Stainless Steel Watch

What 316L Stainless Steel Is

316L is a grade of stainless steel with added molybdenum, which makes it more resistant to corrosion from salt and chlorides than the common 304 grade. The L stands for low carbon, which keeps the metal stable when it is welded and finished. It is the steel used for marine fittings and surgical instruments, and in a watch it means the case and caseback resist the salt in sweat and the chlorides in tap water that slowly pit lower grades.

• Molybdenum added. It gives 316L its extra corrosion resistance.
• Low carbon. The L keeps the steel stable through manufacturing.
• Built for salt and sweat. The grade resists what skin and water leave behind.

Steel Case, Wood Bezel

A watch keeps water out with gaskets pressed between hard, precisely machined parts, and steel holds those tolerances in a way wood cannot. So steel forms the structure at the front and the back, and the wood is set into the bezel as the visible ring around the crystal. That arrangement lets these watches carry a 50 meter rating, enough for rain, handwashing and a splash, while still looking like wooden watches from the front.

• Gaskets need steel. Precise metal parts hold the seal.
• Wood on the front. The bezel carries the look.
• A 50 meter rating. Rain, handwashing and a splash.

Caring for a Steel Caseback

The steel caseback is the part that touches your skin all day, and it needs almost nothing. Wipe it with a soft cloth when you take the watch off, and now and then with a cloth barely dampened in soapy water, then dry it. That removes the film of skin oil and salt that dulls the finish. Stainless means the steel resists stains and corrosion, not that it never marks, so fine scratches on the back are normal and do not affect the seal. The leather strap takes the most wear on these watches, so the case usually outlasts several straps.

• A soft cloth after wear. Skin oil and salt wipe away before they build up.
• A soapy cloth now and then. Then dry the back fully.
• Scratches are cosmetic. Fine marks on the back leave the seal intact.

Choosing Your Steel Wood Watch

With the case the same across the range, the choice comes down to wood, dial and strap. Walnut, zebrawood or bamboo sets the tone; a white face is the quicker read and a black one the calmer; black leather dresses it up and brown relaxes it. For how dial color changes the look, see the black dial watch page, and for the movement the case protects, see quartz watches. If you are unsure, a white dial on black leather suits the most occasions. Pick the combination you would wear four days out of five, and the steel underneath takes care of the rest.

• Wood sets the tone. Walnut, zebrawood or bamboo around the dial.
• Dial sets the read. White for speed, black for calm.
• Strap sets the dress code. Black dresses up and brown relaxes.