Diving watches were originally created to help military personnel when conditions got a little wet. However, they were also invented for professional divers. Technomarine is a watch brand that specifically serves this purpose. In order to be titled as a diving watch, the watch needs to be completely water resistant to at least three hundred thirty feet or a hundred meters. However, a Technomarine watch can go up to nine hundred feet or three hundred meters, making them the top choice in diving timepieces.
The standards for these watches are set by the International Organization for Standardization. The criteria that diving watches have to meet are established because not just any watch can survive the harsh underwater conditions that diving can present. It’s this strict set of rules that allow for a diving watch to hold its title.
It’s the cases of these watches that really face the test when submerged in water. They must be tightly sealed against the intrusion of water and must be able to stand up to the harsh corrosive effects of sea water. The cases feature special corrosion resistant metals and the case is reinforced in order to be able to handle shocks and the effects of magnetic fields.
The pressure of the deep water also has potentially damaging effects on watches. Because of this, diving watches are much sturdier than dress watches. The salt present in ocean water is highly corrosive, and when exposed for too long, the water can make metal rust. Diving watches come in a variety of materials, including plastics, resins, titanium, ceramic, and stainless steel, which are able to withstand the effects of corrosion, shock, and magnetic forces.
Another important feature that a diving watch should have is an elapsed time control on the bezel. On an analog watch, it’s the bezel itself that rotates. The job of this control allows for divers to see how long they’ve been submerged. Having a reading of elapsed time close at hand helps divers stay safe. The crystals on diving watches need to be extremely sturdy in order to stand up to the pressure of the ocean. They are sometimes arched, giving them a more resilient shape against the pressure. The materials used for these crystals need to be as tough as the metal used in other parts of the watch in order to handle the sea’s constant pressure.
A technique used by diving watch craftsmen is to fill the watch with helium or air to counterbalance the pressure. Professional divers are sometimes in charge of important rescue missions or other important jobs. When lives or critical missions are on the line, a reliable watch is needed to help them complete it successfully. A faulty watch makes their jobs more risky, both for the diver and the person they are trying to save.
