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Testing & Quality
Before a ModTime becomes part of your story, it passes through ours: materials chosen for everyday wear, assembly by hand, and checks before it leaves us.
Now follow the next part of that story: what independent certification means, and what the evidence should show.
The story behind the certificate
Choosing a watch online begins with a photograph. Confidence grows when you can follow the details behind it: the materials, the checks and the evidence.
A certificate gives that evidence a defined purpose. An independent certification body assesses a product, service or system against stated requirements and records the assurance it is able to give. The useful questions are simple: what was assessed, against which requirements, and by whom?
Durability is a broad promise. A recognised standard makes a particular question specific: resistance to water, shocks, magnetic fields or surface wear.
ISO develops the standards; external bodies perform certification. “ISO-Certified Durability” is a descriptive label, not the name of one universal certificate. The actual standard and scope give it meaning.
A certificate is granted under the relevant certification scheme when its specified requirements have been demonstrated. What is assessed may be a product, a service or a management system.
For a watch claim, the document must be relevant to that watch. A supplier’s company certificate does not automatically certify every finished watch assembled from its parts.
The document should identify its issuer, reference, applicable requirements and scope. A test report records methods and results for the tested samples; certification is a distinct assurance under a scheme.
That is what turns a symbol into useful information: a claim you can trace to the evidence, with the covered models and limitations stated clearly.
Our part begins at the workbench. Each watch is hand-assembled to order, then checked for appearance, function and water resistance before dispatch. These checks belong to the watch we are preparing for you.
Independent product evidence would add another layer: a named standard, an issuing body, a document reference and the precise models or configurations it covers. We want that evidence to be easy to follow, alongside the materials and assembly story you can already explore here.
Current ModTime status: no independent product certificate has been supplied. The ISO-Certified Durability badge in this preview is a labeled future-design concept.
See how the original document will be presented
01 / The case & finish
Our watch cases use 904L stainless steel, selected for corrosion resistance and the way it takes a refined polish. It gives the case its solid feel and brings definition to brushed and polished surfaces.
There is a familiar reference in watchmaking: Rolex identifies its Oystersteel as grade 904L. That is a shared steel-grade family. Oystersteel is Rolex’s own material specification and production process; sharing the grade does not make the finished materials or watches identical.
Your model’s specification identifies its case, bracelet and finish. A colour coating or finish is a separate detail from the underlying steel.
02 / The movement
The movement gives each build its character. We use Japanese movements from established calibre families, choosing the function to suit the watch.
NH34 adds a GMT hand for a second time zone. NH35 provides automatic timekeeping with a date. NH38 is an automatic, no-date calibre used in our open-heart builds. These mechanical movements wind through wrist movement and can also be wound by hand.
VK63 takes a different approach: quartz timekeeping paired with a mechanically operated chronograph module. It is a meca-quartz chronograph, rather than an automatic movement.
Find the exact calibre on each product page. Explore TMI movement information.
03 / The view
A dial deserves a clear view. Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal helps protect that view from everyday surface wear while letting the details of your build stay in focus.
Sapphire is chosen in watchmaking for its hardness and clarity. Hardness helps resist scratching; it does not make a crystal unbreakable. A sharp impact can still chip or crack it.
It is a considered material choice for daily wear, paired with sensible care.
04 / Before it reaches you
Your ModTime is hand-assembled to order. Once assembled, it is checked for appearance, function and water resistance before it is packed for dispatch.
We look at the finished build: the dial and hands, the way the controls operate, and the functions of its particular movement. Water resistance is also checked before shipping.
These are our assembly and dispatch checks. Independent laboratory testing adds a different layer of evidence, with a defined method, tested sample and recorded result.
Wear it with confidence
Water resistance is a practical choice, not a literal diving depth. Select the rating offered for your model and how you intend to wear it.
3 ATM: everyday splashes, rain and handwashing. Not for bathing or swimming.
5 ATM: swimming in a pool or the sea. Not for diving, hot water, steam or high-pressure water.
Keep the crown fully secured. Do not operate the crown or pushers underwater. Rinse gently with fresh water after salt water and dry with a soft cloth. Seals age, so water resistance needs ongoing care.
05 / Understanding the evidence
The story becomes useful when you can inspect the record. We will present the original document with its issuer, reference and model scope beside it, so you can see what it actually establishes. A certificate and a laboratory test report are different document types; we will name the one supplied.
These are the most relevant areas for our watches. The references below explain recognised test methods; they are not a list of certifications already held by ModTime.
ISO 22810:2010 sets requirements and test methods for water-resistant watches. It is the relevant starting point for assessing a stated water-resistance rating. Our pre-dispatch water-resistance check is a separate assembly step; it does not by itself establish conformity with every requirement of this standard.
ISO 1413:2016 concerns shock-resistant wristwatches. ISO 764:2020 concerns magnetic-resistant watches. They address different stresses that can affect a watch, particularly its timekeeping. A claim needs results for the tested configuration; a Japanese movement alone does not prove either claim.
ISO 23160:2011 addresses resistance to wear, scratching and impacts for watch cases and accessories. ISO 14368-3:2003 covers thermal and mechanical tests for watch-glasses. These help turn broad durability language into a defined test.
For metal parts in prolonged contact with skin, nickel release is another relevant question. EN 1811:2023 is a reference test method; EN 12472:2020 provides simulated wear and corrosion before nickel-release testing where applicable. Stainless steel is not a promise of zero nickel release or allergy-free wear.
ISO publishes standards; it does not certify watches. A laboratory report, a product certificate and a company's quality-management certificate have different scopes. We will identify the document type and the models it actually covers.
A preview of how an original laboratory document will be presented.
Preview only: no independent report has been supplied for this page yet. The original document and its exact scope will replace this layout.
The details, explained
It is a descriptive label, not the name of one universal ISO certificate. A meaningful certification claim identifies the actual standard, issuing body, document reference and product scope. ISO develops standards but does not issue certificates. In this ModTime preview, the label is a future-design concept; no independent product certificate has been supplied.
No independent product-certification document has been supplied for this preview. ModTime hand-assembles and checks each watch before dispatch. References to ISO standards explain relevant test methods; they do not mean the watches are already certified to those standards.
ModTime specifies 904L stainless steel for its watch cases. Rolex describes Oystersteel as grade 904L. This is a shared steel-grade family, not proof of identical proprietary material, manufacturing, finishing or watch performance. ModTime is an independent brand and is not affiliated with Rolex.
No. NH34, NH35 and NH38 are automatic mechanical movements. VK63 is a meca-quartz chronograph with quartz timekeeping. The product page identifies the movement fitted to the model.
Sapphire crystal is highly scratch-resistant. It is not scratchproof or unbreakable, and a sharp impact can chip or crack it.
Choose the 5 ATM option offered for your model for pool or sea swimming. The 3 ATM option is for splashes, rain and handwashing. Neither option is for diving, hot water, steam or high-pressure water. Keep the crown secured and do not use the crown or pushers underwater.
A certificate should identify its issuer, reference, applicable requirements and scope. A test report should state the method, samples, configurations, results and limitations. A document for one configuration does not automatically cover the whole collection. We will show the document type and exact scope beside the original file.
Editorial guide updated 19 October 2026.
Further reading, directly from the source