What Makes Titanium Wristwatches Worth the Hype?
Besides the metal and the unique color that it bestows upon the titanium case (assuming that it is not coated with an alternate color), titanium wristwatches bring way more to the table.
If you were not already strongly considering buying a titanium watch, here are some reasons to change your mind.
Durability
In the world of metal watches, those made from titanium represent the strength movement better than stainless steel. The base metal is three to four times, if not more, stronger than stainless steel.
That alone tells us that the titanium case is a more durable pick for us any day.
Color Options
While black and silver are the most common options on watches today – especially on men's titanium and stainless-steel watches – we have seen more color options make it to the front in recent times.
The titanium case on a watch tends to carry a gunmetal grey-like color of its own most times. Thus, many users feel like they are limited to color only.
Note that, like gold, titanium can also be a material and color at the same time. Thus, you can get a titanium watch coated in other colors that you would prefer.
Corrosion-resistance
Titanium is not only more durable than most other metals used on watches, but it also handles corrosion better.
We never recommend using ordinary, everyday wear as a dive watch. Still, the average titanium watch will handle its own against water just fine.
For clarity, this is us speaking about the titanium case/ bracelet, not the internals. If your unit is not certified a diver watch, it is not water-resistant enough, and you might damage the innards when used close to the water for too long.
Skin-friendly
Titanium does not cause an allergic reaction to your skin.
The material is heated to very high temperatures to make it malleable enough to bend to the watchmaker's will. At that temperature, no microbe survives.
Titanium vs. Stainless Steel: What is The Difference?
As mentioned somewhere else in this once already, stainless steel is the biggest contender for titanium in the watch market.
Both materials are great, but they excel in certain aspects more than the others.
If you were considering having a stainless-steel watch over a titanium case build option or the other way around, here are some nice pointers.
Lightweight
Titanium watches might be stronger than their stainless-steel counterparts, but they are lighter also.
That brings on the advantage of wearing a fine piece of watch that doesn't feel like a load around your wrists. Of course, the difference in weight could be nominal at points, but you tend to notice over long-term usage.
Allergies
Some watch users are allergic to certain metals. Nickel has a top spot among such metals that cause reactions against the skin.
Stainless steel is as hygienic a piece of metal as they come, but titanium edges it out a little bit here.
If we were hard-pressed to make a choice based on how well they prevented allergies, though, it would be a draw.
Maintenance
Stainless steel is almost scratch-resistant. Pair that with a bracelet of the same material and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window. You suddenly have an almost indestructible watch around your wrists.
The same is not true for titanium which will scratch as easily. If you would still prefer the titanium case, opt for the silver color over black finishes as they hide scratches better.
Corrosion
On a closer look at the titanium material, one of the base features includes oxidation resistance. In layman's terms, you would have a hard time getting a titanium watch to rust.
Stainless steel, on the other hand, tends to rust.
Diver watch picks that use stainless steel on them are specially reinforced against rust, but you would be better off with titanium out of the box. As sports watches, though, consider the scratching issue against corrosion and see which material gives you the best balance.
Cost
Every stainless-steel watch you see probably has more units of the material packed into it than the titanium wristwatches.
Titanium is decidedly more expensive than stainless steel, so manufacturers will combine the metal with other metals to make up the watch.
You get titanium, no doubt, but not the real deal.
If you wanted a full titanium watch, you would be paying way more than with a stainless-steel watch. If you can justify such a higher purchase, go for it.
Titanium Watches for Men & Women Maintenance
You already know that you will have to spend more time with your titanium watches than stainless steel picks. Not too much of a difference to cause concern, but enough to be noticed.
At Nordgreen, we believe the first and best maintenance tip is to choose a good watch in the first place.
Our suggestion would be a quartz titanium watch with a sturdy case and bracelet, finished off with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window.
The choice of quartz movement is so that you get the promise of reliability, longevity, and simplicity that comes with these movements. The glass also means that your watch can take more abuse, even when used as everyday wear.
That done, conduct the following routine maintenance:
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Step #1 – fill a small bowl with warm water.
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Step #2 – add 1-2 teaspoonfuls of dishwashing soap to the water. Never use strong detergents or cleaning chemicals as they could alter the color of the titanium watch or damage some of the watch material.
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Step #3 – dip a mild toothbrush into the warm water-soap mixture and scrub the titanium bracelet gently. This step is not advised on non-metal bands.
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Step #4 – With a soft, dry towel, clean off the watch bracelet after cleaning it. Don't wait till you are done brushing all of the bracelets before dabbing it off. Otherwise, you allow the soap to stay for too long and settle onto the metal surface.
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Step #5 – as an alternative to the above, you can dab off the soap with a soft, damp cloth first. Run the dry, lint-free towel over the bracelets to get the extra moisture out.
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Step #6 – repeat the cleaning process for the titanium watch case and bezel. Be careful to avoid the watch display.
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Step #7 – use a titanium watch polish on the surface. Polishing is rarely needed for black titanium watches or those with the natural color of the material. If you have silver tone, gold, or any other color, though, consider using the polish.
How to Pick the Best Titanium Watch for You
Buying a new watch seems like an everyday thing till you get started.
Things are simpler here. You already know what case material you want on your watch, so we can rule that out.
But then, what about the color? Which finish is the best for you? What straps would suit your watch better? From what watch movement will you get the best experience?
In short, how do you get the best value for your money when next you go for a titanium watch?
We've got you covered. Follow the checklist below to make a better buying decision.
Size Matters
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
From the titanium case diameter to the size of the strap, you have to get it down to a T.
For most men's titanium watches, a good average range to look at is 38mm – 42mm diameter. The men with larger wrists will find their fit in the 42mm – 46mm diameter category.
Women's watches usually start from 28mm and range upwards to 38mm. In some instances, a lady might need more than that, so they are welcome to check in the men's range.
Remember that a nice-fitting watch complements you better than a sloppy one.
Type of Strap
For the full look, get the watch with a titanium case and titanium bracelet to match.
That is the same combination that works for most stainless-steel watches, so it works on this metal watch also.
That said, you can switch things up with other kinds of straps too. We have seen brown leather strap work fine on a titanium watch, so be sure to try that out as well as other colors that might appeal to you.
Color
Deciding on watch color goes beyond what's on the case.
You might want the titanium case on your watch to come in black, carry a silver-tone, or feature gold on the surface, or you might just like the greyish titanium look too.
Leaving the case and bracelet for a minute, the dial is also worth considering.
Black dial watches used to be the norm – and they blend in well with a pure titanium frame, too – but they should not be taken as the standard. Experiment with white, navy blue, and other dial options that you get from your preferred vendor.
In all, make sure you don't have too many colors on your watch. That is not just a recommendation for dress watches. Even a sports wristwatch won't look as good with too many colors.
Movement
Many people do not care as much about their watch movement as we would want them to.
In case you are unfamiliar with this, the watch movement is the 'engine' that powers your watch.
For example, an automatic watch movement means you never have to charge the watch since it keeps having power as long as you use it. Perhaps the most common kind of movement is the quartz, powered by a small battery.
If you ask us, the quartz movement is the most reliable out there. At Nordgreen, we use the multiple award-winning Miyota movement ourselves due to their simplicity, reliability, and low maintenance nature.
There is no golden rule that states you have to get a quartz titanium watch, but they will make your life easier.
Purpose
Would that be the watch you'd like to go camping with? Would it be the watch you prefer to travel with?
Watch purpose is very important when making a choice. Below, we detail some general purposes and what that should mean for your titanium watch.
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Travel watch – for those who travel a lot, four hands (including a GMT hour hand) on your watch are not out of place. Especially if you travel for business, you get to keep track of time better.
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Sports watch – the titanium case is rugged enough, so we don't doubt that it does well outdoors. For a dive watch, make sure to have between 100-200 meters water resistance rating on that timepiece. Likewise, ditch the titanium strap and go for something more practical (like a replacement nylon strap) instead.
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Dress timepiece – the dial on a dress wristwatch should be as bare as possible. Besides the hour markers and hands (hour, minute, possibly seconds) and watch branding, the display should have no further complications. In some instances, you can get away with a date dial window, but no more.
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Everyday wear – consider the titanium case paired with a black leather strap to hide wear and tear. You can add other watch features as you see fit for everyday usage, depending on your lifestyle.
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Office watch – most people argue that an office watch should carry the same features as a dress watch. You can go that way, and you can choose to do something very different too. Your style leads the way here.
Price
Be prepared to pay a reasonable price for your titanium watch, but not too much that it makes a dent in your pocket.
Besides every other thing that you have considered, take into account the watch features that you want. That could range from a simple date window to a system of sub-dials on the watch.
Once you establish what you want, set a reasonable price and go shopping.
Does Nordgreen Offer Titanium Watches?
Whether for women or in the men's category, we extend our impressive design philosophy and minimalist approach to our collection of titanium watches also.
To allow you the room to make the best option, we provide multiple series with this unique material.
For a more comprehensive look at what you get, here are the top titanium watches that we carry for men and women.
Native Titanium Watch
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Best for: men and women
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Recommended purpose: dress wristwatch; office watch; simple everyday watch; casual watch.
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Case diameter: 28mm, 32mm, 36mm & 40mm
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Dial: black, white, navy blue
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Possible colors: silver, rose gold, gold, gunmetal black
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Strap options: leather (black, black croc, brown, brown vegan, dark brown, dove grey, etc.), mesh (silver, rose gold, gold, etc.), rubber (black), nylon (olive green, navy blue, black)
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Water resistance: 30m
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Movement: Japanese Quartz movement
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Specials: simple design, zero complications
Find out more about the Native Titanium watch.
Philosopher Titanium Watch
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Best for: men and women
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Recommended purpose: sports watch; dress watch; office wear; everyday timepiece;
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Case diameter: 36mm, 40mm
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Dial: black, white
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Possible colors: gold, gunmetal black, rose gold, silver-tone
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Strap options: titanium bracelet (3-link, 5-link, mesh), leather (black, black croc, dark brown, navy blue, etc.), black mesh, nylon (olive green, black)
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Water resistance: 30m
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Movement: Japanese quartz movement
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Specials: sturdy frame, date window at 3 o'clock mark, elevated hour markers, sapphire crystal glass.
See other amazing features of the Philosopher here.
Infinity Titanium Watches – Best Alternative to Native Wristwatches
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Best for: women
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Recommended purpose: formal events, parties, dinners, and dress dates
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Case diameter: 32mm
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Dial: White
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Possible colors: rose gold, silver, gold
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Strap options: mesh (gold, silver), leather (black, grey, dove grey vegan, white, pink, dark brown, etc.), black nylon, etc.
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Water resistance: 30m
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Movement: Japanese quartz movement
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Specials: bare watch display, slightly elevated hour markers, zero complications.
Check out the Infinity Watch Collection
Pioneer Titanium Watches
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Best for: men
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Recommended purpose: outdoor watch, sports watch, everyday driver.
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Case diameter: 42mm
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Dial: White, navy blue, black
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Possible colors: silver, rose gold, gunmetal
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Strap options: mesh (rose gold, gunmetal, silver), leather (black, brown, dark brown, navy, patina grey, vegan, etc), nylon (black, navy), etc
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Water resistance: 30m
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Movement: Japanese quartz movement
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Specials: date window at the 6 o'clock mark, sub-dials, large display, push-able buttons, scratch-resistant glass.
See other interesting features of the Pioneer watch here.
Conclusion
From what makes titanium special, choosing the best women and men's titanium watches, and comparisons against stainless steel to the best titanium wristwatches out there, we have got it all covered here.
We have left no stone unturned here and believe that you would have found a solution to any questions/ concerns that you might have had.
That said, which of our top titanium watches did you like best, and why?
