Water Resistance: A Quintessential Part of Swiss Watches

11 June 2020

Normally, watches that are made or assembled in Switzerland or the geographic Swiss region can all be categorised under Swiss watches. Watches may also only be considered Swiss if their final inspection occurred in Switzerland and a specific percentage of their manufacturing costs are domestic. All these requirements make Swiss watch intricate yet elegant pieces of timekeeping.

No matter where you are in the world, most people would immediately recognise the elegance and precise nature of Swiss watches. Swiss watches typically have the most beautiful appearance and most accurate timekeeping out there, which are some of the few things that modern smartwatches do not possess. Manufacturers ensure the high-quality and long service life of Swiss watches through their own highly dependable quality-control and testing procedures. These procedures help them distribute fully functional and perfect Swiss watches to stores for sale.

All About Swiss Watches

As mentioned, a watch can only be considered Swiss if its movement is Swiss, its movement is cased up in Switzerland, and its inspection is carried out by the manufacturer in Switzerland. One factor of being a Swiss watch is to have a Swiss movement. Swiss movement pertains to the movement that has been assembled and inspected in Switzerland. If the components of Swiss manufacture account for at least 60 percent of the total value, then the movement can also be categorised as Swiss.

Following these conditions, watch manufacturers make sure that their watches can surely deliver quality products to their consumers, particularly to those who are Swiss watch enthusiasts and connoisseurs. They typically assemble their Swiss watches with components that are made from 316L surgical steel, which can last and be serviced for a very long amount of time. Another material that is used in Swiss watches is sapphire crystal. This material is used in making the watch face, which can resist almost any type of scratches. Given their materials, you can expect Swiss watches to not be easily damaged and tarnished by any damaging elements over their life cycle. 

Water Resistance is Key

Another property of Swiss watches that makes them stand out is their water resistance. Swiss watches are always known for resisting damages that are brought by water exposure. One thing to consider though is that not all Swiss watches can withstand the same level of water exposure. Some types of Swiss watches are designed to withstand water sports, while others can only defy regular splashes. Their water-resistance property and ability are marked through a specific marking. 

The water resistance level indication of Swiss watches tells the maximum water pressure they are designed to handle, as opposed to the widely believed depth of the water. So, a 30M water-resistant watch means that it can withstand water pressures up to 30 meters. This type of Swiss match bears a basic level of water-resistance, which allows them to handle drizzles and normal splashes.

A 50M water-resistant watch can handle water pressure when swimming in a pool. Diving, however, can still damage this type of watch. Watches with 100M to 1,200M water-resistant rating can handle water pressure from snorkelling, swimming, and showering. Keep in mind that as the intensity of the water activity goes higher, the greater your Swiss watch’s water resistance must be. Using a water-resistant Swiss watch, however, is not enough to sustain water damages over a long time of use. Your Swiss watch must still be served periodically to check any issues and problems. If you have a Swiss watch, you can have it checked with us at Ken Ross Jewellers. We have been in business for over 50 years, producing and maintaining fine jewellery and watches. We specialize in repairing Omega, Longines, Tissot watches and all other quality watches.

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