It all started in 1960’s when Citizen started its research on titanium’s use in space program for its durability, strength, and light weight properties. The following year, the Japanese timepiece maker released the X-8 Chronometer made of 99.6% titanium. What titanium does is that it naturally forms a thin, protective, non-porous oxide film on its surface when exposed to oxygen. This stable layer of titanium dioxide provides excellent corrosion and chemical resistance, protecting the bulk metal from further oxidation. Today, every timepiece maker offers limited edition watches due to the rise in demand amongst watch aficionados. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at our top 5 of the finest titanium watches that every collector must have.
Arnold & Son. Longitude Titanium
Longitude Titanium pays tribute to John Arnold’s marine chronometers, and his role in calculating longitude at sea. This watch has a 42.5mm titanium case, a bezel with 60 notches, and a crown at 3 o’clock. The kingsand gold dial gets rhodium-plated or golden finish, coated with super-lumiNova hour markers, hour, and minute hands with a power reserve display at 12 o’clock and a second’s counter at 6 o’clock. The Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) certified timepiece is powered by a self-winding calibre A&S6302 with a 60-hour power reserve, and a skeleton caseback with a 22k red gold oscillating weight
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “150th Anniversary”
150 years is a major accomplishment for any watchmaking brand,as it demonstrates resilience, innovation, and enduring quality. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar from Audemars Piguet is one such timepiece and limited to only 150 pieces. This watch has a 41mm case, an octagonal bezel with eight visible screws, and a crown at 3 o’clock. The sapphire dial gets blue counters for the inner bezel marking 52 weeks in a year, a month with a leap year indicator is at 12 o’clock, a date window is at 3 o’clock, a moonphase at 6 o’clock, and a day of the week indicator at 9 o’clock. All indicators are marked in blue matching the inner bezel. The dial also gets 18k white gold round hour markers, and blue bathtub hour, minute hands, and a white arrow tipped hand for the date with luminescent material. Powering the watch is calibre 5135 with a 40-hour power reserve.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team
The realms of cars and watches overlap significantly due to their shared appeal as complex mechanisms, design inspirations, and precision, and since 2013, IWC Schaffhausen has been the official engineering partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team. The watch has a 40mm case is crafted from grade 5 titanium with lugs, a crown at 3 o’clock, and a polished bezel. There are printed Arabic hour markers, a minute track, hours, minutes, second’s hands with super-lumiNova coating, and a date window at 3 o’clock in the team’s signature Petronas green colour. Powering the watch is IWC-manufactured 32111 calibre with an 120-hour power reserve. The caseback is engraved with small hexagons as well as Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
Tudor Pelagos Ultra
First released in 2012, the Pelagos represented Tudor’s address to diver watches. This 43mm watch gets a case, bezel, lugs, a crown with guard at 3 o’clock, and a 60 minute unidirectional rotating bezel in grade 2 titanium. There is a black matte dial with sandblasted flange comprising of eight square shaped, one rectangular, and an inverted triangle hour markers, and a black numeral date window at 3 o’clock. The hours, minutes and seconds hands snowflake shaped. Powering the watch is calibre MT5612-U with a 65-hour power reserve
Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection The Tentagraph
Released in 2023, the Tentagraph was Grand Seiko’s first-ever mechanical chronograph. This 43.2 mm watch has a titanium case, and lugs, there are two chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock, 4 o’clock, and a crown at 3 o’clock in 18k rose gold, and a black ceramic bezel with tachymeter scale. The dial pattern is reflects Mt. Iwate with a new colour in copper-pink with three sub-dials; 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, second counter at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, and a date window at 4:30. Powering the watch is calibre 9SC5 with a 72-hour power reserve.
Oris ProPilot X Year of the Snake Limited Edition
Oris celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2024 and for that they released a limited edition ProPilot X Year of the Snake. The timepiece features a 44 mm brushed titanium case, a fluted bezel while the big screw-in crown is flanked by protective guards at 3 o’clock. The skeletonised dial of the ProPilot X Year of the Snake variant gets a chapter ring on the outer periphery, and Super-LumiNova®-coated hands and hour markers. At 7:30 lies the small seconds indicator; a non-linear power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock there is a golden hand that is shaped like a snake’s tongue. The skeletonised dial is finished in cyan, and is powered by calibre 115 with a 10-day or 240-hour power reserve.
