Watch allergy? What's going on?

[supercommuter]

So I have been wearing my Omega Seamaster every day for the last 5 or 6 years without issue and just recently I am getting a really bad rash under the watch. I have to take it off and leave it for a day or two to clear it up. The rash is under the actually watch back - not the strap.

Although oddly if I wear one of my cheaper rubber or leather strapped watches I don't have a problem. Ideas?

The omega was cleaned regularly with water and also soap etc in the shower / dishes etc

Is it possible to just develop an allergy like that?

[tumble dryer]

supercommuter said:

So I have been wearing my Omega Seamaster every day for the last 5 or 6 years without issue and just recently I am getting a really bad rash under the watch. I have to take it off and leave it for a day or two to clear it up. The rash is under the actually watch back - not the strap.

Although oddly if I wear one of my cheaper rubber or leather strapped watches I don't have a problem. Ideas?

The omega was cleaned regularly with water and also soap etc in the shower / dishes etc

Is it possible to just develop an allergy like that?

Unlikely, I'd have thought, especially in stainless...

Could you be trapping moisture / sweat below the caseback?

[ou sont les biscuits]

You could try sticking these No Allergy pads on the caseback....

https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/collections/watch...

[Hoofy]

Make sure you properly rinse out the soap especially from any indentations in the caseback.

[supercommuter]

tumble dryer said:

Unlikely, I'd have thought, especially in stainless...

Could you be trapping moisture / sweat below the caseback?

I made sure it was completely dry before I put it back on. I'm a clean person and my job is at a desk so I don't sweat.

Oddly enough it started after I had the battery changed...this might be a co-incidence, but I'm thinking they might have cleaned it or something! I have cleaned it again but only with water

[supercommuter]

ou sont les biscuits said:

You could try sticking these No Allergy pads on the caseback....

https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/collections/watch...

Thanks! Will definitely consider this if it doesn't get any better.

[Mansells Tash]

The only other thing I'd query is, is your strap a bit on the tight side? I have a wedding ring that keeps giving me a bad but very localised rash because of moisture getting caught under it from both sweating & washing my hands after the bathroom etc.

[supercommuter]

Mansells Tash said:

The only other thing I'd query is, is your strap a bit on the tight side? I have a wedding ring that keeps giving me a bad but very localised rash because of moisture getting caught under it from both sweating & washing my hands after the bathroom etc.

It's not tight I don't think. I could probably get away with removing another strap if I'm honest. I am looking at one of the Pepsi bezel gmt's but I don't want to spend a wedge on a new watch only to have the same problem

[ocd]

An acquired allergy to nickel is a likely cause. Worth discussing with your GP or referring yourself to a dermatologist for confirmation.

[aeropilot]

Are under any extra stress lately or have been....?

Only, it's possible that it's reactive dermatitis rather than a SS allergy.

I had similar last year - lasted 9 months and couldn't wear my Sub at all, and thought it was the high nickel content Rolex used in their 904 grade SS, as it was OK with my Steinhart, which had to become my daily wearer.
At the time it manifested itself, I was dealing with my Mum's terminal health condition and all the running around and sorting stuff out.....and Doc suggested it maybe stress related, as it's not uncommon.
Within 3 months of my Mum's passing, it had disappeared......

[LordHaveMurci]

Mansells Tash said:

The only other thing I'd query is, is your strap a bit on the tight side?

This was my 1st thought too, I've had this before & just stopped wearing the watch for a while.

[supercommuter]

supercommuter said:

ou sont les biscuits said:

You could try sticking these No Allergy pads on the caseback....

https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/collections/watch...

Thanks! Will definitely consider this if it doesn't get any better.

So I didn't wear my Omega since starting this thread. It completely went away and i was wearing other watches - G Shock and Leather Strapped IWC with no issues. Put my Omega back on yesterday and bang - it is back again.

So annoying! I have just ordered the above watch bottom to see if it makes any difference.

[55palfers]

Don't worry. It's just Gods way of telling you you NEED a new watch.

[mikeveal]

Are you 100% sure of the watch's authenticity? One of the differences between two all but identical watches (one hailing from Switzerland and the other from China) is the constitution of the steel. The Chinese Onega / Carter / Radio / Rollex / Hamiltonne / Brightling having a much higher nickel content.

Edit:

supercommuter said:

Oddly enough it started after I had the battery changed...this might be a co-incidence, but I'm thinking they might have cleaned it or something! I have cleaned it again but only with water.

Just spotted this. Is it possible that the back was replaced? Swapped with a non original part?

Edited by mikeveal on Wednesday 8th February 12:08

[supercommuter]

mikeveal said:

Are you 100% sure of the watch's authenticity? One of the differences between two all but identical watches (one hailing from Switzerland and the other from China) is the constitution of the steel. The Chinese Onega / Carter / Radio / Rollex / Hamiltonne / Brightling having a much higher nickel content.

Edit:

supercommuter said:

Oddly enough it started after I had the battery changed...this might be a co-incidence, but I'm thinking they might have cleaned it or something! I have cleaned it again but only with water.

Just spotted this. Is it possible that the back was replaced? Swapped with a non original part?

Edited by mikeveal on Wednesday 8th February 12:08

It's real, I bought it new from goldsmiths 6 or 7 years ago.

The back is definitely the same as it has all the marks etc I had graced it with

[supercommuter]

55palfers said:

Don't worry. It's just Gods way of telling you you NEED a new watch.

See, this is the thing. I was about to pull the trigger on a steel sub. But now I'm worried I'm going to buy a watch I cannot wear

[55palfers]

supercommuter said:

55palfers said:

Don't worry. It's just Gods way of telling you you NEED a new watch.

See, this is the thing. I was about to pull the trigger on a steel sub. But now I'm worried I'm going to buy a watch I cannot wear

Buy the Rolex. All will be good.

[aeropilot]

55palfers said:

supercommuter said:

55palfers said:

Don't worry. It's just Gods way of telling you you NEED a new watch.

See, this is the thing. I was about to pull the trigger on a steel sub. But now I'm worried I'm going to buy a watch I cannot wear

Buy the Rolex. All will be good.

If he has an allergy to the SS in an Omega, its likely to be worse with a Sub, as Rolex's 904 grade SS has a much higher nickel content than the 316 grade used by Omega.

[supercommuter]

aeropilot said:

55palfers said:

supercommuter said:

55palfers said:

Don't worry. It's just Gods way of telling you you NEED a new watch.

See, this is the thing. I was about to pull the trigger on a steel sub. But now I'm worried I'm going to buy a watch I cannot wear

Buy the Rolex. All will be good.

If he has an allergy to the SS in an Omega, its likely to be worse with a Sub, as Rolex's 904 grade SS has a much higher nickel content than the 316 grade used by Omega.

I do admire your enthusiasm tho 55palfers

[supercommuter]

supercommuter said:

supercommuter said:

ou sont les biscuits said:

You could try sticking these No Allergy pads on the caseback....

https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/collections/watch...

Thanks! Will definitely consider this if it doesn't get any better.

So I didn't wear my Omega since starting this thread. It completely went away and i was wearing other watches - G Shock and Leather Strapped IWC with no issues. Put my Omega back on yesterday and bang - it is back again.

So annoying! I have just ordered the above watch bottom to see if it makes any difference.

It worked!! I have had my omega on for 4 days now with no issue! So happy...it's almost sad.