The Breitling Watch Source Forums

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.)

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Navitimer 01 (2015)
Chronospace Military (2015)

'Official' water resistance ratings and practical application - http://www.breitlingsource.com/articles ... ance.shtml

Gaskets aren't really an issue unless regularly exposed to salt water.

All water resistance ratings are based on static water pressure (unless you talk about ISO 6425) and don't bear any resemblance to real world depths.

The rule of thumb is that 3 bar (30m) is essentially just splash resistant and therefore should really be considered as not water resistant at all - hence you are absolutely correct to not use your Navitimer for anything involvng water. Navitimers are especially susceptible due to the nature of the friction fit bezel : the more freely the bezel turns, the less water-resistant the watch is.

5 bar (50m) WR is generally regarded as fine for showering and surface swimming. When I was a lot younger I regularly swam in a 50m WR Casio and it was always absolutely fine. In that regard the second salesperson was correct in saying that you can swim in it, but that you absolutely must not operate the crown or pushpieces while the watch is wet or submerged, but that goes for pretty much every single watch irrespective of depth rating (save for a few specialist dive watches that allow the operation of the pushpieces at depth). Absolutely no watches allow for crown operation whilst wet.

If your watch was mine, I would still personally remove it for showering and swimming (simply by virtue of the cost and the fact that it's right on the boarder of water resistance), but likewise I wouldn't remotely panic if it DID get a bit wet now and then.

I can't speak for the water resistance of the newer straps. Historically all Breitling leather straps were not water resistant, but I have no data on the currently straps.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks for the replies. I'll follow that advice.

Love the watch so far!

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Navitimer 01 (2015)
Chronospace Military (2015)

I have been snorkeling, swimming, and showering with my Chronospace Military for about 6 months now, I have the mesh bracelet, but have had absolutely no problems.
Congrats on the watch, Love mine, it's my "go-to" Breitling now for when I'm not in the shop.

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GORT

Current watches:
None of your business!