water resistance actually means in watches is important for anyone looking to buy a waterproof watch. By the end of this article, all your questions about a water resistant watch will be answered. Let’s get right into it, or should I say dive right into it?

What does water resistant mean?

If your watch is waterproof up to 30 metres, does that mean you can dive down to 30 metres of depth? No. If you want to wear a waterproof watch that works, diving in 30 metres of depth with it would not be a great idea, considering the damage caused to almost all devices due to water. The term “water resistant” simply means the ability for an object to resist the penetration of water to some degree, but not entirely.

What type of damage can water cause?

It doesn’t matter how careful you are, sometimes you may accidentally subject your wristwatch to water. Water can cause the many small working parts within your watch to deteriorate due to rusting and some of these parts may also be irreplaceable!

What are the various degrees of water resistance? And what do they really mean?

Women's and men's watches can have various degrees of water resistance, such as 30, 50, 100, 200 metres and more. While it does sound like you can venture on a deep dive 50 metres below sea level with your watch, it, unfortunately, doesn’t have the ability to withstand that kind of water pressure.

Much like your jewellery, watches are a valuable accessory, so you want to make sure you take care of it so it lasts the test of time. This guide will help you understand much exposure to water can be safe for your water resistant watch and how much is too much.

How waterproof is your water resistant watch?

1. Water Resistant 30 Metres / 3 Atmospheres / 3 Bar

If your water resistant watch says it is 30 metres, 3 atmospheres or 3 bars water resistant, this simply means it is resistant to small amounts of water like rain and splashing from hand washes. Anything more than that is a huge red flag!

2. Water Resistant 50 Metres / 5 Atmospheres / 5 Bar

A watch that is 50 metres water resistant is an improvement in comparison to a watch that is 3 bars, however,you still can’t go deep diving. A watch that has 50 metres, 5 atmospheres and 5 bars water resistance means it can withstand the level of water exposed to in a shower. Wearing this water resistant watch in a pool of water may be okay, provided the water does not get inside, which means avoid underwater swims for long durations or probably all together just to be safe.

Pulsar PS9330X Mens Watch

3. Water Resistant 100 Metres / 10 Atmospheres / 10 Bar

This one should fit the bill, right? A waterproof watch with 100 metres, 10 atmospheres and 10 bars water resistance won’t work after diving. However, it is suitable for swimming and water sports like snorkelling, so we are getting somewhere now!

Eco-Drive BU2082-56E Diamond Set Stainless Steel Men's Watch

4.  Water Resistant 200 Metres / 20 Atmospheres / 20 Bar + 500 Metres / 50 Atmospheres / 50 Bars

As much as we’d want it to be, 200 metres, 20 atmospheres and 20 bars resistance are still not safe for deep-sea diving, but it is safe for standard scuba diving for short periods of time. This type of water-resistant watch can also be worn by water sports professionals who are in and out of the water frequently. The same goes for a waterproof watch with 500 metres, 50 atmospheres and 50 bars resistance, however, these can withstand water exposure for slightly longer.

Casio GA100-1A2 G-Shock Men's Watch 

5. Water Resistant 1000 Metres / 100 Atmospheres / 100 Bar

You’ll be happy to know that a water resistant watch with 1000 metres, 100 atmospheres and 100 bars of resistance can be worn for deep sea diving.

Even though without certification to the ISO 6425 standard, this watch allows you the freedom to dive deep into the water.

6.  Divers or ISO 6425

If your watch claims to be “ ISO 6425” or has “Divers” written on it, Congratulations! This watch is a certified diving watch. It is a completely safe to be worn under water, and is a literal water resistant watch. Watches that measure up to this standard are also shock, magnet and salt water tolerant and can also be used in places of total darkness. So go ahead and hit the ocean!

Citizen Promaster NY0086-83L Automatic Stainless Steel Men's Watch

Fascinated by these classic water-resistant watches? Keen for a swim? We know we are! You can browse our full collection of diving watches for men and women online, including G-Shock watches and more. Check out our sale and pick up a new watch for your loved ones. And don’t forget you can buy now and pay later with one of our several interest-free payment options.

The water resistance of watches is perhaps one of the most misunderstood components of timepieces. If you’ve ever wondered what a water resistant watch actually means, then read our handy guide to understanding the water resistance of watches. Not only will you learn some tips on how to avoid damaging your watch with water, you can also find out what to do if moisture did leak into your timepiece.

 

 

Water Resistance or Waterproof? What Does it Mean?

 

Right off the bat, we have to mention that in reality, there is no such thing as a waterproof watch—despite the fact that it’s a term that is freely thrown around when discussing watches. All watches have a limit to how much pressure it can withstand, which brings us to our next point. Water resistance actually refers to how much pressure the watch can handle and it’s typically measured in atmospheres (ATM), bars, meters, or feet.

 

Here are some handy water resistance conversions:

 

• 3 ATM/ 3 Bar/ 30 Meters / 98 Feet
• 5 ATM/ 5 Bar/ 50 Meters / 165 Feet
• 10 ATM/ 10 Bar/ 100 Meters/ 328 Feet
• 20 ATM/ 20 Bar/ 200 Meters/ 656 Feet
• 30 ATM/ 30 Bar/ 300 Meters/ 1000 Feet

 

So what do these numbers translate to in real life? If a watch does not include “Water Resistant” anywhere on it, avoid exposing it to water at all. Remove the watch when you wash your hands and never leave it on for a shower or swim. Water will damage a watch that is not water resistant.

If a watch has a water resistance rating of 30 meters, it can usually handle light water exposure, such as some rain or hand washing. However, it’s not advisable to take it for a swim or shower since too much moisture contact may lead to damage.

A watch with a 50-meter water resistance rating can go for a short swim and quick shower, but better leave it in your watch box if you’ll be spending long periods of time in the water.

An increased water resistance rating of 100 meters means your watch can safely go swimming, snorkeling, and other water sports—but not scuba diving.

Finally, a watch with a 200-meter water resistance rating can accompany you on shallow dives. In fact, luxury watches that are often marketed as diving watches typically have a water resistance rating between 200 meters and 300 meters.

For example, modern Rolex Submariner watches have a water resistance rating of 300 meters, as do many of the Omega Seamaster Professional models.

 

 

 

 

What’s more, many luxury watch brands offer models with even higher water resistance. Take for instance the Breitling SuperOcean Day-Date offering 500 meters of water resistance or the brand new Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 126600 with an incredible 1,220 meters water resistance.

 

 

 

 

However, it’s important to note that to be a true diving watch, the watch must be in accordance with the ISO 6425 standard.

 

 

Important Considerations With Water Resistant Watches

 

Regardless of what it says on your watch, there are a few things to keep in mind to prevent water damage to your watch. For instance, when dealing with vintage watches, do not blindly follow the depth rating on the dial. Err on the side of caution and keep your vintage dive watches away from water.

Furthermore, if your watch has screw-down chronograph pushers and a screw-down winding crown, make sure they are indeed screwed-down prior to getting any water on them. If not, it’s more than likely that water will seep into the watch, thereby causing damage to the dial and/or movement.

Finally, water resistant watches don’t remain water resistant without proper servicing and maintenance. During a comprehensive watch service, watches should be pressure tested for water resistance and gaskets should be replaced. At Watch Central, we use a Witschi tester during our water resistance testing process where pressure is slowly applied to the watch case and then slowly reduced. This procedure tests for multiple water depths to ensure optimal watch water resistance. If your watch is frequently exposed to water, we recommend getting your watch tested at least once a year.

 

 

 

 

 

Water Got Into My Watch and Damaged It, Now What?  

 

Water damage to luxury watches is one of the most common issues that we see here at Watch Central. If you see moisture buildup on the dial of your watch, then liquid has managed to seep into it. Other signs of water damage could include malfunctioning luminescence on the dial or faulty hands. If you suspect water damage, you should send your watch in for repair as soon as possible to prevent any further harm.

Depending on the condition of the timepiece, some instances of water damage can be repaired. The repair process includes carefully taking apart the watch, replacing any broken parts, removing all moisture, and conducting a proper water rest after the piece has been correctly reassembled.

 

 

 

At Watch Central, we have over two decades of experience repairing and servicing luxury watches. The best way to extend the life of your luxury watch is to have it undergo regular maintenance since prevention is easier than repairing.