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Somewhat off topic, but I can wear my solid steel watch through the metal detectors at airports, and it won't set off the alarm (SF, Seattle, Toronto, Halifax, Chicago, etc). Yet, a coin or a belt buckle will.

Anyone have an idea as to why?

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Based on my rudimentary knowledge of metal detectors, I'd guess that the individual pieces are too small. I presume that you don't have a watch resembling a shackle, and there is some non-metal/non-conducting linkage between individual sections of the band that prevents it from having a large inductive cross section. Either that, or the guy is too distracted by your spiffy watch and forgets to press the button that makes it go beep beep beep.

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