Black residue from steel bracelets

[ArtNouveau]

Note the black residue on my wrist, this is after a mtb ride wearing a watch with stainless steel bracelet. Today I was wearing a brand new watch(non Rolex)but it happens with my OPs, Seikos, Speedy, etc, anything with bracelet.
I wash my watches regularly with soap and water but always assumed it was dirt and grime deeply embedded between the links. But seeing this today on a watch's first wearing makes me think it's something about the steel itself, or some sort of reaction with my skin? Anybody experience anything similar?
I do not baby my watches, anything I own is rugged enough for cycling, the only one I rarely wear riding is my Daytona, it's just too shiny!

[Tools]

Stainless steel is self-oxidizing, that's what makes it "stainless". As it is exposed to the air, this protective film develops and does not allow the usual rust and other corrosives to get a foothold.

As anything rubs against it that film will rub off. This is the issue with caseback gaskets on early ss watches. The rubber rubs off the protective film and corrosion gets a foothold that, when it starts, needs to be arrested or it continues.

Your skin oils and lotions, as well as the rapid movements of some athletic adventures, rubs off that protective film too. Wash your watch afterwards to get your oils and lotions off the watch as well as your wrist. It won't do any good to wash it first.

[omar-rye]

Deja vu. I remember a similar thread with the same complaint.

My wife’s Datejust had the same residue after we got it back from the RSC service. We assumed it was leftover residue from the bracelet polishing. I put the bracelet in my ultrasonic cleaner, then rinsed it under the sink, and it never happened again. I took a photo of her wrist that I’ll try to find in my phone and share it.

Consider investing in an ultrasonic cleaner. While I’m not sure if it will solve your issue, it’s very affordable and the best tool for cleaning bracelets and jewelry.

[Dirt]

Your watch is grubby.
Try cleaning the watch periodically with warm dish soap water and a very soft toothbrush to agitate between the links and make soapy bubbles. Then a rinse under warm water.

[brandrea]

That’s one heckuva mark …,

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Your watch is grubby.
Try cleaning the watch periodically with warm dish soap water and a very soft toothbrush to agitate between the links and make soapy bubbles. Then a rinse under warm water.

But today’s ride was with a brand new out of the box watch, its first time to be worn by a human. I think Tools explained it well.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

I remember hearing back when I was taking guitar lessons that some people’s skin and natural oils are more corrosive to guitar strings than others and accelerate their wear. I have no science to back this up but it seemed to be common knowledge in the circles and forums I frequented back then.

[996marty]

Originally Posted by Tools

Stainless steel is self-oxidizing, that's what makes it "stainless". As it is exposed to the air, this protective film develops and does not allow the usual rust and other corrosives to get a foothold.

As anything rubs against it that film will rub off. This is the issue with caseback gaskets on early ss watches. The rubber rubs off the protective film and corrosion gets a foothold that, when it starts, needs to be arrested or it continues.

Your skin oils and lotions, as well as the rapid movements of some athletic adventures, rubs off that protective film too. Wash your watch afterwards to get your oils and lotions off the watch as well as your wrist. It won't do any good to wash it first.

Perfect answer

[Henrimontgomery]

Walk to your dealer and if you trust him
Enough, ask for a bracelet ultrasonic deep cleanse

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

But today’s ride was with a brand new out of the box watch, its first time to be worn by a human. I think Tools explained it well.

Ok.
So looking at the pic and given that you say it's a brand new watch fresh out of the box, it only leaves one possible logical conclusion if we assume your body doesn't have some kind of unique chemstry going on.
That is, there is a posibility that your bracelet has polishing compound residue coming out of it from between the links.

What i said still stands regarding cleaning as a means to work towards eliminating a variable or possibility.
Then re-evaluate going forward and help to come to the correct conclusion.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

Deja vu. I remember a similar thread with the same complaint.

My wife’s Datejust had the same residue after we got it back from the RSC service. We assumed it was leftover residue from the bracelet polishing. I put the bracelet in my ultrasonic cleaner, then rinsed it under the sink, and it never happened again. I took a photo of her wrist that I’ll try to find in my phone and share it.

Consider investing in an ultrasonic cleaner. While I’m not sure if it will solve your issue, it’s very affordable and the best tool for cleaning bracelets and jewelry.

[dandy]

The watch just needs to be cleaned with water and soap. Most probably it is just dirt between links

[Krash]

Something else could be going on with you I suppose, but this happened to me once. I took off my Seamaster and my wrist looked like that but not as bad. I just scrubbed both my watch and my wrist and it never happened again.


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[Moondoggy]

Geez, skin pigment amongst other things can contribute to such.

[Auto16610]

That looks terrible. I mountain bike and I would suggest you get a Casio G Shock. Safer for your collection and sweat and dirt wouldn't be an issue.

[L_S_SHOE]

Originally Posted by Tools

Stainless steel is self-oxidizing, that's what makes it "stainless". As it is exposed to the air, this protective film develops and does not allow the usual rust and other corrosives to get a foothold.

As anything rubs against it that film will rub off. This is the issue with caseback gaskets on early ss watches. The rubber rubs off the protective film and corrosion gets a foothold that, when it starts, needs to be arrested or it continues.

Your skin oils and lotions, as well as the rapid movements of some athletic adventures, rubs off that protective film too. Wash your watch afterwards to get your oils and lotions off the watch as well as your wrist. It won't do any good to wash it first.

Yep.

Oxidation + skin oils + dead skin cells (with melanin) work together to attract even more dirt.

Used to see this all the time when I worked on a farm during the summers.


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[Jake Sully]

I get this pretty bad with any 316L watch (not brand specific) and I keep my watches spotless. Think ultrasound and washes all the time. So I think its in the chemical makeup of the steel and my skin. 904L stainless is not near as bad. Nothing with Titanium or gold.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Good lord! By the looks of it, you've had that watch on-wrist for a decade straight! In all honesty, I've never seen anything like it. Although "some" minor black residue on the underside of oystersteel bracelets (where the skin touches) isn't uncommon at all.

[sah]

I vote for lotions applied to the skin makes it much worse

[Gebbeth]

Rub some dirt on that thing.

JK.....