Skip to content

Free max-buy calculator for watch dealers — no signup needed. Open it

Water resistance

Also called water-resistant, water resistant

Water resistance is a watch's ability to keep water out, stated by the maker as a depth or pressure rating that reflects testing conditions, not a guarantee for every activity.

Seals and gaskets age, so a pre-owned watch may no longer meet its original rating, especially if it hasn't been serviced recently or the crown and crystal have been disturbed.

Don't promise a buyer that a pre-owned watch is water resistant unless it has been pressure-tested recently. Offer a pressure test if the buyer plans to swim with it.

Related terms

Where this comes up

Pages on this site that use the term.

Learn the trade, not just the word

Plain-English guides to buying, pricing and selling watches as a business. Free, and written to be used at the counter.

Add it if you'd like a call from our team about this or WristBook. We won't text you, and we never share it.

A few emails a month, including a few short follow-ups and WristBook, the dealer software our team makes. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy