Glossary · Materials
316L STEEL (Surgical Grade)
Definition
«Surgical grade» is the commercial name for 316L steel: low carbon, molybdenum, very low nickel release. The same steel used in medical instruments and watch cases. It is not a different alloy from 316L: it is 316L, called this to say that it sits well against the skin.
Frequently asked questions
What is 316L STEEL (Surgical Grade)?
It is 316L steel. The name «surgical» indicates the low nickel release, which makes it suitable for contact with the skin: medical instruments, piercings, watch cases and buckles.
Does «surgical grade» prevent nickel allergies?
It greatly reduces them, not eliminates them: 316L contains nickel, but releases very little. Those who are sensitive usually wear it without problems. If the reaction still occurs, the cause is often the strap's leather tanned with chrome, not the buckle: a vegetable-tanned lining changes things.
How do I pair a strap with a surgical grade steel case?
I encounter 316L steel in the case and buckle, not at the workbench: I work with leather. The steel rule applies: the watch chooses the leather. For those with sensitive skin, I prefer a vegetable-tanned lining and a buckle in the same 316L as the case.
The next step
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