stupid question -breitling watches

[Eklipso]

If the world scuba depth record is just over 1000 feet, why would my watch company advertise its watch proof til 500m/1650ft?

Are they just ****ing with unwitting novice divers?

EC

 

[gcbryan]

I don't see the problem. Do you want your watch to flood before that depth?

 

[grazie42]

Also, most manufacturers say that for example "water resistant" only means it will survive a light drizzle, 50m will survive a shower and maybe some swimming, 100m is supposed to survive going underwater (not scuba depth).

Mine is a 100m though and I´ve taken it to 40m without incident...I think this may be a liability thing from the makers point of view (they don´t want to get stuck paying for flooded watches)...if you check with Breitling you may find that they guarantee it for scuba depths and no more...

 

[Scubaroo]

The same reason car companies make cars that can drive 300kmh - marketing.

 

[Damselfish]

Don't know how true any of this this is, but I once read that the depth rating on a watch should be interpreted as "static" pressure - meaning the watch would be ok sitting quietly at that depth, but movement of any sort increases the effective pressure on the watch. And that dividing the waterproof rating by 3 was a good rule of thumb.

 

[zslnk]

Rolex Sea-Dweller is a 4000ft watch that is geared to saturation diving, you
can't go that deep but hey, its looks good! It hasn't flooded in the tub yet

Craig.

Don't know how true any of this this is, but I once read that the depth rating on a watch should be interpreted as "static" pressure - meaning the watch would be ok sitting quietly at that depth, but movement of any sort increases the effective pressure on the watch. And that dividing the waterproof rating by 3 was a good rule of thumb.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

I have also heard that movement on a watch increases its pressure, so a watch that stands up at 40M might not stand up if you thrash your arm around.

 

[JDostal]

That pretty much sums it up. The watches are tested in a non moving state. It's pretty much sitting in a bucket of water in a pressurized cylinder or something like that. Most manuals do state that moving the watch around under water does actually apply increased pressure to the watch.

On my G-Shock watch there was a nice little chart as to the depth ratings and what it meant.

No Water Resistance was pretty self explanatory
50m was showering, bathing, doing dishes
100 m was swimming/snorkeling
200 m was scuba except for mixed gas depths

(this is a rough approximation....)

My Seiko's manual had essentially the same info.

Then again, I know people that have had ultra-cheap wal-mart watches down to 300 feet.

Go figure.

 

[H2Andy]

yeah, i've used my $35.00 Timex Expedition (rated to 300 feet) on about 50 dives now, and it's awesome. also, if it floods.. hey... it's $35.00 to get a new one. the max depth to which it has been is 117 feet.

 

[JDostal]

If you really want to be 100% absolutely positive that your watch will work for diving, get a diving watch. Certain Rolex watches (yeah right....like I've got the funds to take a Rolex diving. I'd wear it once a year with a glass case around it...), Seiko dive watches...there are lots of others out there too.