Splash and swim: 5 best waterproof watches to take the plunge with

Looking for a timepiece that isn’t just water-resistant, but truly waterproof? Here are the five waterproof luxury watches that can withstand any type of moisture –­ from accidental splashes to full submersion – all while looking good on your wrist.

See also: 5 luxury smartwatches that combine form and function

Rolex Oyster Perpetual

Credit: Rolex

The creator of not just the first underwater mechanical wristwatch, but also the one that donned the wrist of Mercedes Gleitze (the first Rolex brand ambassador, who was also the first British woman to swim the English Channel back in 1927), Rolex’s waterproof Rolex Oyster has long been one of the most famous waterproof timepieces in the world. If the first generation of the watch can withstand the 13-hour swimming feat, you can rest assured that its latest rendition, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, is nothing less than dependable.

Water resistance: Waterproof to 100 metres
Suitable for:
Swimming, snorkelling; but not deep-diving

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

Credit: Blancpain

Another waterproof watch that also has a great story to tell is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, which was the brainchild of Jean-Jacques Fiechter, the founder of Blancpain. Back in the 1950s, Blancpain was the only watch manufacture that took up the challenge of creating a reliable and hardwearing wristwatch for the French frogmen unit – and the company pulled it off in style. Besides the French navy, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms has also equipped elite combat divers from Israeli, Spanish, German and American Special Forces.

Water resistance: Waterproof to 300 metres
Suitable for:
All high-impact water sports, scuba-diving and saturation diving

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 36th America’s Cup Limited Edition

Credit: Omega

Not just appealing to avid sailors, but also to watch lovers who like a versatile sports watch that combines function and style, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 36th America’s Cup Limited Edition is the official timekeeper of the America’s Cup 2021. After the first collaboration with Emirates Team New Zealand 25 years ago, Omega marks the long-awaited reunion with this special timepiece that is limited to 2,021 pieces worldwide, making it an auspicious watch to wear as we look forward to next year.

Water resistance: Waterproof to 600 metres
Suitable for: All high-impact water sports, scuba-diving and saturation diving

Breitling Superocean Chronograph M2000

Credit: Breitling

While the existing Guinness World Record for the deepest scuba dive is 305 metres, the ultra-resistant Breitling Superocean Chronograph M2000 is waterproof down to 2,000 metres as the name suggests, meaning it can easily survive any high-impact water sports you might possibly be planning.  

Water resistance: Waterproof to 2,000 metres
Suitable for: All high-impact water sports, scuba-diving and saturation diving

Rolex Sea-Dweller Deep-Sea

Another Rolex watch that makes it to our list is the Sea-Dweller Deep-Sea. Well known for the unique piece created in 2012 for the deep-ocean quest with filmmaker and explorer James Cameron, this watch was attached to the record-setting Deep Sea Challenger submersible as it descended to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, at a depth of 10,908 metres, and still functioned perfectly under extreme pressure.

While the other models are generally waterproof to 3,900 metres – a depth where no man can possibly survive – you can take comfort in knowing that even if the watch is ever lost overboard, it’s probably still ticking at the bottom of the ocean.

Water resistance: Waterproof to 3,900 metres
Suitable for: All high-impact water sports, scuba-diving and saturation diving

See also: Wrist takers: Top luxury watch trends of 2020

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