A magnetic ball watch tells the time with steel balls that move around the dial, pulled by a magnet hidden underneath. The first question many people ask when they see one is fair: is a watch with a magnet inside safe? What about my phone, my cards, or a family member with a pacemaker?
Here are straight answers, based on how these watches work and on official medical-device guidance.
First, where is the magnet?
In a EUTOUR magnetic ball watch, the balls on the dial are plain steel. They are not magnets. A small magnet sits on an arm under the dial. The quartz movement turns that arm, and the steel ball on top follows it round. Our article on how a magnetic ball bearing watch works explains the mechanism in detail.
The magnet only needs to be strong enough to pull a small steel ball through a thin dial. It is sealed inside the case, and its field gets much weaker with every centimetre of distance.
Is a magnetic watch safe to wear every day?
Yes. For most people a magnetic ball watch is as safe as any other wristwatch. Small permanent magnets are in everyday things we use all the time: phone cases, laptop lids, earbuds and their cases, handbag clasps, and fridge magnets.
A magnetic watch will not cure or cause any health problem. It is a watch that uses a magnet to move the display. It is not a “magnetic therapy” product, and we don’t make any health claims for it.
Pacemakers and implanted medical devices
This is the one case where you should take care.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised that consumer electronics with strong magnets, such as some phones and smartwatches, should be kept at least six inches (about 15 cm) away from implanted medical devices like pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. A strong enough magnet held close to some of these devices can switch them into a special mode.
Worn on the wrist, a watch is normally well over 15 cm from a pacemaker in the chest. But it can come closer if you fold your arms, rest your hand on your chest, or sleep with your arm across your body. So if you or the person you’re gifting to has a pacemaker, defibrillator or other implanted device:
- Ask your cardiologist before wearing any product that contains a magnet.
- Don’t rest the watch against your chest, and don’t carry it in a shirt pocket.
- Take the watch off before sleeping.
Will it damage my phone?
No. Modern smartphones store data on flash memory, which magnets don’t affect. Phones already contain magnets of their own, in the speakers and in magnetic charging systems. At most, a magnet placed right on top of the phone can briefly confuse the compass in a maps app. Moving the watch away fixes it.
Will it erase my credit or debit card?
The chip and the contactless (tap) part of a card are not affected by magnets. The magnetic stripe on the back can in theory be weakened by a strong magnet held against it for a long time. The simple habit: don’t store your watch pressed against your cards in the same small pocket or wallet slot. Normal wear, like paying with a card while wearing the watch, is not a problem.
Does it affect other watches?
Quartz watches are not affected in normal use. Mechanical (automatic or hand-wound) watches are different. Their fine balance spring can become magnetised if kept very close to a magnet, which makes the watch run fast until it is demagnetised by a watchmaker. If you own mechanical watches, don’t store them touching your magnetic ball watch in the same box compartment. Keep a little space between them.
Airport security, metal detectors and MRI scans
- Airport security: A magnetic watch is treated like any other metal watch. The metal case may set off a walk-through detector, just as a steel watch would. You can put it in the tray with your belt and phone.
- MRI scans: Remove all watches and jewellery before any MRI, including magnetic watches. MRI machines use extremely powerful magnets, and hospitals will always ask you to take off metal items.
Does the magnet get weaker over time?
Permanent magnets lose strength extremely slowly under normal conditions, far more slowly than the watch’s lifetime. What can happen is that a very hard knock jolts a ball off its track. If that happens, a gentle tap or turn of the wrist usually brings it back, because the magnet pulls it into place again.
Quick summary
- The balls are steel. The magnet is small and sealed under the dial.
- Safe for everyday wear for most people.
- Pacemaker or implanted device: ask your doctor, and keep the watch at least 15 cm from the device.
- Phones: fine. Cards: fine, but don’t store the watch pressed against magnetic stripes.
- Store it with a little space from mechanical watches.
- Remove it before an MRI.
If you want to see what a magnetic ball watch looks like on the wrist, start with the EUTOUR E024, the model that defines the range, or the E063 Hexa Phantom and E030 Sport Style for a bolder look. The U056M Full Mirror series is another popular way to wear the same idea.
Frequently asked questions
Are magnetic watches harmful to health?
No. For most people they are as safe as any other watch. People with pacemakers or other implanted devices should ask their doctor and keep magnets at least 15 cm away from the device, as the FDA advises.
Can I wear a magnetic watch with a smartwatch or fitness band?
Wear them on different wrists. The magnet can nudge the smartwatch’s compass, and two devices on one wrist are uncomfortable anyway.
Will a magnetic watch stop working near my laptop?
No. The quartz movement and the magnet work normally near laptops, speakers and phones.
Can children wear magnetic ball watches?
The magnet is sealed inside the case, so it is not reachable. As with any watch, it is not a toy for very young children, who should never be able to open the case or take out the battery.
Ready to try one? See the full range of EUTOUR magnetic ball watches.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have an implanted medical device, follow your doctor’s guidance.
