Case back irritation on 116600 - Advice

[kans86]

My wrist is 6.5 and I find the SD4K is not very comfortable to wear. I think it is due to the sharp curves of the case and bracelet. It doesn't get much wrist time compared to my Milgauss.

[Jmbarrack]

Originally Posted by kans86

My wrist is 6.5 and I find the SD4K is not very comfortable to wear. I think it is because of the sharp curves of its case and bracelet. It doesn't get much wrist time compared to my Milgauss.

You think the bracelet edges are sharper on the 116600 than the Milgauss? I know they're sharper/crisper on the 6 digits compared to 5.

Ultimately my issue here is more with a section of the caseback. The bracelet and clasp don't cause me any discomfort.

[kans86]

Originally Posted by Jmbarrack

You think the bracelet edges are sharper on the 116600 than the Milgauss? I know they're sharper/crisper on the 6 digits compared to 5.

Ultimately my issue here is more with a section of the caseback. The bracelet and clasp don't cause me any discomfort.

The edges of SD4K bracelet are sharper than that of the Milgauss for sure. If I wear the watch tightly they can cut and leave marks on my wrist. And the protruded case back is not that comfortable.

[abozz]

Originally Posted by Jmbarrack

Thanks for the reply. How long did it take to go away? Did you have the irritation as soon as you got the watch or was it like me where it started after a period of time?

I’m also hoping that I can just wear it and it goes away ...


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Like 6 months or even more. But I was too much in love of my SD43 to give up, sometime I loose the bracelet to move the case of the allergic reaction point, after a while the allergy go away. No problem anymore. Be patience if you like your SD. The SD have a different 904L composition is my opinion because is a "more pro" diver. But that is only my opinion because the SubC do not cause that reaction on me.

Enviado desde mi SM-G975F mediante Tapatalk

[Jmbarrack]

Well. I wore it looser today with some success.

What I’m noticing is that when my wrist is more stationary, meaning when I’m just sitting at my desk, I seem to notice it more.

It’s strange though as it comes and goes through the day. Sometimes I don’t feel it at all, sometimes I feel it.

In any event, it wasn’t too uncomfortable wearing it looser but when I get home, I moved it in 1 notch / 2mm so it wouldn’t flop around too much...

I don’t think I’m any further along than I was before to be honest.


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[Jmbarrack]

Trying a nato today ... let’s see if that helps.



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[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Jmbarrack

- Put a small piece of tape on the backside where it was bothering me. Stupid, I know. But let’s just see how it goes.

3M makes a nice 8 mil thick tape, aka leading edge or helicopter tape. Use it for many things and this might stop your situation. Hope this helps, Amazon has it at https://amzn.to/38DdKbF

[Jabbo84]

Try washing your wrists. If that doesn’t work use bleach.

[Gimoozaabi]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

This has happened to me before and the culprit has always been a watch with "dweller" in the name. The case backs are thicker, more pronounced and have a smaller surface area. It's a small difference compared to a standard diver and more compared to a GMT2, but this small difference matters. This usually causes the discomfort.
I just switch wrists for a few days or switch watches. Something else that helped with my Deepseas was to use a Rubber B. The new redesign has helped immensely with my 126660 but my 116660 and previous 16600 all dug in, still I loved them to much to let go.

Once a Dweller digs in it will always dig in, some of just don't have the wrist for it. You'll see many threads here relating to this issue.

This^

What Rashid.bk said - they have more pronounced case back - visually on the SD4k and the SD43 they appear the same and are quite pronounced.

I have both 116600 and 126600 and wear than w/o any discomfort whatsoever. Both are very comfortable and sit balanced on the wrist. Since a month I wear the SD43 24/hrs (even in bed) and have no issue with it.

As others suggested:
Try switching the watch on the other wrist.
As a last resort you can put the watch on a Nato strap.

[Jmbarrack]

I’m honestly baffled here.

This watch gave me 0 problems at all wearing and then out of the blue, it started bothering me now it always does. I can’t understand what’s going on here.

Even on a nato, where it hits my skin on the edge of the case/caseback, I feel discomfort. And it’s not even like on the nato is really digging in at all. It’s lightly touching. I’m thinking this may be an issue with my own skin all of a sudden or some sort of residue I can’t get off the watch ... as strange as that sounds because I have no idea where any residue would have come from.


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[JohnnyBer]

Does anyone know if this caseback could be swapped for a Sub date or GMT’s? I love the proportions of the six digit case, but the protrusion of the back does lend to slight discomfort.

[DRKBC]

Sounds like an allergic reaction. Trying a protective film makes sense, if for nothing other than to see if it makes any difference. If it doesn’t then at lease you can rule out a metal allergy.

[Jmbarrack]

Originally Posted by DRKBC

Sounds like an allergic reaction. Trying a protective film makes sense, if for nothing other than to see if it makes any difference. If it doesn’t then at lease you can rule out a metal allergy.

It very well may be an allergic reaction. But if it is I wanna know:

- why after a month of use?
- why not with any of the other 4 Rolex I’ve owned?

Someone suggested maybe the steel composition is different on the SD than other models, but I haven’t read anything suggesting that is the case...

In any event, I’m just taking a break from wearing it for the next few days. Maybe I just need to give my wrist a break from wearing anything. I’m really hoping this clears up because I don’t want to part with this watch. It took me a long time to finally find a 6 digit model I actually liked.


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[Loevhagen]

Probably scabies.

Disinfect the watchcase.

[Jmbarrack]

Update:

So I've done the following:

- Given the case and bracelet a really good scrubbing with mild dish soap and warm water.
- Stopped wearing it for at least 24 hours

I put it on this morning and I didn't have any issues initially. Then after a while, the burning sensation started up again, and the top of my wrist was red in a circle where the case back sits. I also still have this one mark in the same spot by my wrist bone which is not really where the case back sits.

So before leaving for work, I switched out to the Timex Q, which is super lightweight. Never had an issue wearing that at any point. However, while wearing that, I'm still feeling this burning and discomfort. I've taken the Q off and moved it to the other wrist for now. I still feel that discomfort and see redness FWIW ...

Now I'm wondering if I have some sort of skin fungus and just wearing anything is causing it to come out. Like I said, I wore this watch for about a month day in and day out without a trace of any issue of discomfort.

I think my next step may be to try some antifungal cream and not wearing anything for a week or so? I've also done a deep forum dive and found others who have also had similar issues after seemingly having no problems for months. I just can't imagine its an allergy to the 904L as I've worn so many 904L watches daily for years with no issues at all.

Anyway thanks for the help and suggestions guys.

[enjoythemusic]

Again... 3M makes a nice 8 mil thick tape, aka leading edge or helicopter tape. Use it for many things and this might stop your situation. Hope this helps, Amazon has it at https://amzn.to/38DdKbF

[Mystro]

Now it is a issue you will be hyper focused on all the time. My guess is the watch never really fit you well and you just tolerated it the first month in the honeymoon phase.

[Jmbarrack]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Now it is a issue you will be hyper focused on all the time. My guess is the watch never really fit you well and you just tolerated it the first month in the honeymoon phase.

That's a concern I have, is that now I'm focused on it.

But I really don't think it bothered me at all the first month. I was still in the Honeymoon phase with the piece. But out of nowhere, it started to bother me.

[BamaHammer]

Use the dive extension and wear it on the outside of your shirt sleeve or jacket. That should solve the problem

[donq]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20351529

https://nonickel.com/products/nickel...-2-pack-refill

Sounds like you have developed an allergy.

[Jmbarrack]

Final update:

The irritation disappeared as quickly as it came after almost 2 weeks. No clue why - no idea as to what I did (because nothing I did seemed to fix it) - it just all of a sudden didn't bother me at all anymore. Which is exactly how it felt for the first month of owning, as comfortable as any other Rolex I've owned and worn.

I wish I could have provided advice for others searching in the future. But unfortunately, I have no idea what caused or got rid of it ...

Thanks for all the suggestions and help everyone.

[seasubmariner]

Originally Posted by Jmbarrack

Hey guys,

I purchased a 116600 about a month ago. I absolutely love it. I think everything about the watch is perfect.

I have one issue however, this week, seemingly out of no where, the watch started to irritate me where the case back sits. I do not have irritation on the bracelet or clasp FWIW. It’s a slight burning sensation, similar to a mild sunburn, and it sometimes leaves the skin a little red in one spot. Imagine the caseback sitting like a circle flat on your wrist, the irritation is around 10 o’clock.

Now I’ve worn this watch every day for the last 4 weeks with no issues at all. I have not adjusted the fit in anyway. In fact, I thought it was one of the more comfortable Rolex’s I’ve ever owned (BLNR, 16610, 14060, 15210). But now, it’s starting to bother me. I feel like I’ve sized all these watches to fit the same way. Above my wrist bone, snug with no play, can fit half a pinky under the 6 endlink.

Here’s what I’ve tried based on other suggestions in other threads:

- Rearranging links (no I don’t have the diver extension in) ie: 5 on 12 and 4 on 6 and vice versa, even tried 4 on 12 and 6 and put the glidelock all the way out

- Wearing it looser - Just uncomfortable and loose

- Wearing it tighter - Restrictive

I’ve worn a Rolex for years, including my 15210 for 10 years and BLNR for 1 year, every day never had an issue.

So as you can see, I’m kind of at a loss here. I’m hoping someone can weigh in with some suggestions. Here’s so thoughts:

- I’m in the northwest and it turned really cold this week and dry - wondering if it’s dry skin that’s causing the irritation.

- The weight of the case ... though the watch itself Is only 13g heavier than the BLNR. Can 13g make a difference?

- The shape of the case back. It protrudes, but so do all Rolex watches. It’s not that far off from the 16610 as far as I can tell

- The writing around the caseback cause irritation? It’s the one difference between the casebacks aside from thickness.

- Is this just in my head and all mental now? ie: I keep thinking about it therefor it’s bothering me.

Wondering if other owners or people with similar situations could weigh in. I really don’t want to give up on this watch because it really checks all the boxes for me. But this is one thing that wasn’t even in my radar of issues when purchasing a watch.

Thanks in advance.



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Hey mate, please stop worrying it is just a temporary problem. I had the same issue with my SUB and stopped wearing the watch for a season even. Then wore it several times since 8 years and never had the same issue again. However the there was no red at my irritation as it was not as bad as yours.
You have a discontinued 40mm SD which probably will not be produced for the next 1000 years and people will have to deal with 43mm from now on...So, temporarily not wearing the watch, being patient and wearing it again after some time is my suggestion. Making the bracelet looser will cause more skin friction and irritation.

[mario1971]

Originally Posted by Jmbarrack

That’s the 116660 Deepsea. That has a titanium case back.


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Titanium is hypoallergenic, so it should not be allergic. It could be a stone in the water or a bathing liquid, or possibly a pet that has sensitized the skin.
It's nice that everything ended well :)

[rushca01]

Honestly, sounds like ringworm....get a topical fungus ointment and report back.

I train Jiu Jitsu and it’s happened to me before....

[oversteerdawg]

Given your observations, I would surmise that it was an environmental irritant/allergy that was exacerbated by the watch pressing it into your skin.

[crazycarlitos]

Originally Posted by Jmbarrack

Final update:

The irritation disappeared as quickly as it came after almost 2 weeks. No clue why - no idea as to what I did (because nothing I did seemed to fix it) - it just all of a sudden didn't bother me at all anymore. Which is exactly how it felt for the first month of owning, as comfortable as any other Rolex I've owned and worn.

I wish I could have provided advice for others searching in the future. But unfortunately, I have no idea what caused or got rid of it ...

Thanks for all the suggestions and help everyone.

Glad it worked out for u

Some extra reading:

https://www.ibtimes.com/yes-your-app...out-it-1909867

Section “Sweating the watch/What to do?”

It’s not just the sea dwellers causing this issue.

[Jmbarrack]

Originally Posted by crazycarlitos

Glad it worked out for u

Some extra reading:

https://www.ibtimes.com/yes-your-app...out-it-1909867

Section “Sweating the watch/What to do?”

It’s not just the sea dwellers causing this issue.

Thanks. That’s was one of the articles I came across when doing research.


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[Oldfellow]

Very pleased your skin issue eventually resolved.
Now you can enjoy that beauty again.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBer

Does anyone know if this caseback could be swapped for a Sub date or GMT’s? I love the proportions of the six digit case, but the protrusion of the back does lend to slight discomfort.

It’s an interesting question. My guess is the shape of the caseback is required for the depth rating, but aesthetically and functionally a flatter caseback would wear better.