# what are "resin" watch bands made from?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-resin-watch-bands-made-from/833834>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 11, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-resin-watch-bands-made-from/833834 "2019-05-11T20:26:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-resin-watch-bands-made-from/833834/1 "2019-05-11T20:26:54Z")

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What kind of plastic or material are they made from?

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**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-resin-watch-bands-made-from/833834/2 "2019-05-11T20:55:10Z")

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Polyurethane, I believe.

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**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-resin-watch-bands-made-from/833834/3 "2019-05-12T00:55:36Z")

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> [@Telperion](#):
>
> Polyurethane, I believe.

Is it possible they are PVC?

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**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-resin-watch-bands-made-from/833834/4 "2019-05-12T01:16:34Z")

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> [@sara20](#):
>
> Is it possible they are PVC?

Quite possibly, but I think those are less common. Many sellers will specify materials for allergy reasons, and PU seems to be the most common.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-resin-watch-bands-made-from/833834/5 "2019-05-12T11:52:18Z")

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Polyurethane is most commonly referred to as ‘resin’ in watch bands, but silicone is sometimes called resin, and common plastic might be labeled as such.

A reputable manufacturer (e.g., Casio) that makes a bajillion resin watch bands a year is using polyurethane.

Additional info: Resin is more commonly used to define the watch case structure, so that a resin watch, such as Casio G-Shock series and other tough series they offer, will be touted as tough resin, and the strap is almost always a similar material to the case, except it is pliable and called polyurethane).  
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