An allergy to titanium is a known thing, but it’s incredibly rare.
A serious question which will no doubt give the guys a great deal of fun, but a serious question, anyone ever suffered a reaction to wearing a Titanium watch and bracelet.
Reason I ask, just come out in a full rash and having been through everything I can think of, the only thing different is the recent purchase of my first Titanium watch. As a kid I was allergic to cheap metals, something I inherited from my Nan. I am fine with gold and stainless steel, but other metals can cause problems.
So a serious question when you guys pick yourselves back up off the floor, anyone else ever suffered.
An allergy to titanium is a known thing, but it’s incredibly rare.
It's just a matter of time...
How clean is it?
Titanium is hypoallergenic - incredibly rare to be allergic to it, but I guess possible. Have you owned titanium watches before?
No, this is my first one. Really can't think of anything else, been through the usual rubbish, soap, washing powders, deodorants, food etc and nothing springs to mind.
I did visit Arrow Park hospital the other week when those 83 evacuees from China were there - so my days could be numbered.
I bought a Breitling Aerospace on a titanium bracelet and came out with a rash the first 3/4 times I wore it in the bracelet I cleaned the bracelet in soapy water and then the wife used alcohol hand gel on the bracelet! But to be fair no reaction since!
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I’m with the cleaning fluids hypothesis
Titanium, like stainless, is used in medical implants and as said, hypoallergenic
You are less likely to react to titanium - rolex is more of an allergic reaction due to the stainless used.Give it a clean and a break and try again.
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Obvious question but where was the rash? On your watch-wrist? Or full body?
The latter implies some food allergy (most likely, I’m not a doctor just speaking from experience)
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This! (and I happen to be a doctor by profession).
Metal allergies almost always shows as a contact allergi - the rash is located where the metal has been in direct contact with the skin. It's typically seen with watches, jewells and metal rivets in jeans. There's no cure other than avoiding contact with the allergenic metal.
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Nylon straps bring a nasty rash to my wrist,cheap faux rubber straps do the same.Im fine with quality Italian made tho.
I’ve got two titanium watches and neither of them have caused me any issues. To balance it out most other watch materials have caused issues for me at one time or another. That’s one of the reasons I went down the titanium route, because they are hypoallergenic. You have taken the right steps in cleaning, hopefully that clears up the issue for you.
Guy at work thought he was allergic to Stainless steel as he would come out in a rash if he wore a watch.
He bought a Titanium watch, but the same thing happened. Turns out he was having a reaction to his own sweat. It was only a mild reaction so it didn't cause him too much stress.
I'm also mildly allergic to titanium. Little blotches
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I’ve seen stainless steel case backs and inner bracelets that appear to have corrosion from sweat. From what I understand, everyone’s sweat is different and some can be fairly nasty...
Anyway Ken - good luck and let’s hope it’s not the watches. I’m sure you’re doing this already, but worth running through a list of anything out of the ordinary that you might have eaten, drunk, washed/sanitised with, sat on, slept in, or otherwise come into contact with...
As someone who has permanent rashes due to a ridiculous disease, I sympathise completely!
Like everyone else has said though, I’d be dead surprised if you were allergic to your watches, titanium or otherwise. It sounds more likely that you’ve had a reaction to something ingested, rather than contacted. If it helps, my watches are (thankfully) something that doesn’t cause me more problems
Obviously, there are special cases, especially when it comes to vintage Alpinists. Sounds like there’s a waiting list for those though....
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I've got a titanium hip and a titanium plate in my shoulder.
Also a titanium clasp on a Rado Diastar so no.
Thanks for the responses guys, the wife has done the usual Google self diagnosis searches and thinks it is a pityriasis rosea virus which manifests itself through a non contagious rash which can last anything from a few days to two weeks or more.
Thoughts Doctors?
Self diagnosis is a dangerous thing, I had it down as bubonic plague
I think the watch has been eliminated from our enquiries. It was lurking around at the time, but appears to be innocent.
Such a tragic emotive story, I recall my poor old grandad telling me stories of life in the trenches during WW1, despite the mud, rats, starvation and imminent death they were warned not to wear Titanium Watches in case of an allergic reaction resulting in an itchy rash. Times were just as tough back then, so chin up Ken and hopefully you will get through it.
That can't be right.
https://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/...es-so-popular/The Citizen X8 Chronometer was the first titanium watch in the world and that was released in 1970.
Though no doubt someone will prove it was a Smiths or Rolex.
Lets hope that isn't the case. Makes me wonder what grade of Titanium it is. I know just like other metals, they have different grades depending on the additives. Like stainless steel varies a lot by the amount of chromium in it. I had my hip replaced a couple of years ago and of course I now set off metal detectors at the airport, but of course surgical grade Titanium is a whole different beast.