Standard nylon zip ties are rigid and smooth, with almost no friction against polished metals such as stainless steel, gold, or platinum. Under force, the zip tie can slide sideways off the clasp, especially on watches like Rolex, Patek Philippe, or Audemars Piguet, where curved and polished surfaces make movement even more likely. In real-world conditions, this can create a false sense of security, shifting out of position and failing precisely when protection is needed.
Zip ties are also made from rigid nylon, which can scratch eighteen karat gold, mark platinum, and damage polished links. Removal introduces another risk, requiring metal blades to be brought dangerously close to a watch that may be worth fifty thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. Rather than adding true protection, they can introduce both security risks and potential damage.