Our Indispensable Guide to Titanium Watches

There was a time when titanium watches were expensive and rare—but that time is long behind us.

Ever since Citizen debuted its X-8 in 1970, more and more brands have been adopting this advanced material for its myriad excellent qualities. Lightweight and easy wearing, titanium is hypoallergenic, corrosion resistant, hard, and extremely robust—in fact, it’s roughly five times as strong as steel. Though it can be difficult to machine and can scratch easily, it’s a naturally advantageous watchmaking material, and costs have come down tremendously over the past few decades.

In fact, a titanium watch can cost pretty much whatever you’d like it to cost, from just a few hundred bucks to “if you have to ask” territory. Many of the market’s best contemporary tool watches, however, are in fact titanium pieces: Watches such as the GMT-equipped Longines Spirit Zulu Time Titanium and the sturdy Tudor Pelagos 39 are made of the stuff, as are plenty of others from brands like Hamilton and Mido. Also offering titanium watches are high-end marques such as Bulgari, and entry-level pieces can come from brands such as Citizen and Tissot. Truly, the world is your (titanium) oyster.

What follows are just a few of the excellent titanium watches on offer. Keep in mind that there are multiples grades of titanium. Grade 2 is the commercially pure stuff, but due to difficult machining, it’s not (generally) used in watchmaking quite as much as grade 5, an alloy of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium that offers increased strength, better scratch resistance, and ease of machining. Also understand that while titanium—which forms a naturally occurring oxide layer on its surface—scratches more easily than steel, this doesn’t affect the metal’s integrity. (Sometimes these scratches can be removed with a fiberglass pen.)

Lastly, know that a titanium watch will feel significantly lighter on the wrist than a stainless-steel equivalent. While some buyers enjoy this lightweight sensation, others don’t, so it pays to try a watch on in person before making a purchase.

SPECS:Diameter: 39mmMovement: Citizen cal. J800 Eco-DriveWater Resistance: 100mPrice: $420MORE INFO

Available in several different configurations, the Citizen Zenshin Three-Hand balances ’70s-inspired looks with titanium construction and the brand’s brilliant Eco-Drive technology, which converts ambient light into energy. Measuring 39mm in diameter, it’s housed in a brushed and polished tonneau-shaped case with an integrated multi-link bracelet and 100 meters of water resistance. The cool green-blue dial is the star of the show, however. While its unique texture gives the face some welcome depth, a handy day-date display provides plenty of utility. Combine this with the Zenshin’s excellent sub-$500 price tag and you’ve got yourself a winner.

SPECS:Diameter: 40mmMovement: Renata cal. 371 quartzWater Resistance: 100mPrice: $575MORE INFO

If you’re looking for a handsome everyday watch that can do double duty as a dressier piece or an everyday timekeeper, then the Tissot Gentleman 40mm should be on your radar. Its brushed case and outer bracelet links combined with a smooth bezel and center links offer an injection of elegance to the proceedings, while a radially brushed, deep-blue dial with applied indices, luminous hour pips and hands, and a date window at three o’clock make for a highly legible affair. Powered by a reliable quartz movement from Renata and water resistant to 100 meters, the Gentleman 40mm would also make an excellent gift for someone in need of a first watch.

SPECS:Diameter: 38mm/42mmMovement: Hamilton cal. H-10 automaticWater Resistance: 100mPrice: $1,195-$1,245MORE INFO

Hamilton’s Khaki Field series of tool watches is a favorite of horophiles everywhere—and for good reason. Just check out the Titanium Auto: Available in both 38mm and 42mm sizes, it boasts brushed construction, a matching multi-link bracelet, a sapphire crystal front and back, and 100 meters of water resistance. Ticking away within is the brand’s H-10, an automatic movement with an impressive 80-hour power reserve. The dial, with its multitone blue background, luminous Arabic indices and sword handset, and white printing and inner 24-hour track, is a handsome modern take on vintage military designs—especially those made by Hamilton itself.

SPECS:Diameter: 42.5mmMovement: ETA C07.621 automaticWater Resistance: 200mPrice: $1,310MORE INFO

While you might think that a titanium diver would cost a pretty penny, Mido—part of the Swatch Group—makes one for well under $1,500: The Ocean Star 200C Titanium, available in several dial colors, features a larger 42.5mm brushed case with a unidirectional, rotating dive bezel and a cool black dial. Featuring a wave pattern, it boasts large, Super-LumiNova-filled indices and hands, plus a day-date display at three o’clock. Powered by the ETA C07.621 automatic with 80 hours of power reserve, it’s an excellent choice for someone who wants a tough tool watch but would prefer to keep the weight down. With 200 meters of water resistance, it’s perfect for recreational scuba diving.

SPECS:Diameter: 38mmMovement: Sellita SW300.M1 automaticWater Resistance: 100mPrice: ~$4,355MORE INFO

Made of grade 2 titanium—which is incredibly difficult to machine and thus not used as often as other grades in watchmaking—the Ming ref. 37.02 Ghost represents significant value in the independent watchmaking space. Measuring 38mm in the brand’s unique and immediately recognizable case, it features a radial- and circular-brushed dial (also made of grade 2 titanium) with luminous hands. (The indices, however, are actually etched onto the crystal rather than onto the dial.) A Sellita SW300–family movement keeps the price approachable, while a 20mm goat-leather strap finishes the package. If you’re in search of a thoughtful watch—this is it.

SPECS:Diameter: 39mmMovement: Longines cal. L844.4 automaticWater Resistance: 100mPrice: $4,500MORE INFO

One of the better values in serious dual-time tool watches, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time series comes in several different guises. One of the best is the titanium version: Measuring an excellent 39mm and powered by the brand’s automatic L844.4 movement with an independent 24-hour hand, it features a matching titanium bracelet with alternating brushed and polished surfaces; a bicolor gray-and-black 24-hour bezel insert; and a black dial with applied luminous Arabic indices, aluminous sword handset, a date window at six o’clock, and a red-tipped 24-hour hand. A “caller” GMT that can quickly adjust to track a foreign time zone, it’s light on the wrist and easy on the eyes.

SPECS:Diameter: 39mmMovement: Tudor cal. MT5400 automaticWater Resistance: 200mPrice: $5,000MORE INFO

Ever since its debut in 2022, the Tudor Pelagos 39 has been beloved for its excellent feature set. Its 39mm grade 2 titanium case makes the Pelagos collection more accessible to those who prefer a smaller case profile, while the watch’s black sunray ceramic bezel insert and black dial with “snowflake” handset and white luminous indices call to mind the very best of vintage Tudor watches. Inside, Tudor’s cal. MT5400 automatic movement delivers nearly 70 hours of power reserve, while the watch’s matching titanium bracelet features a “T”-fit folding clasp with a safety catch and diver’s extension. Truly, there’s nothing not to like about this incredible (and lightweight) diver.

SPECS:Diameter: 37mmMovement: Zenith El Primero cal. 282 automaticWater Resistance: 50mPrice: $9,600MORE INFO

Its titanium construction aside, the Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow is one of the coolest modern watches on the market—full stop. Measuring a vintage-appropriate 37mm in a matte-finished titanium case, its look imitates that of a ’70s prototype watch with a blackened case. The classic A384 case profile is complemented by a deep-black dial featuring a triple-register chronograph layout with gray registers; applied, luminous indices; an outer tachymeter scale; and a luminous sword handset. Powering the watch is, of course, a high-beat, automatic chronograph movement from Zenith, the cal. 282 with a 5Hz beat rate.

SPECS:Diameter: 42mmMovement: Omega cal. 8806 automaticWater Resistance: 300mPrice: $10,600MORE INFO

No discussion of titanium watches would be complete without mention of 2019’s excellent Omega Seamaster Diver 300M, the watch worn by Daniel Craig in his final outing as Bond in No Time to Die. This distinctly modern take on the brand’s flagship diver features a grade 2 titanium construction paired with a unique matching titanium mesh bracelet. The bezel insert and dial use vintage-colored lume—giving the look of an older watch—while the dial features the “Broad Arrow” symbol indicating British Crown property. On the inside is Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer 8806, a spectacularly accurate engine. With its good looks, light weight, and 300 meters of water resistance, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M is one of the ultimate titanium tool watches.