What Does ATM On The Back Of A Watch Mean?
If you turn your watch over, you will probably see a number and then the letters ATM engraved on it. What does this mean? ATM on the back of a watch stands for ATMOSPHERES.
Which is a little odd.
1ATM (or 1 ATMOSPHERE) is the normal atmospheric pressure in day-to-day life at sea level.
Although this isn’t a strong and fast rule. Underwater atmospheric pressure is affected by all sorts of things.
Whilst a watch may be 10ATM, it doesn’t mean that you can dive into 90m deep water. ATM varies underwater so a 10ATM watch is good for swimming, but we strongly recommend that you only dive in a proper diving watch.
As a general rule:
- 3ATM is splash-resistant. It is fine for wearing in the rain, hand washing, and other occasional contact with water. Most Grace & Co. fashion watches are 3ATM.
- 5ATM is suitable for swimming, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
- 10ATM is suitable for snorkelling and swimming but not for scuba diving.
Remember that steam from a hot sauna, shower or bath can do as much damage to your watch as water. If you get it wet, dry it off.
Your watch may have "ISO 6425" or "Divers" and then a depth number written on the dial or case.
This then is a watch designed for diving.
If it doesn’t have this, a good rule is to consider your watch to be splash-resistant and rain-resistant, but take it off if you’re going to get any wetter than that.
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FAQs
Some claim to be waterproof. But what do these phrases actually mean? The water resistance of the watch can be expressed using a rating method known as atmospheric pressure (ATM) or an equivalent depth metre reading. For example, the value "3 ATM" indicates water protection up to a depth of 30 metres.
It simply refers to how many times a watch can endure sea-level pressure without leaking water. For example, a watch with an ATM of 1 can survive 10m of pressure, whereas one with an ATM of 5 can endure 50m.
3 ATM: A 3ATM certification indicates that your watch is water resistant in the event of minor exposure to water, such as when you wash your hands or it rains. Your watch can tolerate minor splashes, such as hand washing or rain. To avoid damage, we recommend removing it while showering or swimming.