The perfect recipe against contact allergies: titanium

Beatrix Westphal, 24.06.2020

Allergies are unpleasant for everyone concerned. Avoiding their symptoms often leads to noticeable restrictions in everyday life. More and more people are aware of these problems, because allergies are an increasing phenomenon. In Germany alone, around one in three people already have an allergy, and the trend is rising.

What is an allergy anyway?

In principle, an allergy is a false alarm of the body to actually harmless substances. On contact with the substance causing the allergy, reactions are triggered in those affected, whose symptoms can be of varying severity and distress.

The respiratory tract, skin and mucous membranes are most frequently affected by unpleasant allergic reactions, which in the worst case can become life-threatening. Less dramatic but at least annoying symptoms are watery eyes, coughing and rhinitis, itching or rash, swollen mucous membranes or gastrointestinal problems.

There are many allergens in our environment that can be the cause of various allergies: House dust mites, pollen, animal hair, insect venom, food, medicines, fragrances or even metals.

Some of these allergy triggers can be avoided in everyday life, others can hardly be avoided.

Contact allergies require a conscious material selection

There is a whole range of substances and agents to which a person's immune system can become hypersensitive over time. Contact allergens are usually certain chemicals, fragrances or metals - in other words, substances with which the skin comes into direct contact. The reaction usually does not occur immediately, but develops over time.

The most common cause of a contact allergy is the metal nickel

Nickel is found as an alloy component in eyewear, watches and jewellery, buttons, zippers and much more. On contact, skin sweat can dissolve nickel ions from a corresponding alloy (chemical compound of different metals). Corresponding materials should therefore be avoided in the case of an allergy.

Although the nickel content of articles of daily use that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin has already been limited by law, in severe cases even the smallest amounts can cause considerable symptoms. In such cases, contact should be avoided completely.

For those affected, a (contact) allergy can severely restrict the choice of products.

Titanium - the only allergy-free metal

Nickel is not only contained in materials such as stainless steel, but to a small extent even in common silver or gold alloys. Of all the metals used in industry, only titanium is really nickel-free and therefore allergy-free.

This makes titanium perfect for use in wristwatches. For a product that is necessarily worn directly on the body - on the skin - skin compatibility is mandatory. Here it is not only a question of wearing comfort, but also of health. Titanium watches are indeed suitable for everyone, including allergy sufferers. The fact that the high-quality metal is 100% allergy-free is one reason why BOTTA has long been using titanium as a material for many of its watches.

BOTTA - contemporary watch design also with regard to allergy sufferers

With its completely nickel-free cases made of skin-friendly titanium, the BOTTA watch brand has developed attractive alternatives not only for design fans but also for people with allergies.

Currently, BOTTA offers the models TRES 24 and UNO 24 both with 45 mm and 40 mm diameter as well as the models UNO, NOVA and TRES in 40 mm full titanium cases.

Contact allergy sufferers will find a wide selection of antiallergic watches with one or more hands, 12 or 24-hour display at BOTTA.

Besides being allergy-free, titanium has a number of other advantages. The noble light metal combines a multitude of superior properties - for example, it is not only absolutely biocompatible, but also particularly strong and corrosion-resistant, anti-magnetic and can even heal slight damage itself.

Learn more about Titanium, the material of the future.

In order to make optimum use of these advantageous properties of titanium, BOTTA has developed its three-part Tri-Titanium housings. For each housing component, a specific titanium alloy that is precisely matched to its purpose has been deliberately selected. You can find out more about the innovative, unconventional design using the UNO 24 Quartz 45mm as an example.

For the designer Klaus Botta, however, titanium not only possesses the outstanding properties that he wants for his durable watches - its warm hue underlines the noble character of BOTTA watches. After all, these are uncompromising design objects - and at the same time extremely health-friendly.

Photos by Klaus Botta

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