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All about water resistance in a watch
March 24, 2026
Watch water resistance refers to a watch’s ability to withstand exposure to water at various depths. This is an important feature for watches and applies not only to those designed for diving, swimming, or other water-based activities, but to dress watches. Water resistance is achieved through a combination of design elements, including: seals and gaskets that prevent water from entering the watch case, a screw down crown is also an example of this; a robust case design that can withstand water pressure; specialised materials, such as stainless steel or titanium, that are resistant to corrosion.
You may have noticed that some watches feature a label indicating the ATM (Atmospheres) rating. ATM is a unit of measurement that represents the amount of pressure a watch can withstand. In the context of watch water resistance, ATM is equivalent to the following depths:
And so on. The ATM rating provides a standardised way to express a watch’s water resistance capabilities.
To determine if your watch is water resistant, check the following:
Maestro 3.0 Chronograph
Here’s a breakdown of the various levels of water resistance, including their corresponding ATM ratings, humidity levels, and use cases:
3 Bars / 30 Meters / 3 ATM / 100 Feet
This is the minimum rating for a watch. Below 3 Bar, the watch has no water resistance. At 3 Bars, the watch can withstand everyday humidity and occasional exposure to rain or snow. The following use cases may apply:
5 Bars / 50 Meters / 5 ATM / 165 Feet
A watch rated to 5 Bars can withstand moderate humidity and exposure to water in everyday situations and is recommended for:
10 Bars / 100 Meters / 10 ATM / 330 Feet
A watch rated to 10 Bars can withstand high humidity and prolonged exposure to water. Its use cases are:
20 Bars / 200 Meters / 20 ATM / 660 Feet
30 Bars / 300 Meters / 30 ATM / 1,000 Feet
A watch with this rating can withstand extremely high humidity and prolonged exposure to water under extreme pressure and can be used for:
50 Bars / 500 Meters / 50 ATM / 1,640 Feet
A watch with a 50 Bar rating is designed for extreme underwater activities, such as deep-sea diving. These watches can withstand humidity levels of up to 100% and are suitable for:
60 Bars / 600 Meters / 60 ATM / 2,000 Feet
A watch with a 60 Bar rating is designed for the most extreme underwater activities, such as saturation diving. These watches can withstand humidity levels of up to 100% and are suitable for:
100 Bars / 1,000 Meters / 100 ATM / 3,300 Feet and higher
A watch with a 100 Bar rating is designed for the most extreme and specialised underwater activities, such as deep-sea submersible operations. These watches can withstand humidity levels of up to 100% and are suitable for:
Though these are the general guidelines for usage. However, in day to day use, we caution you to be on the safe side, and generally go one level down in activity for which the watch is rated to. This is because the watch is only tested to these specifications at the factory when the watch is new. Or when it returns for service. The gaskets and seals do deteriorate with time, and this will compromise the water resistance rating. Also, it is important that when you send the watch for service, you insist that the watchmaker changes the gaskets after opening the case, and does a test each time.
Also be particularly careful, even for watches with high depth rating when using in showers. The water jet under pressure may be directly pointed at the seals. In addition, the warm soapy water has a lower surface tension than cooler fresh water. This enables easier ingress of water through the seals.
In conclusion, watch water resistance is a critical feature that ensures the timepiece can withstand various levels of humidity and water pressure. Understanding the different levels of water resistance and their corresponding uses can help you choose the right watch for your needs.