Buying water resistant watch - 50m or 100m?

Hey pr, while not being an advocate for G-shocks, I wouldn`t discount saving up the extra coin and biting the bullet and buying one. I learn`t that the hard way. Dropped $100 on 2 different occaisons buying watches that are usually made under license. First was an `Umbro` as in the soccer brand, supposedly water resistant, shock resistant etc. Thing shat itself in 6 months. The second was an Adidas, looked flash, was a piece of crap as well. That fared slightly better and I got 8 months out of it.

I am not familiar with the Gul watch, but as a wetsuit company and not a watch company, I assume the watch is made under license from another maker. I bought a G-shock Gulfman a few years ago now for about $300, it is an awesome watch, solar powered, tough as nails and doesn`t lose a second. I would imagine I`ll still be wearing it in 10 years time and beyond. Worth the extra money? For me? For sure.

Also, as an afterthought, I have a Seiko Sports 100 that would be coming up to 25 years old now. Apart from a few batteries and 3 new bands, that thing has been amazing. But now sits in the draw as a result of the Casio.

Depends on the type of watch really.If its an analog with a well sealed screw down crown & no push buttons,you might get away with a 50m,but a 100m would be a safer bet.
If it has push buttons you realy need a 100m minimum for constant water immersion.
I had an Adena 200m Oceaneer & it survied 9 years of water & abuse,never had any water get in it.
It just up & died one day,I think I payed around $130 for it.
Not sure if thay still make them but well worth looking at if you can find them.
Im currently 6 years in to a Tissot PRC2OO with no problems so far.

Best surf watch I've owned is a RipCurl SSS Tidemaster. Not cheap at $400, but rated to 200m and still going strong after 9 years!

Save up and buy a rip curl, they are made for the ocean, not diving 50- 100M in a swimming pool.

$9 G-shock knockoff on ebay direct from China. Still going strong after a year, and if I lose it I don't really care :)

i know its not the done thing on this forum to promote the RipaQuikBong, but i have a Quikky deep 300, i've had it 5 years, changed the battery once, its tide data is pretty much bang on and its still going strong.

If you want to not spend big dollars on a watch you may have torn off when you wipe out, head over to BigW. Those cheap watches with 50m or 30m water resistant actually are. Been using them for years. $20-30 for something you may lose isn't too bad IMO. In the US they are branded as aquatech watches - quite a few websites with divers using them, so surfing shouldn't affect them one bit.

Well spotted bookster!

found a beaut ripcurl along the track at... and wodering if it's worth spending as much as having a new battery fitted, if it doesn't work tough shit

Depends on the model if its an ATS it might be worth sending it to Ripcurl,about 40-50 bucks for battery,new seal & pressure test.If its screwed you will only lose what it cost to post it to them.
If its just a standard model somewhere like Mr Minute can wack a battery in it for around $15-$20.

ive got a quiksilver deep 300 watch ive been meaning to sell for a while, never used.
$250 ONO

Not sure about that bookster. I have been advised that '50m' means that you can wear it in the shower, and that you need minimum 100m for surf. Also, you need it re-pressurised with the battery change, otherwise the protection is non-existent.

I'm not sure why they can get away with it, but 50m is not waterproof. Needs to be water-proof, not water-resistant.

Pressure in a wipeout would be an interesting experiment. The turbulence in a wipe out may show areas equivalent to very deep water for very brief periods.

Wonder if anyone has done experiments on that?

Depends on the model if its an ATS it might be worth sending it to Ripcurl,about 40-50 bucks for battery,new seal & pressure test.If its screwed you will only lose what it cost to post it to them.
If its just a standard model somewhere like Mr Minute can wack a battery in it for around $15-$20.

By: "spongebob"

works fine now, $10 altho the back plate is screwed on, and 1 of them can't go back in, guy reckoned it had something broken and wouldn't screw this 1 back down hard. So bummer, no good for the surf aw shucks

I have a ripcurl rincon ATS watch had it for about 4 years now , changed the battery once at the local watch guy who did that and pressure tested it all ok. pretty good watch very durable, the tide it shows is pretty close with in 30 min of actual tide times.

Not sure about that bookster. I have been advised that '50m' means that you can wear it in the shower, and that you need minimum 100m for surf. Also, you need it re-pressurised with the battery change, otherwise the protection is non-existent.

I'm not sure why they can get away with it, but 50m is not waterproof. Needs to be water-proof, not water-resistant.

Pressure in a wipeout would be an interesting experiment. The turbulence in a wipe out may show areas equivalent to very deep water for very brief periods.

Wonder if anyone has done experiments on that?

By: "batfink_and_karate"

Proof is in the wearing, batfink. I've gone through 3 of them now in about 6 years, batteries ran out on two and one came off in a wipeout. Never leaked. Watch #4 has been in the surf a couple of dozen times at least, 30m water "resistant" and cost me $5 on special. Do a google search on aquatech watches for diving and read on if my ancedotal evidence isn't enough for you... It isn't the prettiest of watches, but no way am I wearing something expensive in the surf...

this one survived the

e wrote:

Super Wash

cycle, guess it might last in the hic water

What batfink says about 50m is correct, however, like most things theres some tolerance. A 50m watch will survive most surf sessions and even some seriously turbulent thrashings. It could last for years - or die the first time you take it out. You need a 100m for any sort of effective guarantee. If you have a super cheapie and the battery needs replacing, change it yourself and don't bother about pressure testing. Costs too much. Batteries bought from somewhere like Dick Smith will only cost a few bucks.
Im a cheapskate and been doing this for years. make sure the seal is in place when you put it back together and maybe use a little vaseline (?) on it to help the sealing properties. Ive got two 50m watches which are probably 7 to 10 yearsold. one on its second battery the other on its third.
I did have one other watch fail though.

If you want a really cheap option try a casio F91-W. I have had mine for over two years now and its still going strong. Only rated as Water Resistant however after wearing it every time i surf it has never missed a beat. This watch has basic functions such as stopwatch, alarm and it is even backlit!

If you wanted to splash out a couple more dollars ($5) you can get the "illuminator model" which has a bright blue light on the display.

They are a throw back to the 80's but are light, reliable and cheap. I got mine on ebay from singapore and it cost $19 with shipping.

My previous watch was a ripcurl titanium tide wath and I much prefer the casio haha.

Cheers.

I googled the f91w... my $5 blue watch is a copy of it!

One thing that the casio has in its favour is that it's thin, some of the chunky dive watches are too big under the sleeve of a steamer, so you get a nice cold water flush thing happening...

Yeah Bookster, the f91w is super thin, perhaps even sleek. How long has the $5 job lasted you so far? I am just a fan of the no frills, what you see is what you get kinda watch.

had it about 6 months now... bought it in winter as my other cheap watch band went all loose (still works, should just get a new band). The $5 special is still going strong... interested to see how long the battery lasts.

I had a Casio like that from about 1981. It lasted for years and one of the benefits of Casio watches is they are very easy on batteries. Last for years and years. Also have a Casio I found on the beach, washing around at the edge of the water with a broken band. It's now been with me for 18 years and only 2 batteries. For some reason I seem to attract watches. Just did a stocktake - 9. Only got four with working batteries though,

I have also noticed a core crew around my local starting to wear the old school casio's. by core crew i mean I have seen two other people wearing them in the last month. they are making a comeback, jump on the bandwagon now, you will never look back.

mr rocket , one is shocked to find out that you think no-one cares. one cares mr rocket, one cares very much! as you can imagine one invented the water proof wrist watch as ones fob chain kept rusting when one was surfing on alaia that one also helped develop.so there you have it mr rocket someone( thats me bigwayne by the way) cares. all those other "uncaring" blatherskites will be in awe of you big purchase.

oh and good luck with the watch mr rocket it is usually is the el-cheapo ones that go the distance

this was bought to you by a very caring and empathatic feerless leeder

Hey there pocket - rocket.

How is the watch trating ya?

Would be interested to know.

Cheers,

eb

Yeah, tell us all about it Poket Roket.

Bookster has convinced me. When the son next asks me for a surf watch I'll put him on to those, although they look suspiciously like the one he already has.

He does want a tide watch though. When my RC gives up the ghost I might hook up with an Aquatech model myself.