magnetize watch - airport security?

[Rmk392]

been doing a lot of research but there doesn't seem to be a solid answer. Is it safe to take a Manual or Automatic watch through airport security? Either through the x-ray or the body scanner. I have taken Quartz watches through without issue but not sure about Manual watches. any thoughts on them getting magnetized?

[MightyMouseTech]

Have done it at least a dozen times with mine. Seems fine. Not sure how an X-Ray would damage it.

[Rmk392]

yea not sure if it's just an urban legend or not

[Killramos]

Just buy an Omega Gauss - Problem solved

It has never affected any of my mechanical or quartz watches...

[shadow191]

I've gone through multiple times with several automatic watches - both the X-ray when I took it off and the body scanner when I got TSA precheck. No issues.

[overcoil]

It takes strong medical or scientific magnets to magnetize mechanical watch parts - from what I understand - and watch service centers can demagnetized them.

[mike the snake]

Easily solved by buying a Rolex Milgauss.

No issues with my Submariner going through airport machines.

[carzaddict]

ive worn all my watches through security at some point or another...no issues at all

[twin fed]

I have never had an issue with any of my watches either.

[RandomHero]

Originally Posted by vantagesc

I travel over 75k miles a year and always wear the same mechanical watch when going through security. The watch still keeps time to within 2 seconds / day after 4 years of ownership.

Exactly my thoughts.

I honestly thought this was a troll post which is why I didn't respond sooner.

Think about how many people fly every single day on business. Many of those people are wearing watches that cost several thousand dollars. If there were issues with magnetization, you'd have THOUSANDS of people filing complaints every day.

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by mike the snake

Easily solved by buying a Rolex Milgauss.

No issues with my Submariner going through airport machines.

The milgauss cannot be worn thru the metal detector. Goes off every time. Need to put it thru the x ray.

[RedlinePSI]

Get pat downs, problem solved. This way neither you or your watch gets magnetized or radiated.

[overcoil]

Does a magnetized mechanical watch run fast ?
A very good watch forum reads that you can buy demagnetizer and do the fix yourself.

[tony20009]

I walk through airport security with a mechanical watch on almost every other day. If it has any impact, I haven't noticed it. Rarely, I've had to remove a watch -- when they have the scanners turned to super-high sensitivity -- and put it through the x-ray machine. I haven't noticed any issue the either.

I know people encounter electromagnetic fields all day, everyday, but the scanners at the airport emit radiation, not electricity, so whatever electromagnetic field those machines create should not differ whether they are scanning or not, so long as they are turned on. If walking on the non-passenger side of the machine doesn't affect the watch, walking through and being scanned won't either, at least as far as electromagnetism is concerned.

Think of it like this...light, electricity and magnetism are just the evidence for one thing: electromagnetic radiation. Would you be concerned about shining a flashlight at your watch? The x-rays and such that scan travelers at airport security are essentially just a big flashlight that emits light rays that aren't visible to our eyes. That's the "quick and dirty." To get the full story, read this: http://www.astronomynotes.com/light/s3.htm .

All the best.