Testing watches for use in extreme conditions is a realm in which compromise plays no part. The more punishment the timepiece can take, the more durable, dependable and valuable it will be to the owner.
Sports watches in particular are marketed as being able to perform under difficult conditions, and must balance superior water- and shock-resistance with unfailing accuracy. Antimagnetic resistance and tolerance to wild fluctuations in temperature are features that watchmakers are increasingly focusing on.
Water testing is usually undertaken in pressure chambers that accurately simulate physical demands of a deep sea environment.
Other simulated tests can put watches through the rigours of high-altitude mountain environments or massive temperature variations. Temperature resistance might include freezing a watch or immersing it in boiling water. Antimagnetic watches must be tested for accuracy after exposure to magnetic fields, while shock-resistant watches must be able to carrying on telling the time after literally getting hammered.
These laboratory tests have become standard in recent decades. A rather new trend sees watches being tested out in the field.
Sean Eav, Ball Watch director of marketing and communications, explained: 'Our company's 'ambassadors' have aided in the perfection of our cold-temperature movements by taking them on various expeditions in the Antarctic or the Himalayas. Record-breaking free-diver Guillaume Nery tested the new Diver collection during his trials for upcoming competitive events.'