Section · Journal
7 articles to guide you through your choice.
Featured
A crystal missing from a bezel, and the watch looks finished. This guide explains why stones hold less well on steel than on gold, how to seal them with clear varnish in ten minutes, what you must never use, and why no manufacturer covers this loss under warranty.
Hélène Marchetti21 minSelection
Your vintage Casio says "Water Resist" on it, yet it came back out of service after a swim? This is the scenario we see most often in our after-sales service every summer. A158, A159, A168, LA670, LA680, A700: these watches tolerate accidental splashes and dust, nothing more. A watchmaker explains to you why, model by model, what the engraving really says, the steps to take if water has entered, and why immersion voids the warranty.
Pierre Laurent18 min
A tiny speck of dust or a fibre under the crystal, sometimes straight out of the box: annoying, but rarely serious. Where does it come from, even on a brand new watch? When should you use the warranty rather than opening it yourself? And how do you remove it properly with a blower bulb and tools you already have at home? The complete step-by-step method, from a watchmaker trained in Morteau.
Pierre Laurent23 minAll articles
ATM, bar, metres: three units, one same parameter, massive confusion. What does the rating engraved on the back of your watch really mean? Why does 50m never mean 50 actual metres? How to decode, verify, and choose the right water resistance for your needs? The complete educational guide by a watchmaker trained in Morteau.
Pierre Laurent27 min
10 ATM on your watch dial, how many metres is that really? Can you swim in a pool, bathe in the sea, go snorkelling? The honest answer, from a PADI diver who tested in real conditions. 10 ATM is the rating that truly frees your watch from everyday constraints, provided you understand its limits.
Nicolas Bernard24 min
5 ATM on your watch dial, how many actual metres is that? Can you shower, swim in a pool, swim in the sea? The honest answer, from a PADI diver who tested in real conditions. The 50-metre myth debunked, the proper use of your 5 ATM, and how to choose if you want more.
Nicolas Bernard23 min
A haze under the crystal, droplets after a shower, panic on waking: condensation in a watch is almost always a normal physical phenomenon, not a water resistance defect. Here's how to tell the difference in thirty seconds, what to do (and above all never do), and how to prevent the problem for good.
Pierre Laurent24 min