Under Federal Trade Commission rules, a watch should not stop, or its daily rate be affected by more than 60 seconds, when dropped 3 feet onto a hardwood surface, to be called shock resistant.
If shock resistance is specified on a watch case, a watch can withstand normal wear and tear, even during strenuous sport activities. According to U.S. government regulations, the watch must be able to withstand the impact of being dropped onto a wood floor from a height of 3 feet.