The European Commission has revised its battery regulations to exempt devices such as the Apple Watch from requirements that batteries be removable and replaceable by users.
The size is irrelevant, as is the complexity of the electronics/internals. Whether it is mechanical or quartz, lcd or oled, all that is relevant is the seal, either water is kept out at pressure by a seal or it is not.
In reality, the vast majority of dive watches are never used for anything deeper than a swimming pool or snorkel depth. So the pressure load on the seal is rarely anywhwre close to pressured anyway and its really not hard to replace a rubber gasket seal properly
Yes, that’s true. But you have a profound misunderstanding of the size differences between a quartz watch movement and the internals of a smart watch.
The size is irrelevant, as is the complexity of the electronics/internals. Whether it is mechanical or quartz, lcd or oled, all that is relevant is the seal, either water is kept out at pressure by a seal or it is not.
In reality, the vast majority of dive watches are never used for anything deeper than a swimming pool or snorkel depth. So the pressure load on the seal is rarely anywhwre close to pressured anyway and its really not hard to replace a rubber gasket seal properly
I have an open source smart watch with a rating to 30m with a user replaceable battery. Apple is cheaping out and planned obsolescing.