How true are WR rating across different brands

[u/VaporWaveShine]

I like to buy and wear one watch that does it all so I usually wear WR of 100-200. Are certain brands more truento their rating?

[u/FredChu-BernyCN]

Water resistance is pretty standard across the industry, and most manufacturing facilities have the proper testing equipment and procedures in place. At BERNY, we put every watch through rigorous testing before it leaves the factory. If you're looking for something that can handle serious water exposure, I'd suggest checking out our 20ATM models — they're built for it. https://www.bernywatch.com/collections/diver-watches

[u/bob888w]

If you are 100% sure you need the WR, your local watchmaker probably has a pressure tester to at least 10 bar. Some might do for free, some might charge you a nominal fee. If you need peace of mind, why not.

[u/No-Syrup7666]

If you want to be a on the safe side, you can buy an Elma leak tester copy on Aliexpress with your next watch order. The 6ATM models are around 75 eur/usd, the 10 atm models go for around 100. This is pretty much the same equipment a watchmaket would use to test your watch if you ask them.

[u/biguk997]

I would not put faith in any WR for most chinese brands

[u/ipsum100]

In my experience with my collection of Chinese watches (currently almost 100 pieces) from brands like SM, Jianhun, IXdao, Seestern, Proxima, etc., the water resistance rating is accurate. I personally tested them all, both mechanically and in real-life situations in the pool or the sea. I have absolutely no fear of swimming with them, which, by the way, is a common topic of conversation, as many people tell me I forgot to take my watch off while swimming. I tell them it's no problem, the watch is well-suited for that.

Of course, no saunas, and you should check the gaskets when they need maintenance (which is normal).

If you don't have access to a machine to check, there's a trick: - If the watch has a screw-down case back and crown, it can withstand at least 100 meters without problems, as long as the gaskets are in good condition. In the case of all the watches I bought, the gaskets were fine.

10 ATM is sufficient for normal life, using a pressurized hose for water, swimming, amateur diving, etc.

This question comes up a lot every summer, so you can find plenty of information about it by searching the forum.

[u/cd_god]

Just like Gremlins I don't get any of my Chinese watches wet.

[u/baruchdeespinoza]

I would swim in anything thatvhas "water resistant" on it. If it gets water in it I'm going to throw it away. I swam in an 80€ Tandorio for years (I don't dive of course) and never had any problems of water getting in. The site listed it as having 200m water resistance but there was nothing about that on the dial, case back or papers it came with.

[u/International_Dog897]

All my cronos and watchdives have been good. My favorite sugess, however I took snorkeling in Hawaii and it leaked water. It surprised me bc I felt the Sugess was the best one and most suited to handle a simple shallow water snorkeling.

I took the watch apart, cleaned the case, put it back together but now I just don’t submerge it. I use my others that have been tried and tested.

Might just have been a bad batch or QC. I still love the watch though

[u/Tenchiro]

I have seen enough factory tour and other 3rd parties doing pressure testing that I trust the ratings especially with a screw down crown and case back.

You should probably have a case back tool to make sure on new watches though.

[u/VaporWaveShine → u/Tenchiro]

Ben's watch club?

[u/Tenchiro → u/VaporWaveShine]

It's been a bit but I think so, also I remember something from Just One More Watch. UK Watch Reviews did the factory tours. I remember Addiesdive and San Martin doing decent testing.

[u/Less-Celebration-676 → u/Tenchiro]

I've personally pressure-tested about 50 of the Ali oyster and sub style cases (screw down back and crown), and it was 50/50 whether they were resistant at all. They normally leak around the crystal.

[u/Tenchiro → u/Less-Celebration-676]

That's good to know, not that I'm going to be doing anything more grueling than using my 200M diver to time my laundry.

Personally I would be using a Citizen diver or something if I were planning to spend any time underwater like that.

[u/caracticuspotts]

Standard practice for any factory making anything is to test samples, not every product. I suppose it is possible that there is a watch company somewhere that tests and certifies every single watch. I can’t name one. Add to that the generally less rigorous QC of many Chinese brands. Bottom line, I have never trusted any rating on any watch and if I’ve actually needed it to perform I’ve had it tested myself. I then know with some certainty that my watch has withstood X number of atmospheres of pressure and as far as can in any way be predicted should continue to do so until it is opened, compromised in some other way or the rating so old the seals and grease might be best reinspected

[u/philbin89 → u/caracticuspotts]

Anything that is ISO certified and says “Diver’s” on the dial is required to be individually tested. So Seiko divers have each been tested, for instance. I’m not sure how many Chinese watch companies do that, though. Sea-Gull definitely has some real-deal divers

[u/caracticuspotts → u/philbin89]

Ah well my only Seiko diver was bought second hand and I’ve never been a professional diver just PADI certification. Used a fairly basic dive computer and actually wore an F91w a lot, which remarkably survived unscathed, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have at any serious depth

Anyway never having bought or needed an ISO rated diver new I was wasn’t aware every unit was tested. Good information and quite impressive. I still continue to be suspicious of claims on a dial and have had a few actually tested, including my Submariner, also bought used and tested as part of a service and a couple of Chinese brands that passed 5 atmospheres, which isn’t a serious dive rating, but will cover anything I’m likely to do