Introduction

A watch is more than a way of keeping time. A watch reflects a person's personality and accompanies that person through the day. And for a swimmer, it can be an essential part of the sport. Make sure you buy the right one to give your swimmer as a gift.

Step One

Consider the type of swimming your recipient does. Does she swim laps in a pool every day, or is she an all-around water person? Is she into diving, or is she more into racing?

Step Two

Realize that a watch is a reflection of personality. The style of the watch you choose should be in sync with the recipient's style.

Step Three

Understand that many watches are water-resistant, but not really waterproof. This means the watch can handle rain and hand washing but is not meant to be submerged underwater. Make sure the watch you buy for your swimmer is specifically designed to go in the water.

Step Four

Look for depth resistance on the watch's list of features. If your recipient is into diving, the watch should be specifically designed to withstand pressures at low depths.

Step Five

Look for timers on the watch. Many watches are specially designed to aid swimmers in their workout by timing their lap times. Look for big buttons on the face of the watch. These are the easiest for a swimmer to push at the end of a lap to check her time.

Step Six

Buy a digital watch for a swimmer interested in tracking her lap times.

Step Seven

Look in sporting goods stores for quality sports watches. If the recipient also participates in other water-based sports, such as surfing or waterskiing, look in a store specific to those sports. A surf shop is sure to carry a good selection of surf-style watches that are guaranteed to be water-resistant and ocean-durable.