What Watches Are Made Of-Replica Watches

A number of different materials are used to construct watches.


Gold Watches

Gold is a material not often used for watches. There are two main reasons for this; firstly that gold is an expensive material, secondly that it is the softest of all the metals. Gold watches are dress watches, normally purchased for special occasions and are not suitable for everyday wear. One advantage to having a gold watch is that gold has an intrinsic value. If the watch can no longer be worn the gold still has a value according to its weight. If you fancy a gold watch but want something more usable than a solid gold watch you can opt for a gold plated one. These have the same lustrous colour as gold but come at a fraction of the price. New technology in this field means that instead of layering the gold on top of the base metal it is now infused into it (by a process known as Physical Vapour Deposition or P.V.D.). This results in a more even spread of colour and longer lasting cover.

Silver Watches

In the same way as gold, silver is a luxury item that retains its value. It is not as soft as gold but is a malleable substance which is why it is used so frequently in jewellery. Silver watches will be more durable than gold ones but have the disadvantage that they tarnish more easily. Although this can be rectified by regular cleaning.

Titanium Watches

Titanium is a lightweight and exceptionally durable material. It has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal. Anything that is worn on the wrist is likely to take a lot of damage over it's life, so titanium is an ideal material to make watches out of. The downside is that it is an expensive material compared to stainless steel, so the cost is often considered prohibitive by watch makers.

Stainless Steel Watches

Stainless Steel is the most common of all metals used in the construction of watches. It is strong, resistant to most forms of corrosion and does not easily stain. This combined with its bright colouring make it an ideal metal to use in watch making. It is frequently used for watch cases and is a relatively cheap option.

Rubber/Resin Watches

Watches with resin straps are normally designed for serious outdoor use. They are really tough and have the advantage of being both lightweight and water resistant, protecting the delicate workings of the watch. Often children's watches will have a strap made from resin for much the same reasons!

Leather Strap watches

Leather is used to make watch straps because it is inexpensive, compared to the other products. It also allows for customisation! Leather can be dyed any colour. Due to the predominant use of buckles as a fastening, leather straps can be made one length and easily adjusted to fit a number of different sized wrists. The downside is that they are nowhere near as long lasting as metal straps, and they can get stained fairly easily. Leather straps have the advantage of being made from a soft natural fabric, so most people find that they are comfortable to wear. Imitation leather is also available, these straps tend to be cheaper and some people may find that they are allergic to them.

Webbing
Webbing straps are generally the cheapest of the straps on the market. They are commonly made from nylon. They are fairly durable and normally water resistant.

What Watches Are Made Of

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