In daily life, watches are not only timekeeping tools but also accessories worn in close contact with the skin. However, have you ever considered that if the materials used in the exterior components of watches contain harmful substances, they may pose health risks through skin contact?

To better protect consumer safety, especially that of children, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China have issued GB 44702-2024 Limits of Harmful Substances in Exterior Components of Watches in Direct Contact with Human Skin, which will officially take effect on October 1, 2025.

Why is this new standard necessary?

When wearing a watch, exterior components (such as the case, strap, clasp, and crown, etc) remain in prolonged direct contact with the skin.Substandard materials may release heavy metals like nickel, lead, and mercury, or contain chemical substances such as formaldehyde and plasticizers. These substances can trigger skin allergies, contact dermatitis, or even pose more severe health risks.

The introduction of this new standard aims to mitigate these risks at the source, ensuring consumers can wear watches with confidence and peace of mind.

Scope of Application

GB 44702-2024 applies to exterior watch components that come into direct contact with the skin, including but not limited to:
● Metals and cermets (ceramic-metallic composites)

● Leather

● Plastics, rubber

● Synthetic sapphire, inorganic glass

● Fiber-reinforced composite materials

Core Limit Requirements

General Requirements (applicable to all watches)

●  Nickel release rate: < 0.5 μg/cm²/week 

●  Carcinogenic aromatic amines: ≤ 30 mg/kg 

●  Free formaldehyde: ≤ 75 mg/kg 

●  Heavy metal limits: 

  ○ Cadmium (Cd) ≤ 100 mg/kg

  ○ Lead (Pb) ≤ 1000 mg/kg

  ○ Mercury (Hg) ≤ 1000 mg/kg 

●Leather materials: Must comply with the harmful substance limits specified in GB 20400.

Special Requirements for Children’s Watches (ages 3–14)

In addition to meeting the general requirements, the following stricter limits on migratable elements and plasticizers apply:

● Migratable elements: 

  ○Sb ≤ 60 mg/kg，As ≤ 25 mg/kg，Ba ≤ 1000 mg/kg 

  ○Cd ≤ 75 mg/kg，Cr ≤ 60 mg/kg，Pb ≤ 90 mg/kg 

  ○Hg ≤ 60 mg/kg，Se ≤ 500 mg/kg 

●Plasticizers (sum of DBP, BBP, DEHP): ≤ 0.1% 

What Does It Mean for Consumers?

●Enhanced Safety: Reduced risk of skin and health issues caused by heavy metals and harmful chemicals.

●Greater Transparency: Watch manufacturers must demonstrate compliance with the standard through testing.

●Increased Confidence: Especially for children's watches, more stringent standards ensure better protection for kids' health.

Impact on the Industry

For watch manufacturers and supply chains, GB 44702-2024 is not only a mandatory quality and safety requirement but also a value-added advantage that enhances brand trust.

It will compel enterprises to upgrade across all aspects of operations, including raw material selection, production processes, surface treatment, and supplier management, ensuring that every skin-contact component undergoes strict scrutiny. In the long term, this will drive the entire industry toward greater environmental sustainability, safety, and international competitiveness—particularly in high-end and export markets, where products complying with the new standard will gain a stronger edge.

In this process, third-party testing institutions play an especially critical role. PTS Testing Service — DongGuan Picked Testing Service Co.,Ltd is Third-Party Professional Testing Institution , 
an authoritative lab accredited under China Metrology Accreditation (CMA), CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment), and international mutual recognition agreements (ILAC-MRA), has partnered with leading laboratories in the industry to form a collaborative network. Together, they provide one-stop testing solutions that efficiently support full supply chain compliance for watch companies.

Brands can leverage PTS Testing Lab echnical expertise during R&D for material screening and performance validation, while its internationally recognized test reports offer solid compliance credentials for global exports and platform sales. In a highly competitive market, this proactive and excellence-driven approach to quality management—anticipating and exceeding regulatory requirements—will become a vital competitive advantage in earning both consumer trust and international orders.

The implementation of GB 44702-2024 marks a significant step forward for China in the field of consumer product safety. It establishes stricter safety standards for watches—items designed for “direct skin contact”—throughout the entire process from design to manufacturing.

PTS Testing Service is Third-Party Professional Testing Institution, provide one-stop product certification and testing services. (including CE(LVD/EMC/RED/RoHS/REACH/EN71)、EPR/WEEE/BattG、CPC(CPSC/CPSIA/ASTM F963/Ca Prop 65/FCC/UL)、CCPSA(SOR/2011-17)、AS/NZS ISO 8124、GB6675、LFGB、FDA、POPs、TSCA、TPCH、PFAS、PAHs、SCCP、GB 4806、GB 18401、GB 31701、QB/T 1333、QB/T 2155, Formaldehyde, AZO, Carcinogenic Sensitized Dyes, Organotin, Phthalates, Heavy metals, Nickel release, Salt spray corrosion, High temperature aging, component analysis Report). We serve a wide range of industries: contained on textile, footwear, bags, Toys, electronics, arts and crafts, cosmetic, Watches, Eyewear, Jewelry & Accessories ,Glass, Children products, Garment, Furniture, Lighting fixture, Beauty & Cosmetic Electric, Care Massage Product Field, Adult products Sex toys Products, electronic and many other fields.

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