If you are looking at adding something a little bit unique to your watch collection or, are simply wanting something a bit lighter on wrist without going to a quartz piece, a titanium timepiece might just do the trick.
Titanium can come in a few different forms when luxury wrist watches are concerned. The most common being Grade 2 and Grade 5 titanium.
Grade 2 titanium is pure titanium, and as such it is substantially less scratch resistant than stainless steel. However, Grade 2 titanium is also much lighter and often carries an appealing greyed colour that is quite distinctive.
Grade 5 titanium is technically a titanium alloy, comprised of a number of elements which make it substantially more scratch resistant to stainless steel, whilst maintaining the signature lack of heft titanium is known for. Grade 5 titanium tends to carry a significant price premium in the luxury watch sector despite being a relatively common material in other manufacturing industries.
When looking for a titanium wrist watch there is a raft of options available, here are five of our favourites.
(This list will not include the titanium Panerai Luminor Due Pam 00926, as the full review is available on Watchadvice here.)
The Omega Seamaster diver 300M
A follow up to the wildly successful diver 300M line up of 2019, this stunning Titanium variant takes luxury tool watches to new heights.
This 42mm limited edition timepiece of just 2500 pieces, features three separate metals in its construction. The brushed case is made with Grade 2 titanium, as is the bracelet. Meanwhile, the crown, bezel and distinctive helium escape valve are constructed using 18kt Sedna gold. The base of the bezel however, is made with tantalum, giving off a unique grey tone to the underside of the bezel.
Despite the use of luxury materials in the creation of this particular Seamaster, the piece retains its 300 metres water resistance and lumed dial, making it a perfectly usable dive watch.
With an RRP of $19,800.00 AUD the Titanium diver 300M could be the perfect tool watch for the yacht club.
The Breitling Aerospace EVO
Ok, we started out with a 20 grand bang, lets go to something with a whole lot more bang for your buck.
The Breitling Aerospace range has been around since 1985, the latest in the range the EVO, offers a staggering array of features within its 43mm case.
Quite possibly the king of ani-digi watches, the Aerospace EVO houses Breitling’s patented SuperQuartz thermo-compensated movement. Through the use of its single three O’clock crown, you have access to a 1/100th of a second chronograph, digital day and date calendar programmed for 4 years, countdown timer, GMT function, alarm and a minute repeater.
The watch also boasts 100 metres of water resistance and a weight of only 100 grams.
All of this for an RRP of just $5,690.00 AUD the Breitling Aerospace EVO might be one of the best kept secrets in the brands catalogue.
The Jaeger LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph World timer
Another watch packing in the features, the JLC Polaris Chronograph World timer does exactly what it says on the tin. The classic Polaris design, complete with chronograph and world timer functionality. This is a watch for a true connoisseur.
At 44mm in Titanium, the piece holds a truly complex automatic movement from one of the worlds leading watchmakers. JLC’s calibre 752A is comprised of 274 individual parts, and gives the watch a 65-hour power reserve, as well as a fully integrated chronograph and world timer.
This watch is simply stunning and worth every cent of its $23,000.00 AUD price tag.
The Tudor Pelagos
In what may be the most “Summer” watch of this list, the Tudor Pelagos is an example of just why Tudor has seen a resurgence into the limelight as of late.
A 42mm piece made entirely of Titanium with an even satin finish throughout case and bracelet, the Tudor Pelagos even boasts a titanium dive bezel with luscious blue ceramic insert.
Unmistakable for anything in its class, the matte blue colour used to create the dial and bezel of the Pelagos, is sure to catch eyes at the beach or the pool.
The watch also features one of the best clasps in the business, the bracelet extension system patented by the brand needs to become a standard across all of its dive watch lines.
The Pelagos carries an RRP of $6,250.00 AUD and is available at Tudor retailers across the globe.
The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo
No list of titanium watches can be complete without mention of the heralded Octo Finissimo. A watch that once reigned as the thinnest automatic timepiece ever made, and a piece so staggeringly slender that it’s a wonder it holds shape.
The Octo Finissimo is a full titanium wristwatch that measures in at 40mm in diameter by just 5mm thick. Its distinct octagonal design houses a micro rotor automatic movement, with an outstanding 60 hours of power reserve. Did we mention that the movement is just 2.35mm thick itself?
Bvlgari have produced a mechanical marvel in their Octo Finissimo model range, the titanium model is not only achingly beautiful in its simplicity, it is truly high end luxury watch making at its finest.
The Octo Finnissimo can be purchased for an RRP of $21,800.00 AUD.
