I know it sounds odd, but I've been dealing with this issue ever since I got my first wristwatch (a smart little Mickey Mouse with the moving cartoon hands and a lovely red leather strap), and I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this, or knows of a cause.

Any metal that isn't either Stainless Steel, Titanium, Gold or Platinum is very quickly corroded in my presence.

I can just touch a piece of brass and within a few hours there will be a black fingerprint etched into the surface. Chromed watch cases with base metal bodies (usually brass) last perhaps two months before the chrome is worn off and the brass starts to dissolve away. As an interesting side-note, once the chrome is breached the watch dies. I can replace the battery, but it will only last a week before being completely drained.

Copper dissolves even faster, and the patina from it gets everywhere. If I touch untreated iron a rust shaped fingerprint will appear after in ~week.

When I'm working on brass cantles I end up wearing gloves when I get near the finishing stages so I don't blacken and have to re-polish my work. I actually waxed my personal one to provide a protective barrier so I wouldn't be endlessly buffing my fingerprints off.

My father thinks this is the funniest thing he's ever seen.

Does anyone else have this issue or know of someone who does? Any idea WHY it might happen?

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