Water resistant vs. waterproof?

..............the face is all scratched up......... I had read somewhere that Brasso worked wonders for scratches on the face. I tried it (using a very soft cloth or cotton balls). It does work.

I bought a Timex Ironman 50 lap watch at Target that was supposed to be water resisitant to 100 meters. It lasted about 90 seconds in the pool before water got inside it and the face went blank. Was this just a bad one and I should try another one? Or do I try to find a waterproof watch? Is there such a thing? is it definitely a watch you have to have? I have a waterproof stopwatch that has been in the water fully and even had the battery changed...it's still working.

Go for the "water proof" marking. Let me draw a parallel. Water proof is like ....... Dara Torres Water resistent is like ...... Aquageek Both are old now, but one looks and works a lot better. John Smith

Hire Stud to be your pack mule, he's usually lagging behing anyway so put him to good use. I guess Ironman (self-proclaimed) is to you what, Fastskin is to me... Amen :lmao:

I replace Timex batteries myself.... You need small screwdrivers, the correct battery (usually labeled on the back of the watch), and because I'm an over 40 Masters swimmer, a magnifying glass! Never had a problem with leaks.

I've been wearing Ironman watches for years.I had the problem you described once,took it back to the dealer,got a replacement and it worked fine.

You got a bad one. Take it back to the store and exchange it. I've swum in Timex Ironman watches for years with no problems. One warning, though - when it's time to change the battery, don't take it someplace like Target or Wal-Mart. Take it to a jeweler, and make sure you tell him that you swim in it. That way he'll be sure to re-install the gasket properly. Anna Lea I agree; except, I've never successfully had a battery replaced. Even a jewelry store didn't get it right. Next swim it did exactly as Geek discribed. I just throw it away. A $30-$40 watch every five years isn't too bad.:shakeshead:

I got a replacement and it's working fine. Now I can document how slow I am going and not have to guess!

I've got a Timex Expedition that has so far lasted 11 years without a battery change, and with a lot of time in the water. I did take it to a Wal-Mart to have the battery changed about 8 years ago, but the clerk checked the battery charge, blew off some dust, and put it back in. It's still working. The buttons are in the wrong place to use the chrono to record laps (the start/split button is on the side), but it's very similar to the Ironman that I bought recently for that very reason. Timex really does make good watches.