Just bought my second Breitling, the Chronospace Military with the military (black) anthracite strap.
I have a Navitimer that I wear to work, and I'll use the Chronospace Military when I'm not at work and on the weekends, etc.
My question relates to water resistance. On the Breitling website, the Chronospace Military is rated at 5 bars. The manual says the watch at 5 bars can be used during a “shower, swimming, surface water sports.” (The 5 bar designation does not include diving and snorkeling, according to the manual.)
At my AD, there was a disagreement between two sales staff about what all this meant. One said that under no circumstances should the watch be used in even casual water environments, like showering or swimming. She said the gaskets around the crown and pushpieces are not designed to be “water proof,” and she said they'll leak, especially as the watch gets older.
Another sales person essentially said that’s hogwash. He said the strap, although there is rubber on the inside, has a Teflon coating on both sides that will prevent the rubber from being damaged by the water. As to the watch itself, he said except for the general admonition not to turn the crown or engage the pushpieces while underwater, the watch can easily withstand wearing in the shower or swimming at non-diving depths.
I don't really plan on wearing the watch in the shower, but what about swimming in the pool or non-diving depth in the ocean? What say you? What’s reasonable risk? (As for my risk profile, I don't even wash the dishes with my Navitimer on.)
