Glossary · Materials
Pure Nickel
Definition
Pure nickel is a white-silver metal, hard and resistant to corrosion. In watchmaking it is not used on its own: it goes into stainless steel alloys, into white gold and into the plating of inexpensive cases and buckles. It is also the metal that most often causes contact allergy: the reaction on the wrist almost always comes from nickel released by the buckle, the case back or a plated buckle.
Frequently asked questions
What is PURE NICKEL?
A white, hard metal that does not rust. It is found in alloys (stainless steel, white gold) and in low-cost platings. It is the leading cause of contact allergy on the wrist.
How do I avoid nickel allergy with the strap?
A buckle in 316L steel, which releases very little nickel, or in titanium, which has none at all. No plated buckles of uncertain origin. And watch out for the leather: a chrome tanning irritates just like nickel; a vegetable-tanned lining keeps the wrist at ease.
If the case is in white gold with nickel, which strap should I choose?
The strap does not touch the case on the wrist: it touches the case back, which is usually in gold or steel. The problem, if there is one, is the buckle. With a buckle in 316L or titanium and a vegetable-tanned lining, the wrist does not feel the nickel from the case.
The next step
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