Hypoallergenic was a term that first came about in 1953 and it was used to describe any products that caused fewer allergic reactions. Eventually, watches also began falling into this category – some watches anyway.
There are a few different watch types that can cause an allergic reaction – let’s start by looking at these before we dive into the watches that allergy suffers can wear.
Watches That Can Cause Allergic Reactions
- This is one of the most common allergies. This material generally causes a red rash after prolonged exposure. The reason why nickel is used in so many watches is that it’s less expensive, which allows manufacturers to put more budget towards other parts of the watch.
- Stainless steel. While this type of allergy isn’t as common, it does occur. This is mainly because stainless steel is an alloy of different metals. And nickel is one of the most common metals used to create stainless steel, hence the potential for allergic reactions.
- Because rubber watch straps can contain petrochemicals, they can cause an allergic reaction. Chemicals that are used to treat leather straps can have a similar effect.
The allergies caused by these materials are not a health threat, but they can be uncomfortable and annoying.
So, what are the alternatives?
Hypoallergenic Watch Options
- Tissot is just one of the watch brands that create titanium watches. Titanium is found within the earth’s crust, and it doesn’t contain any traces of nickel, making this the first best hypoallergenic watch option.
- Any watch that is 18ct gold or higher won’t cause an allergic reaction. Basically, the higher the quality, the safer it is.
- Sterling silver. This is another safe bet if you’ve experienced allergic reactions to a watch in the past.
- PVD-plated. PVD, which is short for physical vapour deposit, means a watch is made from metal, but the PVD coating prevents it from coming into contact with your skin.
- The final best hypoallergenic watch option is ceramic, which is nonorganic and non-metallic. It’s also an excellent choice if you love purchasing watches in unique colours.
Final Words
If you love watches and investing in unique timepieces but potential allergic reactions have always put you off the purchase, now you know which materials are safe for you to consider.
And once you start searching for hypoallergenic watches, you will be surprised by how many of today’s top brands use these materials during the manufacturing process.