free extra strap with every watch or set: use code freestrap at checkout

Contact Us

2 Year Warranty

Fast Delivery Worldwide

Try before you pay with Klarna

free extra strap with every watch or set: use code freestrap at checkout

From the start of the human era, it was all about the competition. And, let’s face it, people are obsessed with it. We want to know who’s the fastest, the strongest, or the smartest one. No aspect of civilization is without contest. Naturally, horology is also included. We want to know what the most expensive watch and the most precise movement is, or which watch design will fit perfectly for the ladies or men’s night out. One of the most common questions is what material is best for watchmaking? Throughout history, we have witnessed a plethora of materials used. From gold, silver, platinum, to brass, titanium, stainless steel, rubber or even wood. Yes, wooden watches exist, too. Through this article, we will compare titanium vs stainless steel watches and test their strengths and weaknesses. So, shall we?

Read More Read Less

Filter

outlet sale
NR36RGVENANA NR40RGVENANA
NR32RGVENANA NR36RGVENANA NR40RGVENANA NR28RGVENANA

Native

Navy Dial - Navy Blue Vegan Leather
$189.00
bestseller
PH36SI3LSIXX PH40SI3LSIXX &Philosopher men's watch with white dial in silver with 3-link straps
PH36SI3LSIXX PH40SI3LSIXX &Philosopher men's watch with white dial in silver with 3-link straps

Philosopher

3-Link
$244.00
PI42SINYBLBL &Pioneer black on black men's watch in silver with black nylon strap
PI42SINYBLBL &Pioneer black on black men's watch in silver with black nylon strap

Pioneer

Black Dial - Black Nato
$269.00
PI42GMMEBLXX &Gunmetal men's watch with white face and black mesh strap
PI42GMMEBLXX &Gunmetal men's watch with white face and black mesh strap

Pioneer

White Dial - Black Mesh
$299.00
PH36SILEWHXX &Philosopher white watch in silver
PH36SILEWHXX &Philosopher white watch in silver

Philosopher

White Leather
$219.00
NR32SINYBLBL NR36SINYBLBL NR40SINYBLBL &Native black dial women's watch in silver with black nylon straps
NR32SINYBLBL NR36SINYBLBL NR40SINYBLBL &Native black dial women's watch in silver with black nylon straps

Native

Black Dial - Black Nato
$169.00
NR36SIVEBRBL NR40SIVEBRBL &Native vegan men's tan leather watch in silver with black dial
NR32SIVEBRBL NR28SIVEBRBL &Native black dial women's watch in silver with brown vegan straps

Native

Black Dial - Brown Vegan Leather
$95.00 $189.00
-50%
outlet sale
PI42SILEGRXX &Silver men's watch with white face and patina grey strap
PI42SILEGRXX &Silver men's watch with white face and patina grey strap

Pioneer

White Dial - Patina Grey Leather
$145.00 $289.00
-50%
PI42GMNYNANA &Men's blue dial watches in gunmetal with blue nylon straps
PI42GMNYNANA &Men's blue dial watches in gunmetal with blue nylon straps

Pioneer

Navy Dial - Navy Nato
$269.00
outlet sale
NR36GMLEGRBL
NR32GMLEGRBL NR28GMLEGRBL &Native black dial women's watch in gunmetal with grey leather straps

Native

Black Dial - Grey Leather
$95.00 $189.00
-50%
outlet sale
IN32SILEPIXX
IN32RGLEPIXX &Infinity rose gold women's watch with pink leather straps

Infinity

Pink Leather
$105.00 $209.00
-50%
outlet sale
vegan
PH36SIVEDOXX PH40SIVEDOXX
PH36SIVEDOXX PH40SIVEDOXX

Philosopher

Dove Grey Vegan Leather
$110.00 $219.00
-50%
outlet sale
UN28SILEBLBL UN32SILEBLBL &Unika black dial women's watch in silver with black leather strap
UN28SILEBLBL UN32SILEBLBL &Unika black dial women's watch in silver with black leather strap

Unika

Black Dial - Black Leather
$125.00 $249.00
-50%
bestseller
NR36GO5LGOXX NR40GO5LGOXX &Native men's watch with white face in gold with 5-link straps
NR32GO5LGOXX NR28GO5LGOXX &Native gold watches for women with 5-link straps

Native

White Dial - 5-Link
$214.00
bestseller
PI42SI3LSIXX &Nordgreen men's watch with white face and 3-link strap in silver
PI42SI3LSIXX &Nordgreen men's watch with white face and 3-link strap in silver

Pioneer

White Dial - 3-Link
$314.00
outlet sale
vegan
NR36RGVENAXX NR40RGVENAXX &Native rose gold watch with blue vegan straps
NR36RGVENAXX NR40RGVENAXX &Native rose gold watch with blue vegan straps

Native

White Dial - Navy Blue Vegan Leather
$95.00 $189.00
-50%
vegan
IN32SIVEBRXX IN40SIVEBRXX
IN32SIVEBRXX IN40SIVEBRXX

Infinity

Brown Vegan Leather
$209.00
PH36SI5LSIXX PH40SI5LSIXX &Philosopher men's watch with white dial in silver with 5-link straps
PH36SI5LSIXX PH40SI5LSIXX &Philosopher men's watch with white dial in silver with 5-link straps

Philosopher

5-Link
$244.00
PI42GMNYAGBL
PI42GMNYAGBL

Pioneer

Black Dial - Olive Green Nato
$269.00
UN28SILEBLXX UN32SILEBLXX
UN28SILEBLXX UN32SILEBLXX

Unika

White Dial - Black Leather
$249.00
outlet sale
NR36SI5LSINA NR40SI5LSINA
NR32SI5LSINA NR36SI5LSINA NR40SI5LSINA NR28SI5LSINA

Native

Navy Dial - 5-Link
$107.00 $214.00
-50%
PI42SI3LSINA &Pioneer men's silver watch with blue face and 3-link strap
PI42SI3LSINA &Pioneer men's silver watch with blue face and 3-link strap

Pioneer

Navy Dial - 3-Link
$314.00
outlet sale
UN28SIMESIBL UN32SIMESIBL &Unika black dial women's watch in silver with mesh strap
UN28SIMESIBL UN32SIMESIBL &Unika black dial women's watch in silver with mesh strap

Unika

Black Dial - Mesh
$130.00 $259.00
-50%
NA40SILEGRXX &Native men's watch with white face in silver with patina grey straps
Image description is missing

Native

White Dial - Patina Grey Leather
$95.00 $189.00
-50%
NR36RGNYNANA NR40RGNYNANA
NR36RGNYNANA NR40RGNYNANA

Native

Navy Dial - Navy Blue Nato
$169.00
IN32SILEGRXX
IN32SILEGRXX

Infinity

Grey Leather
$209.00
NR40SIRUBLXX &Native men rubber watches in silver with white dial
NR40SIRUBLXX &Native men rubber watches in silver with white dial

Native

White Dial - Black Rubber
$85.00 $169.00
-50%
NR36SINYAGBL NR40SINYAGBL
NR36SINYAGBL NR40SINYAGBL

Native

Black Dial - Olive Green Nato
$169.00
PI42SI3LSIBL
PI42SI3LSIBL

Pioneer

Black Dial - 3-Link
$314.00
outlet sale
PI42SILEGRBL
PI42SILEGRBL

Pioneer

Black Dial - Patina Grey Leather
$145.00 $289.00
-50%

EXPLORE THE RANGE

Men's Bestsellers

explore now

WOMEN'S BESTSELLERS

explore now

build your own watch set

explore now

WOMEN'S SUNGLASSES

explore now

MEN'S SUNGLASSES

explore now

SUNGLASSES BUILDER

explore now

WOMEN’S JEWELRY

explore now

MEN'S JEWELRY

explore now

GIFT GUIDE

explore now

Titanium vs stainless steel, which one is better?

But first, let’s get to know our opponents. In the left corner, with a symbol Ti, is titanium. A transitional metal with a low density, high strength, and a nice silver color. Titanium has extensive use in the space industry, military, auto industry, medicine, and more. Mostly used in alloys, though. The most common type of titanium is Ti-6Al-4V, also known as Grade 5.

For this competition, we chose 316L stainless steel. It is a nice, sturdy alloy of iron, chromium, nickel, and molybdenum, with other elements in traces. This type of steel is used in food processing, medical devices and implants, pharmaceutical devices, and more. It’s a dense, strong and also a silver-colored opponent.

The price

Titanium watches cost more, simply because titanium as a material costs more than stainless steel. And a bit more, because titanium is harder to work with. In fact, the rise of the stainless steel and the quartz crisis were the two things that made wristwatches affordable. But, it’s not the same case as with the golden watches. Golden watches are more expensive because they are status symbols, and the titanium watches are simply...not. However, the price should not be the deciding factor when you decide to go watch-shopping.

Brute strength

Ok, this is an easy win for the titanium. Titanium is at least three times stronger than steel. This fact would make a major impact if you use your wristwatch as a weapon of some sort. But, if you decide to wear it casually and peacefully around your wrist, you will have no problem with either material. However, there is a reason why Superman is the Man of Steel, not Man of Titanium. Although much stronger, titanium has a much lower scratch-resistance, meaning you would have to be much more careful while wearing a titanium watch. A scratch on a titanium watch will keep being there.

The allergy issue

When we talk about allergies caused by wearing a watch, we usually think of the nickel allergy. Nickel allergy is a relatively common thing, that has no further complications, except an excessive rash and a generally unpleasant feeling. But, as with all allergies, it should be avoided by any cost. Titanium watches contain no nickel, meaning they are hypoallergenic in the term of the nickel allergy. However, there is a chance you are allergic to titanium, so…

Stainless steel has had and still has a pretty bad reputation concerning nickel allergy. However, stainless steel 316L is hypoallergenic, although it contains nickel. How is that possible? Well, the chemical structure of the 316L stainless steel makes nickel impossible to react with your skin. This is one of the many reasons why this type of steel is used for medical purposes.

Looking good

As they say, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or in this case, a watch holder. The visual appearance of the watch is usually the main reason why people decide to buy it. So, some people like patina, some like tarnish, people like different things. Except for rust, nobody likes rust. Both of the materials have a high rust resistance. Hence the “stainless” part in the steel. However, stainless steel keeps its fresh look much, much longer. Due to its scratch-resistance, a stainless steel watch will look brand new for a much longer time. Also, the shiny appearance of the stainless steel is the reason why they make jewelry out of it, and it can be colored, while titanium lacks that option. Titanium watches will look dull and a bit worn-out, after a while. Because, with time, they get a thin oxidizing layer that changes their color a bit and makes them rather blurry. But, again, people choose what they like, and that’s everyone’s right.

Weight of the chains

This is one of the reasons while titanium is a popular material for spacecraft. Titanium, alloys included, has one of the strongest weight-to-strength ratios in the periodic table. Meaning, a titanium watch will be much lighter on your hand than a stainless steel one. Or, to be precise, even 50% lighter. However, this is also a matter of preference. Some people like the heavier feeling on their wrist, while others go with the lightweight option.

Who is the winner?

As in any fair fight, there are no final winners in the battle between titanium vs stainless steel, as it’s up to the customer to choose. You know our pick. At Nordgreen, we make all of our watches strictly from 316L stainless steel. The true purpose of our watches is to be worn every day. That means, without the fear of getting scratches that would ruin the good appearance of our watches. Also, we like the versatility of our Nordgreen watches. We like to choose from rose gold, gold, silver or gunmetal color, without being limited to just one. In the end, we like the fact that our watches are affordable to our customers. Titanium watches are popular nowadays, there is no arguing about that. However, as we have seen a million times, the trends come and go, but elegance is eternal. We trust our Miyota movement, our fine Italian leather, and mostly, our elegant stainless steel watches.

Read More Read Less

Your cart is currently empty.

Continue Shopping