s Gen 5 LTE Smartwatch Silicone vs Water Resistant Watch Model 8R500 - Men: which is safer?

TomTom Water Resistant Watch Model 8R500 - Men is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Fossil s Gen 5 LTE Smartwatch Silicone

Fossil

s Gen 5 LTE Smartwatch Silicone

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Good 73/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Silicone band with polyurethane-based

Confidence

62%

PossibleSkin contact allergen from silicone additives

PossiblePolyurethane degradation and microparticle shedding

PossibleDye migration or colorant leaching

Our pick

TomTom Water Resistant Watch Model 8R500 - Men

TomTom

Water Resistant Watch Model 8R500 - Men

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Excellent 77/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

On watch case and band

Confidence

35%

PossiblePolymer case and band degradation

PossibleBacterial or mold growth in seals and band

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Skin contact allergen from silicone additives, Polyurethane degradation and microparticle shedding and Dye migration or colorant leaching on the Fossil and not on the TomTom.
  • We flag Polymer case and band degradation and Bacterial or mold growth in seals and band on the TomTom and not on the Fossil.
  • The Fossil is Silicone band with polyurethane-based where the TomTom is On watch case and band, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
  • We are less certain about the TomTom grade, at 35% confidence against 62%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More waterproof fitness trackers & cases: see the full ranking