Waterproof Watches - A Guide by Nordgreen

What are waterproof watches for men?

In the last century, the term “waterproof” was widely in use. Almost every industry claimed its products were waterproof. However, with the rise of customer protection, that term was denounced as misleading. The waterproof watch should mean its perfectly protected against water ingress in every situation. However, no watch on the market can meet those conditions. The complexity of the watch design makes that impossible. Finally, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) prohibited the term "waterproof watch”.  The U.S. FTC (Federal Trade Commission), which enforces truth-of-advertising, has also deemed the term "Waterproof" inappropriate. So, there are no waterproof watches for men and women, only water-resistant ones.

What are water-resistant watches?

Water-resistant watches can get in touch with the water. This is an important feature for everyday use. So, all Nordgreen watches are water-resistant, but waterproof watches are hard to come by. In short, water-resistance shows us how well the watch is sealed against water entering it. The level of water resistance is usually indicated in bars, atmospheres, foot, or meters. In Nordgreen, we prefer to use the atmosphere indicator (ATM). The usual place to put the level of water resistance is on the back of the case. However, there are certain differences between the levels of water resistance.

What are the levels of water resistance for watches?

• 3 ATM/100 feet/30 meters - usual for everyday watches, it can withstand water splashes. Generally, rain and hand washes should be ok, but nothing more.
• 5 ATM/165 feet/50 meters - suitable for showering, swimming in shallow depths, and fishing. Also suitable for wearing in the pool; just avoid longer underwater swims.
• 10 ATM/330 feet/100 meters - great for water sports, snorkelling, surfing, and sailing.
• 20 ATM/660 feet/200 meters - mostly used for professional water sports and by professional military forces. Still not enough for deep-sea diving. 

However, to avoid common mistakes, we need to explain a few things. A watch with the 100 meters indicator can’t go 100 meters under the water. All the watches are tested in laboratories under controlled terms. The most standard two tests are a dry test and a wet test.  

1. Dry test: The watch is placed into a special chamber. The testing machine increases the air pressure and observes the case size. If the case even slightly expands, the watch is not water-resistant.
2. Wet test: A special chamber filled with half air and half water. The watch is outside the water at the start. The machine then increases the air pressure while immersing the watch in the water. Once when the watch is fully underwater, the air pressure slowly decreases. During that process, if any air bubble comes to the surface, well, bad luck. The watch is not water-resistant. This method is usually used for the precise detection of weak spots on the watch.

Nordgreen line of watches for men

At Nordgreen, we take pride in what we do and how we do it. Our Scandinavian heritage and way of life are all about balance. We are especially proud all our lines of watches can be worn by both men and women, which includes our waterproof watches for men. Our lead designer, Jakob Wagner, is in charge of designing the looks. Every watch comes with the precise Japanese quartz movement by Miyota. We use only top-notch 316L stainless steel for the case of our watches. This type of steel is highly resistant to scratches. Also, it doesn’t cause allergies and is completely safe to wear. One of our trademarks is interchangeable straps for watches. You can choose from Italian leather, vegan leather, nylon, and mesh, regarding the materials. As for the colours, in our wide offer, you will surely find your fit.

Pioneer line

The Pioneer line is our pride and joy, as every line of our watches. Celebrating the Danish science tradition, Pioneer was inspired by the wind-turbines. The exclusive Chronograph feature is a plus in this flawless design. Jakob won the Red Dot designing award in 2020 for the Pioneer watch line. This was the fourth Red Dot award in his amazing career. It is also one of our most waterproof watches.

Every watch in our Pioneer line has water resistance up to 5 ATM, or 50 meters. Also, it comes with a domed Sapphire Crystal dial window. You can choose from blue, black or white dial colours. As for the case colour, gunmetal, silver, and rose gold are available. The Pioneer line comes in one unique size, 42 mm. This size is most likely best for male hands. With the Pioneer line, we wanted to create waterproof watches men would love to wear daily.

The Native line

Balance is the most important thing in our lives. With this in mind, Jakob designed the Native line, dedicated to balance. Using his designer’s superpowers, he created a perfect balance between a timeless classic and a modern minimalistic look.

The watches in the Native line have water resistance up to 3 ATM, or 30 meters. In short, they are great for everyday use. Pick from four different case colours available - gunmetal, gold, rose gold, or silver. Also, three dial colours are available, blue, black, and white. Three case sizes of 32 mm, 36 mm, and 40 mm make this watch a perfect pick for every age and gender.

Philosopher line

The Philosopher line of watches celebrates the human mind and thinking differently. Conical case and asymmetric second hand secure all your attention to this watch.

The Philosopher line has a 3 ATM, or 30 meters water resistance. Two case sizes are available, as well as the four different case colours. Take your pick from the women's rose gold, gold, silver, or gunmetal. As for the dial colour, a white dial is a classical choice.