In this article, we are going to explain exactly what it means if a watch is 30 bar water resistant. A lot of people seem to get pretty confused when it comes to this type of terminology. But hopefully, by the end of this article, you will have a much more complete and thorough understanding of what exactly this term actually means.
To start with, we will give you the simple and easy textbook answer to this question. A watch that is 30 bar water resistant, can withstand the pressures of a depth of 300 meters underwater. That is the simple explanation. However, there is actually a lot more to learn about this topic other than just that. To begin with, what is meant by “bar” anyway, and why is that type of terminology even used?
What is meant by “Bar” in 30 Bar?
A bar is simply a very specific unit of measurement. It is meant to be used to describe the atmospheric pressure. This is the force put on the device from the atmosphere. This is very similar to the term ATM. You may notice that in some cases these terms are used interchangeably when it comes to water resistance.
The truth though, is that technically a bar is actually slightly less than an ATM, but watch manufacturers are going to consider these terms the same to avoid confusion. So, then next, what is a bar really?
1 bar is the equivalent of the pressures exerted by the atmosphere at sea level. Then after that, every 10 meters you go below sea level, you would increase the bar count.
So, for example, before you go underwater you are at 1 bar. Once you get 10 meters down you are at 2 bar, 20 meters would be 3 bar, and so on, and so on.
So, wait, then wouldn’t that mean that a 30 bar watch is only good for 200 meters underwater rather than the advertised 300 meters? Well, technically the answer would be yes!
However, once again watch manufacturers more than likely just call 30 bar 300 meters in order to keep things simple to understand for consumers. Based on this, you can go ahead and go by the specifications on the watch rather than by the actual technical definitions.
And that leads us to the next point, which is what can you actually do with a 30 bar water resistant watch?
Actual Applications of a 30 Bar Water Resistant Watch
A 30 bar water resistant watch should be able to handle most any aquatic activity you can throw at it. A 30 bar resistance means that the watch can withstand splashes, showering, rain, swimming, diving, and even deep diving.
In fact, a watch that can go just 100 meters underwater can be considered a diving watch, as long as it meets all of the other criteria. And being able to meet those requirements is the reason why every watch rated 100 meters or more can’t be considered a diving watch. Watches that are rated as diving watches will usually have a text on them somewhere signifying this.
This brings up the next point about a 30 bar water resistant watch, or any number rating of water resistance.
The Listed Water Resistance Rating Can Be Misleading
In a lot of watches, the water resistance rating they display, does not necessarily mean that the watch can be worn at the listed depth. For example, let’s say a watch is listed as having a 10 bar water resistance.
The way in which the watch is tested is not by taking it underwater to that depth. Instead, the watch is sprayed with water jets that equate to 10 bars of pressure.
In actual reality though, being at that depth, plus swimming, will put additional force against the watch. Therefore a 10 bar rating alone doesn’t guarantee that you can take the watch 100 meters underwater, and it remain intact.
This is where that diving certified label would come in handy! Now back to a 30 bar water resistant watch. 300 meters of resistance is a lot even by those standards. So, you can expect that your watch will be fine for most everything water related.
Now as to whether or not it can actually be taken 300 meters underwater. This is going to depend on the particular watch. When in doubt, you can always search online or contact the manufacturer.
Now the last point concerning water resistance is how long a particular water resistance rating will last.
Water Resistant Watches Must Be Serviced
If a water resistant watch is worn frequently in the water, it will begin to lose its resistance. To combat this, such a watch must be serviced regularly.
The reason for this is that the parts of the watch that are sealed from water, such as gaskets, will dry and degenerate over time. Other factors can accelerate this process. Salt water, chlorinated water, and soap from wearing the watch in the shower, are all factors that can decrease the water resistance over long periods of time.
Considering these factors, it is going to be important to get your watch serviced regularly to maintain its intended level of water resistance.
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, the term 30 bar water resistant can have a range of applications in a watch. Hopefully, this brief article has cleared up any questions you may have had on this topic.
Water resistance is important when it comes to wearing your favorite watch in various aquatic situations. Therefore, knowing what the specifications mean, and how they apply is always going to be necessary.
And that concludes this look into the meaning of 30 bar water resistance. If you enjoyed this article, or want to learn more interesting facts about watches, feel free to check out our info section for more articles. We discuss a wide range of facts about watches, some of which are not well known. You can check out those articles here
