Alright, let’s talk about this “water resistant 10 bar” thing on watches. What the heck does it even mean? I got curious about it, so I did a little digging and some testing of my own.

First off, I started by looking up what “10 bar” actually means. Turns out, it’s a measure of water pressure. It’s like saying the watch can handle the pressure you’d find 100 meters underwater. That’s pretty deep! You might also see it written as “100 meters” or “328 feet” – they all mean the same thing. So if you want to calculate the water-tested depth, it will be 100 meters.
Next, I wanted to figure out what you can actually DO with a watch that’s 10 bar resistant. From what I found, you can safely wear it for things like:
- Swimming: Yep, you can totally take a dip in the pool or the ocean with it.
- Snorkeling: No problem exploring the underwater world at shallow depths.
- Other water sports: Think stuff like water skiing, surfing, or sailing.
But here’s the kicker – it’s NOT meant for scuba diving or anything too extreme. I even found that if “WATER RESISTANT 10 BAR”, “WATER RESISTANT 15 BAR” or “WATER RESISTANT 20 BAR” is inscribed on the case back, your watch is designed and manufactured to withstand up to 10 bar/15 bar/20 bar, respectively, and is suitable for wearing while taking a bath or shallow diving, but not for scuba diving. I mean, you can shower with it and swim but not in salt water.
To test it out myself, I grabbed my own watch that says “10 bar” on it. I started with some simple stuff, like washing my hands and doing the dishes. No issues there. It handled the splashes like a champ.
Then I took it a step further and went for a swim in my pool. I even tried dunking it underwater for a bit. Guess what? Still ticking! It was totally fine. It’s worth noting, I even found that if your watch is rated to 50 meters/5bar or less, it should only be subject to accidental splash; hand washing, dishes, etc. Never submerge it intentionally.

Now, I didn’t go full-on scuba diving with it – that’s not what it’s made for. But for everyday swimming and water activities, it seems like 10 bar water resistance is more than enough. It’s good to know that your watch can handle some water without freaking out. Of course, if you’re planning on doing some serious diving, you’ll want to get a proper diver’s watch, one that’s rated for 20 bar or higher. Those are built for deeper depths and more intense pressure. I also found that a water resistance rating of 20 Bar signifies that the watch has been designed to withstand pressure equivalent to 200 meters of water depth. This level of water resistance is well-suited for activities such as swimming and snorkeling. For example, if your watch is rated to 100 meters/10bar, it is suitable for surface swimming. If your watch is rated 200 meters/20bar, it is suitable for skin diving.
So, there you have it. That’s my little experiment and what I learned about “water resistant 10 bar” on watches. Hope it helps clear things up!