Watches working in the hospital?

If you're anywhere near the MRI area leave the watch at home and use your phone.

As far as I know, Omegas are rated to work fine up to 1.5 teslas.

You'll have to check if the watches have silicon springs, if I'm not wrong

I work by anesthesia machines that use paramagnetic calibraters. Unfortunately I can't find anything on the internet if they emit anything, however those sensors are literally next to you all day.

Are silicon springs what to look out for - for magnetic resistance?

I’d be more worried about your future unborn children than your watch. 😜Get a degausser from Amazon for a few bucks if you’re really worried. Or wear a watch that you don’t mind taking that type of beating.

Maybe ask someone in the department about the equipment instead of the internet?

Yeah most people use apple watches now. I get it. You barely see anyone trying to use mechanical.

1. Don't buy vintage

You're overly worried. I spent 15yrs working in laboratory science around tons of equipment and only took my watch off to go into the rooms that said "strong magnetic field." Those are the rooms you take off earrings, wedding rings and don't bring phone into.

An anesthesia machine does not generate a larger magnetic field then your house microwave, television, or computer

I think most watches these days have okay anti-magnetisation built in. Last year I spent 5 days in hospital getting x-rayed and CT scanned and my Borealis Sintra was fine. And if you’re really worried you can get a demagnetizer from Amazon for not much money.

Own a demagnetizer? I do.

A Rolex Millegaus maybe?

Maybe ask @Max ? Omega kills it in this department.

G shock. I worked in a hospital and my g shock served well.

I thought watches and jewelry was to be avoided in medical environments? Because of hygiene? Isn't that the reason for these:

?

Depends on the culture of medicine, UK I believe is more stringent but it's a lot more lax in USA. And even in UK I'd say it'd depend on the field you're in.

It all depends on the field sure. But I would thought that a western hospital would have a pretty universal approach 🤔

I would at least go for a piece that is not only good with magnetic fields, but is easy to clean properly, bracelet and all 😊

It's not the best idea to wear a watch if there is a chance of contact with body fluids. The last thing you want is to spend time scrubbing and cleaning a watch only to discover later on that there is still some gunk stuck.

G-Shocks for example are not a good choice in a pathology lab because stuff can get stuck under the shroud protecting the module.

I thought the US would be strict about it considering the massive lawsuits but 🤷🏻‍♂️ Anyway yes I think a dive watch is great to have as many have magnetic resistance + are easy to clean.

When it comes to watches suitable for working in a hospital environment with a lot of equipment, there are a few recommendations to consider. Firstly, timepieces with quartz movements are highly resistant to magnetism and can withstand the electromagnetic fields present in hospitals. Brands like Casio, Seiko, and Citizen offer a range of quartz watches with various styles and functionalities.

As important as the magnetizing hazard is imo the frequent hand washing after any patient contact is the biggest threat. The band in particular should be something that can withstand frequent soap, water and alcohol based hand sanitizer. The fewer nooks and crannies on the watch the better. None of the routine equipment used for monitoring vital signs has been a problem but many of the imaging departments (MRI, radiology) could be problematic. At the end of my shifts I wouldn't bring anything I've worn into the house but instead dump them in the garage where the washer and dryer are. It's fun having a pulsations dial but not necessary at all. The Boldr Medic II looks like a great medical "beater".

Solid solar quartz, on a rubber or silicone single pass. Seiko, Citizen, etc.

Other option would be a G Shock.

Just due to curiosity, I read up in the Serica Diver, it has decent anti-mag.

Another option would be the Marathon Navigator which I believe also has some magnetic resistance, for that matter new pilots watches will probably have good anti-mag too. But the dials are usually too busy.

Single pass rubber/silicone is super easy to decon and will last forever.

No need to worry too much. Most modern watches can handle some magnetism, whereas I hear an audible change in the ticking sound if my Camy is placed on my magnetic iPad cover. So, unless it's vintage, you'll be more than fine.

Any METAS rated mechanical will work in a hostipal setting.

Anything Metas certified or specifically built to be antimagnetic (faraday cage)

Agreed, some of these responses are way overboard. It’s a healthcare environment, not a warzone.

You can look at high end stuff like Omega (resistant to 15,000 gauss or 1.5 Tesla MRI) or Cartier which is resistant to aound 1,200G which is more than the Rolex Milgauss or 1,000G.

Most of the IWC Pilot's watches have an iron ferrous cage to shield against magnetism, but I'm not sure they publish the actual resistance.

From personal experience, Seiko mechanicals work just fine around hospital computers, anesthesia machines, and other large equipment.

If you're truly worried about magnetizing I would echo other's suggestion a quartz or digital watch as well. Many toolish style from G-Shock to Citizen and even the new TAG Aquaracer Solargraph in Ti.

Anything with a Swatch group powermatic movement will be okay - it has a silicon spring.

Regardless if it is a 1.5, 3T or 7T unit, an MRI scanner has shielding (a Faraday cage) to reduce the fringe field to 5 Gauss, so just 5 times higher than the Earth's magnetic field. Most modern watches will survive this.

You are not going into the scanner room with anything ferromagnetic on your wrist!!!

I love them too!

Yes, particularly for certain procedures, but theyre valuables too.

I wouldve have also loved the marathon due to its tridium, but agreed the dial is too busy