Michael Kors is a highly popular fashion watch designer that offers a wide range of timepieces from elegant dress watches to jam-packed with features smartwatches.
With each year, the portfolio of MK wristwatches grows and so does the interest in the brand.
Do these watches just focus on the head-turning looks or are they also on their game when it comes to robustness and longevity?
Waterproofness plays an important role in the lifespan of any watch. Hence, it’s important to make sure the Michael Kors watch you’re considering buying provides sound protection against water damage.
So, are Michael Kors watches waterproof? Or should you be looking elsewhere for a safe water companion?
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Is MK Watch Waterproof? And Why Not
Many watch enthusiasts, especially those just dipping their toes (pun intended) into the world of watchmaking, often misunderstand the meaning of waterproofness.
The fact is, as of 2022, a waterproof watch hasn’t been invented not only by Michael Kors but any watchmaker in general.
Instead, watch manufacturers offer fixed levels of water resistance in their watches.
And so does Michael Kors.
Meaning of Water Resistance
The meaning of water resistance can be confusing for many.
The water resistance rating is a designation that is commonly stamped on the back of wrist watches to indicate how well the watch is sealed against water incursion.
In a leakage test, it is frequently accompanied by an indication of the static test pressure to which a sample of newly manufactured timepieces was subjected.
For example, it’s not unusual for folks to think that a watch advertised as being water-resistant up to 30m can be safely taken to a water depth of 30 meters.
That can’t be more wrong!
This is due to the fact that the static pressure test is only performed once on a sample of newly made timepieces. Because only a small sample of watches is tested, it’s possible that any given watch isn’t water-resistant to the certified depth, if at all.
And so:
- 3ATM/30m water resistance means the watch can withstand accidental splashes, ie. while washing hands
- 5ATM/50m water resistance allows you to shower with the watch or even wear it during short swimming sessions in shallow water
- 10ATM/100m water resistance means the watch is 100% safe to wear while swimming or even snorkeling
- 20ATM/200m water resistance is perfect for high-impact water sports such as surfing. It’s also popular in dive watches
- 30ATM/300m and more – ideal for all professional marine activities that include saturation diving
There are also two additional ratings that are oftentimes used with smartwatches.
- IP67 – rated to resist submersion at a depth of 1 meter and for 30 minutes
- IP68 – rated to resist submersion of at least 1 meter and up to 30 minutes + additional depth specified by the watchmaker
So, are all Michael Kors watches water-resistant? And which ratings can you expect?
Water Resistance in Michael Kors Watches
The good news is all Michael Kors products – whether regular wristwatches or smartwatches – are water-resistant to some degree.
However, you shouldn’t expect them to compete with, let’s say, Seiko or Citizen dive watches in this aspect. After all, they are designed to first and foremost look good and be great fashion accessories.
At the very least, you can expect a Michael Kors watch to be water-resistant up to 30m. As already explained, this means the timepiece is splashproof.
With that said, a lion’s share of timepieces offers a water resistance rating between 50m and 100m. The first applies mostly to dressy watches while the latter is oftentimes offered by more sporty models, ie. chronographs.
But how about smartwatches?
The MK Access smartwatch line has been enjoying year-on-year growth so it’s important to know how good protection in water these products provide.
Let’s remember that even the most high-end smartwatch brands such as the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Active are not powerhouses when it comes to water resistance.
In fact, it’s fair to say that there’s a huge room for improvement across all manufacturers.
Michael Kors smartwatches have nothing to be embarrassed about in this aspect but nor are they doing better than competitors.
At the time of writing, all watch models are, quoting the company, “dust and splash resistant” which means they come with a WR rating of 3ATM (30m).
In other words, it’s advised against using the products in water if not necessary.
