Watch Blues (i.e. contact dermatitus)

[blaise]

Greetings all, as the title states it looks like I've developed contact dermatitus. Of course I haven't seen a doctor yet but whenever I wear my fossil decker watch or skagen brown leather I develop a rash around the buckle area on the inside of my wrist.


This was never an issue until spring this year when I (of course) began to be interested in style and wearing watches regularly.


From what I've discovered in my internet research, I now need to only wear high carat gold, platinum, or titanium watches and everything will be fine! A selection that I either can't afford or am not especially attracted to.


So....help! Any suggestions for a person who has discovered an intense love for watches but now may not be able to wear them?


Thanks in advance,

Blaise

[Deke]

Titanium watches aren't too terribly hard to come by. I'm pretty sure Seiko makes quite a few.


These might not be the best prices, but here's a good collection of them:

http://www.bluedial.com/seiko-watch-titanium.htm


You could always switch the band out if you're not keen on metal (I guess you'd still have to worry about the buckle though)


Conversely you might be able to get away with nato straps on any watch. They run across the back of the case, so it will minimize the amount of metal on skin.

[blaise]

Thanks Deke, sorry for the delay. I like the idea of the nato strap but for me it seems to be more a weekend kinda thing. I think it's titanium for me.


Cheers,

Blaise

[Rodney Dean]

One more vote for NATO. If you want reasons to wear them dressed up, I think you'll find them. This type of strap has been part of the Ivy/Trad style forever, so you've got at least preppy covered.


There's also the famous Bond NATO, a multi-strip strap on a Rolex Submariner, a look that Sean Connery made famous.


I personally have a navy NATO that I sometimes wear on a Orient Blue Ray and it looks very sharp. Not casual at all.

[LesserBlackDog]

Seiko and Citizen both make a bunch of nice titanium watches.


Here are a few options:


http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SGG709-Titanium-Bracelet-Watch/dp/B000WFZU30/ref=sr_1_11?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1344262287&sr=1-11&keywords=titanium+watch


http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SGG705-Titanium-Bracelet-Watch/dp/B000WG5GQA/ref=sr_1_19?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1344262287&sr=1-19&keywords=titanium+watch


http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNAE47-Titanium-Bracelet-Watch/dp/B004JBI37S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344262086&sr=8-3&keywords=seiko+titanium


http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNA107-Titanium-Bracelet-Watch/dp/B006HSBLDY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1344262086&sr=8-7&keywords=seiko+titanium


http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNA113-Titanium-Bracelet-Watch/dp/B000X5JMBA/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1344262086&sr=8-10&keywords=seiko+titanium


http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BL5250-02L-Eco-Drive-Perpetual-Chronograph/dp/B000EQS0WK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344262148&sr=8-3&keywords=citizen+titanium


Not sure if a black IP coating would be enough to protect you, but who knows:


http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNN233-Chronograph-Black-Watch/dp/B0044XG6FC/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1344262086&sr=8-12&keywords=seiko+titanium


There's a company called Boccia that makes all titanium watches in more modern styles. Sort of Skagen-esque. I don't know anything about the quality, but my local watchmaker sells them.


http://teno.com/Boccia-Titanium/Boccia-Watches-Men/3529-01


http://teno.com/Boccia-Titanium/Boccia-Watches-Men/3530-01


http://teno.com/Boccia-Titanium/Boccia-Watches-Men/3535-03


http://teno.com/Boccia-Titanium/Boccia-Watches-Men/3500-01


^ Stick that one on a brown strap and you've got yourself a Ryan Gosling Drive watch. Just make sure you find a hypoallergenic strap buckle....

[LesserBlackDog]

Alternately, you may simply try and find a new buckle for your old watches, if the buckle is the primary source of irritation.


http://www.globalwatchband.com/group/87/


You can find some on eBay as well.


Watch buckles are pretty simple to remove and replace. They are attached via the same kind of springbar as the strap itself, so you will just need a springbar tool or a precision flathead screwdriver.

[blaise]

Wow, thanks so much!


@Ben R: the second to last Boccia watch intrigues me. Also I'm gonna take look at the watchband site for my skagen and fossils.


I'm indebted.


Cheers,

Blaise