Knowledge
The water-resistance of a watch consists of its capacity to withstand water penetration. This property is defined by ISO international and Swiss NIHS standards.
Watches described as "water-resistant", with or without an additional depth indication, must comply with ISO standard 22810, which is equivalent to Swiss standard NIHS 92-20, and withstand a minimum excess pressure of 2 bars (which corresponds to a depth of 20 metres).
Watches described as a "diver’s watch” are wristwatches that must be able to withstand immersion in water to a depth of at last 100 metres and fulfil all the additional criteria listed in ISO standard 6425, equivalent to Swiss standard NIHS 92-11, namely nighttime visibility, diving time indicator, shock and magnetic field resistance and robustness of the bracelet.
Compliance with one of these ISO or NIHS standards means that the watch can be worn in all day-to-day aquatic and nautical activities (showering, bathing, swimming, diving, waterskiing, water polo, etc.), including immersion up to the depth indicated.
The watch’s compliance is established by a series of tests specified in the aforementioned standards, including water resistance. Moreover, it is recommended that wearers comply with the information provided by the brand, in particular on conditions of use and the terms of the guarantee.
Information on the limits of the use of the watch using a series of pictograms of activities combined with depth indications is often inaccurate and can be misleading as to the watch’s level of water resistance.
The official indications "water-resistant" and "diver’s watch", with or without an additional indication of excess pressure/depth, are standardised.
A watch marked "water-resistant" or "diver’s watch" is suitable for all aquatic and nautical activities, within the limit of the excess pressure/depth indicated.
