Home
Everyday Luxury: 6 Waterproof Watches for Women
Share:
If you’re looking for an attractive, practical watch that can take the hard knocks of daily life, a water-resistant option is a strong choice.
And the good news is that there are a wide range of great options for you, including watches that will match your style and needs while surviving the inevitable abuse life metes out. And many are elegant and refined – if you know where to look.
“Waterproof?” or “water-resistant?”
If you’re on the hunt for a “waterproof” watch, perhaps the first thing you should understand is that no watch really is. Instead, they’re rated for a depth, either in meters or “bar” – depending on the brand.
That’s not a real depth rating, though, and a timepiece rated for 50 meters (5 bar) really isn’t adequate for diving to 150 feet, or anywhere close to that depth.
This is just a standardized test of water pressure resistance, not a real-world metric that tells you what you can and can’t do and have your watch stay dry inside.
Yes, that’s as maddening as it seems.
Instead, let’s just accept that anything less than effective daily water resistance, something like a 10 bar or 100 meter rating, isn’t well suited to daily life for busy, perhaps even adventurous people.
What does 10 bar/100 meter water resistance really mean for you?
A watch rated for 100 meters will be perfectly safe swimming, showering, getting wet while washing a car, getting sprayed with a hose, hit with a water balloon, or getting thoroughly soaked in the rain.
And from washing your hands to bathing children, a timepiece that can resist water intrusion while you get on with your life is something everyone can appreciate.
So let’s get right to my recommendations.
Our Picks for the Best Water-Resistant Watches for Women
Rolex LadyDatejust
No watch enjoys the brand recognition of Rolex, and few – perhaps only Seiko – can match this maker’s commitment to precision engineering and exacting machining.
Those may not sound like selling points unless you consider that water resistance depends on just those strengths. Careful manufacture and exacting specifications: that’s how you create a watch that can withstand water intrusion.
The Rolex Lady Datejust is water-resistant to 10 bar/100 meters, making it perfectly suitable for pretty much anywhere your life finds you.
Take it snorkeling on vacation, wear it on the beach without worry, wash your car or your hands without a second thought: you’re buying practical luxury rather than delicate jewelry with the Lady Datejust.
Its case measures 28 mm, a diminutive size that’s perfect for small wrists and delicate hands. Machined from stainless steel, and typically paired with a two-tone bracelet, options include yellow, white, or rose gold, diamonds, and a wide array of dial colors and materials.
That makes the Rolex Lady Datejust easy to adapt to your style and preferences. This model starts at a price of $7,200, quickly climbing as you add precious materials.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra
Omega’s Seamaster Aqua Terra is another legendary timepiece, matching the Lady Datejust stride for stride in terms of water resistance, elegance, and options for personalization.
And while not as instantly recognizable as Rolex, Omega has many firsts to its name – first on the moon is just one of them. No one’s second choice, the Aqua Terra just might be the best looking watch on today’s list.
Omega is all about quality; they don’t make mistakes, miss precise measurements, or get the details wrong. As a result, you can trust that your watch will resist water intrusion and keep excellent time.
Larger than the Rolex, measuring 38mm across the case, this is the better choice if your arms, wrists, and hands are larger – or if you happen to prefer a bigger watch. 38mm is still svelte – that’s just 1 ½ inches – so this watch is still a great size for ladies of all shapes and sizes.
Rated to 10 bar or 100 meters, the Aqua Terra offers at least 78 dial and bracelet combinations, with bright colors, subdued hues, textures, diamonds, rare metals, or simple elegance as options.
Whatever your aesthetic choices, the Aqua Terra will always be ready for real life, and you can go about your day – even on vacation – with full confidence that your watch will be safe as long as you avoid scuba diving.
Expect prices starting near $6,600, moving upward with more expensive materials or finishes.
Tissot PRX 35
Tissot has been the champion of fashion-forward design for quite a while now, and their PRX 35 offers sleek good looks, uni-sex appeal, and 10 bar/100 meter water resistance.
Positioned solidly in the mid-tier of watch brands, Tissot offers attractive affordability and solid quality, something harder to find than you might think in the watch world.
Modern, sleek, and uncomplicated: that’s the hallmark of the PRX 35. Available in a small array of dial colors like red, mint green, light blue, and silver, as well as gold-tone coatings, this Tissot offers some degree of personalization, but nothing like the near-customizability of what you’ll find from Rolex or Omega.
That said, its 35mm case, clean, clear dial, and unisex aesthetic is easy to wear and more than respectably durable. Daily life won’t destroy the PRX 35, and its quartz-driven movement promises troubled-free accuracy that will keep you on time.
Tissot’s PRX 35 retails for $415.
Tudor Royal 28mm
Founded by the matchmaker behind Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, Tudor offers similar attention to detail and fine-grade machining, often drawing on its parent company for cases and components. The result is a watch that can match Rolex in most respects while appealing to mid-tier luxury consumers.
Practically, that means that Tudor offers stylish, durable timepieces for thousands less than Rolex.
The Royal 28mm is an excellent example. Available in dial colors like chocolate, salmon, white, silver, and black – but certainly not limited to these – the Royal 28mm offers an array of embellishments including diamonds, rare metals, and mother of pearl.
Classic design elements like a notched bezel and two-toned bracelet, a date window at 3 o’clock, and the possibility of a day window at 12 o’clock, follow Rolex’s aesthetic cues, promising timeless appeal.
All of the Royal 28mm collection is rated to 10 bar/100 meters, too, meaning that nothing short of actual scuba diving is going to threaten this watch’s mechanism.
MSRP for the Tudor Royal 28mm starts at roughly $2,300, with additions like diamonds or gold increasing the price.
TAG Heuer Link
TAG Heuer’s enviable position within luxury horology stems from its long association with racing, as well as its long-standing commitment to mechanical precision. And from sport-specific chronographs to dive watches, TAG Heuer knows the real world can be tough on timepieces.
Their Link collection for women makes full use of this experience, offering an elegant, real-world-ready watch that’s perfect for your busy life or active vacation.
Water resistant to 10 bar/100 meters, it’s not a timepiece that demands particular care, while still offering exciting design details, plenty of personalization, and brand recognition among watch cognoscenti.
Built around a 32mm stainless case and avante-garde bracelet design, the Link offers dial colors like white, black, blue, and a stunning gray-brown, as well as additions like diamonds and precious metals.
TAG’s Link collection starts at about $2,200, rising to as much as $5,500 depending on your specific choices.
Seiko 5 (ref. SRE004)
I’ll confess that I have a soft spot for the Seiko 5: I wear one every day and absolutely love this watch.
Explore the
Biggest Pre-Owned Collection of Luxury Watches
While Seiko doesn’t enjoy the same reputation for luxury as the other brands on this list, ask any watch aficionado, and they’ll tell you that Seiko’s quality and precision are on-par with Rolex.
That’s not unearned praise.
Water resistant to 10 bar/100 meters, the Seiko 5 (ref. SRE004) is a testament to the watchmaker’s tireless pursuit of everyday luxury, and the simple, legible dial, sleek case design, and two-toned bracelet and bezel impart understated elegance.
Build quality is world-class, and I don’t say that lightly.
Easy to wear, surprisingly affordable, and elegant enough for anything short of formal wear – though you can probably make that work, too – the Seiko 5 is a great pick for women who need a reliable, hassle-free watch that’s not going to stretch your budget to breaking.
This Seiko 5 retails for roughly $320.
Conclusion
Real life gets messy, and things often happen in a flash. Whether you’re dodging garden hoses or diving into the pool, worrying about whether your watch will survive shouldn’t be on your already full plate.
Unfortunately, many luxury watches offer only minimal water resistance, requiring constant care before you get them in over their heads.
That’s why it’s important to appreciate the value of a well-crafted timepiece designed to withstand daily contact with water.
For women seeking an attractive, durable, water-resistant watch — one that moves seamlessly between work and play — one of the models I’ve discussed today is sure to fit the bill.
About Exquisite Timepieces
Established in 1998, Exquisite Timepieces is your one-stop shop for all things luxury watches! We are an authorized dealer for 60+ luxury watch brands including Omega, Hublot, Seiko, & Longines! We are proud to showcase one of the world’s largest pre-owned watch collections, including renowned brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe. Check out our brand new watch arrivals here and popular pre-owned listings here.
