G Shock watches are known for their durability and rugged build. They are designed to withstand harsh environments, and are great even for military applications. Nevertheless, a common question comes up about G-Shock watches, and that is: “Are G Shock watches waterproof?” Actually, all G-Shock watches are designed with water resistance to a depth of 200 meters.
So G Shock watches are water resistant to a depth of 200 meters. This could also be stated as “20 bar”, but we have a whole other article about that. Anyways, does this mean G-Shocks are waterproof? Well, not necessarily. It depends on what you mean by waterproof. If you will notice I said that G-Shock watches are water resistant. I will explain this further.
Waterproof Vs Water Resistant
Water Resistant
It is not uncommon for people to use the term “waterproof” when talking about items such as watches, electronics, etc. Usually, when people ask that question, what they are really trying to determine is if they can shower with it, swim with it, drop it in a pool, etc.
In these cases a sufficient level of water resistance will allow for an item, such as a watch to get wet, or be completely submerged in water without any harm coming to the device. To most, that would make the item “waterproof”. But, that is not technically waterproof. It is just water resistance.
WaterProof
For something to be truly “waterproof”, that would mean that an item is 100% completely impervious to water. Well, in the case of G-Shock watches, just take a look at the technical specifications. You will see that most G-Shocks are water resistant to a depth of 200 meters, as I stated earlier.
This would mean that if you dive to a depth greater than 200 meters, you would then risk damage to the watch. This is far from waterproof. So once again, “Are G Shock watches waterproof? The technical answer to the question is that G-Shock watches are water resistant, not waterproof!
Is A Water Resistance Of 200M Sufficient?
So now that you know that G-Shock watches are not technically waterproof. You may be wondering how far that 200 meter water resistance will get you. Well pretty far actually!
At this level of water resistance you can safely take it out in the rain, shower or bathe with it, swim, and even go snorkeling or diving in it. In fact, most recreational divers only dive to a depth of 40 meters. This means that if you are wearing a G-Shock, your watch should be perfectly fine.
Does this mean that if a watch is rated for 200 meters, you should take it that far? Well, not necessarily. There are other factors involved beyond just its “water resistance” rating.
One thing that many people don’t know about, is ISO certification. There is a difference between a watch being rated for water resistance, and being ISO certified for water resistance. So what is does it mean for a watch to be ISO certified for water resistance?
If a watch is ISO certified for water resistance of at least 100 meters, it can be classified as a dive watch. Watches with this classification will usually have the words “diver” somewhere on the watch. Now G-Shock does have watches with this certification. Most notably, is the Frogman. So if you want a true G-Shock diving watch, then that would be the one to get.
What is the difference between a water resistance rating of 200 meters, and an ISO certified water resistance rating of 200 meters?
Now we will tackle the differences between watches that have a water resistance rating of 200 meters (or any number of meters for that matter), and a watch that is ISO certified for a depth of 200 meters. This one is kinda tricky because every watch is different and has different thresholds.
Water Resistance Rating (Non-ISO Certified)
Generally speaking, when it comes to a lot of watches, a mere water resistance rating means that you may run into problems with your watch being underwater under certain conditions.
There are a several different factors here, and it can be hard to know for sure. But a couple of factors would be how deep underwater you are going, and how long you are underwater. Some watches shouldn’t be kept underwater for extended periods of time.
Then for many watches that are water resistant, you can damage the watch when pressing the buttons underwater. This is because button presses underwater can cause water to leak in. Also, saltwater can be damaging to some watches that are water resistant.
For G-Shocks though, none of these things ever really seem to be an issue. People have reported using G-Shocks for years as lifeguards, recreational scuba divers and such, and never experienced any problems whatsoever. But always keep in mind though, that if the watch is not ISO certified for water resistance, there really are no guarantees.
ISO Certified Water Resistance Rating
Now if a watch has an official ISO certified water resistance rating, then none of the aforementioned problems should ever be an issue. This holds true for any depth up to the depth that the watch is rated for.
So in the case of a G-Shock watch that is ISO Certified (like the Frogman), you will never have to worry about, or even think about possible water damage to the watch, provided it is used within its specified depth limitations.
Conclusion
Well I believe we have accurately and extensively answered the question as to whether or not G-Shock watches are waterproof. For the majority of wearers, the average G-Shock will be enough for any activities that involve getting it wet or submerged in water.
For hardcore diving extremists, however, the G-Shock Frogman will be my recommendation. It is far more expensive than the average G-Shock, but extreme diving is not for the average person either!
And that concludes this G-Shock article on water resistance. If you love G-Shock watches, then check out some of our other G-Shock articles!
