The summer season is the most stressful time of year for our watch. For a start, temperatures are higher and therefore 'he' is more frequently subject to thermal shock. Moreover, it is more likely to come into contact with water. Therefore, my advice is to wear a model designed and built to withstand at least 10 atmospheres of pressure (100 metres). Does this seem too much?
Let us go into detail. The water resistance of a watch should not only be read in relation to the depth it can reach in quasi-static conditions (i.e. diving into the water 'with fins, rifle and goggles'), so it is more correct to speak of pressure resistance (atmospheres or bar), rather than metres.
When the watch is fastened on the wrist, it may in fact be subjected to very high and concentrated pressures, as in the case of placing it under the jet of a tap to wash off sweat. The robustness of a timepiece under extreme conditions is tested by the manufacturer during the homologation process, which precedes production, with thousands of tests for resistance to shocks, vibrations, thermal shocks and water resistance.
The watch that passes them all can go into production and, when new, is guaranteed to get through the summer unscathed. But if your timepiece already has 'a few kilometres on it', better to have it seen by a service centre before taking it on holiday.
Finally, I advise you to memorise the following: for splashing around in water, a waterproof timepiece up to 5 atm (50 m) is more than sufficient; if, on the other hand, you do somewhat more demanding swimming and free diving, a 10 atm (100 m) is better; for scuba diving, a diver of at least 20 or 30 atm (200 or 300 m) is better. And do not wear any watch, not even the sturdiest, when diving, as the impact with water subjects it to very high pressure, a strong shock and also thermal shock: a deadly mix.
Dody Giussani
