Another Friday, another list! This week, we’re following up last week’s article about ceramic watches with our favorite titanium ones. After all, it just made sense to dive deeper into the world of modern materials used for watches. While titanium has been around for quite a few decades in the watch world, it’s still considered a modern material compared to stainless steel and precious metals. Having said that, we’ve been seeing an increasing number of impressive titanium watches, and more and more watch fans have slowly warmed up to the material. Therefore, we decided to look at our favorite recently released titanium watches.
Before we dive into our list, allow me to specify what we were looking for when compiling it. Of course, the five watches couldn’t just be made of titanium. We were also searching for watches that impressed us in terms of design, finishing, and watchmaking craftsmanship. Basically, these are factors we’d consider when looking for the best watches all around, but these just happen to be titanium. However, we also wanted to choose watches that made us feel that titanium adds something to their presence. You will find out what we mean by that once we get into our list. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Titanium
We’ll start this list with a watch that impressed all of us at Fratello, even the biggest skeptics of titanium. Leave it to Rolex to properly produce a titanium watch. What do I mean by that? Well, one property of titanium is that it can sound a little rattly. Combined with the low weight, this can often make a titanium watch feel somewhat cheap.
This is especially prevalent with bracelets, of course. However, when Rolex released the titanium Yacht-Master 42 in 2023, the Genevan brand demonstrated how to properly engineer, manufacture, and finish a mass-produced titanium watch. The look and the feel of the titanium Yacht-Master are nothing short of impressive.
The watch perfectly shows us how titanium can have the same impact as stainless steel. This Yacht-Master features a 42mm RLX Grade 5 titanium case with an 11.6mm thickness and a 50.3mm lug-to-lug. Topping the case is a titanium bezel containing a matte black Cerachrom insert with polished markings in relief.
Combined with the matte black dial with the oversized luminous hour markers, the watch looks stunning. Zoom in, though, and you will find that the finishing is delightful. The watch features a predominantly brushed finish, but the lovely polished parts add a great visual sparkle that you’d expect from a proper luxury watch.
The solid and robust feel of the Yacht-Master is on another level
Adding to that luxurious feeling is the brilliantly executed Oyster bracelet. As Lex explained, the crux is that it feels and works like a durable steel Oyster bracelet but at a fraction of its weight. It truly is exceptional. With the solidity and robustness of a steel bracelet but 30% lighter, it is somewhat paradoxical yet incredibly satisfying.
Inside the case, you will find The Crown’s caliber 3235, which runs at 28,800vph, offers 70 hours of power reserve, and is accurate to ±2 seconds per day. The titanium Yacht-Master 42 (€15,400) is the “next-generation Submariner,” and with it, Rolex shows its brilliance in production excellence.
A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Titanium
While the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 represents the ultimate in mass-produced titanium watches, in 2022, A. Lange & Söhne showed us how incredible hand-finished ones can be. The titanium Odysseus was Lange’s first watch in this material, and it was also the version that finally allowed me to truly appreciate the Odysseus collection. We had seen stainless steel and white gold Odysseus models before, but this lightweight titanium version deeply impressed me. The hue of the material and the crisp blue dial look stunning together.
Additionally, the hand-finished case and bracelet demonstrated that titanium can look as brilliant as stainless steel or any precious metal, for that matter. Just as a reminder, the Odysseus is Lange’s modern integrated-bracelet sports watch. It has a 40.5mm case with an 11.1mm profile.
The round case’s distinct character comes largely from the protruding “crown platform” on its right side. Inside the beautifully finished case lies a brilliantly detailed gray-blue dial with large windows for the day and date indications. The combination of textures, colors, design details, and stunning execution makes this a fitting dial for the titanium Odysseus.
The combination of finishes is nothing short of impressive
If you turn the watch around, you are greeted by the in-house caliber L155.1 Datomatic. This 31-jewel movement was specially developed for the Odysseus and is a joy to behold. It consists of 312 components, operates at 28,800vph, and has a 50-hour power reserve. The finishing of the caliber is impressive, with a skeletonized and partially black-rhodium-plated central rotor, Glashütte stripes, and the screwed gold chaton that marks the position of the escape wheel.
When it comes to finishing, though, the five-row bracelet also shows Lange’s expertise. The contrast between the brushed surfaces and the polished bevels of the links is stunning. Additionally, the darker hue of the titanium makes the contrast even more noticeable than it would be with stainless steel. This 250-piece limited-edition Odysseus in titanium, which sold for €55,000, made it clear that A. Lange & Söhne’s brilliant craftsmanship is not limited to stainless steel or precious metals, and it set a brilliant standard for titanium finishing.
Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium
As the writer of our weekly lists, I have the pleasure of sometimes also shamelessly plugging one of my favorite watches. That is the case with the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium. This Grade 5 titanium version of the brand’s popular sports chronograph impressed me from the moment it debuted.
Sure, it helps that its backstory is tied to tennis, another great love of mine next to watches and music, but it was mostly the execution of the watch that left me speechless more than once. After Daan wrote the introduction article, I was fortunate enough to go hands-on with the watch. As a result, it quickly became one of my favorite current pieces.
The brilliance is predominantly in the monochromatic design execution. The matching of shades in the different details made me smile time and again. The watch features a Grade 5 titanium case that is slightly darker than many we see these days. It has a 41mm diameter, a 13.6mm thickness, and a 46.8mm lug-to-lug.
As I explained, when sunlight hits the case and bracelet, the true beauty reveals itself. The titanium is a lovely dark gray with a hint of warm yellow. That deep color works so well with the case and bracelet’s predominantly brushed finish. It also brings extra attention to the polished chamfers on the lugs and the bezel.
The Chronomaster Sport Titanium is an example of a brilliantly designed watch
This watch’s titanium exterior provides the perfect canvas for the nickel-tone sunburst dial with Zenith’s characteristic trio of overlapping sub-dials. Here, rather than including blue, Zenith executed them in anthracite, light gray, and silver. Adding to the visual attraction are the rhodium-plated applied indexes with a black filling and white Super-LumiNova. Little hints of bright red on the chronograph hands round out the look, bringing a bit of vibrancy to the sea of monochrome.
If you turn the watch around, you will see the Zenith El Primero 3600. This modern version of Zenith’s legendary self-winding column-wheel chronograph caliber operates at 36,000vph, offers 60 hours of power reserve, and features a skeletonized rotor. Unlike previous El Primero calibers, such as the 400 series, the 3600 has hacking seconds, making it much easier to set the time precisely.
However, the main reason this watch stands out time and again is not its lightweight construction or brilliant caliber. Rather, it is its stunning presence. The designers at Zenith ensured that this version of the Chronomaster Sport embraces the use of titanium and unapologetically magnifies it. This is a true titanium statement that can be yours for €12,500.
Laventure Marine Type 3
A recent release that impressed almost all of us at the Fratello office is the Laventure Marine Type 3. In particular, the white-dial version in this lightweight Grade 23 titanium duo made a lasting impression. Apparently, it didn’t impress just us, either. It has since sold out, whereas Laventure still has a few of the black-dial versions for sale.
What makes the Marine Type 3 such a standout release? Of course, it all starts with looks. For the Marine Type 3, Laventure founder Clément Gaud took inspiration from 1980s marine chronometers. This resulted in a watch that sports classic looks with an impressive modern execution.
The Marine Type 3 has a lightweight 38mm Grade 23 case with an 11.2mm profile and a 46.2mm lug-to-lug. This case features a wide, flat bezel and the characteristic Laventure shape. Additionally, Lavanture gives it a stone-washed finish that adds an aesthetically pleasing texture to the watch.
The 11.2mm thickness seems substantial, but that number includes the domed, 2.3mm-thick acrylic crystal. The titanium case itself is nice and slim, making this watch a joy to wear. The case is matched with either a full-lume white dial with black markings or a black dial with white markings. As mentioned, we loved the luminous white dial. Especially when matched with the light green rubber strap, it makes the watch look incredible.
You can still buy one of the 100 black-dial models
Inside the 300m-water-resistant case, Gaud chose to use the Laventure Cal. 4, which is based on the Sellita SW300-1. But the movement is visually enhanced with 3N gold plating, Côtes de Genève, perlage, and soleil finishes. Furthermore, the COSC-certified automatic caliber operates at 28,800vph and offers a 56-hour power reserve.
It makes this purpose-built watch one of the most impressive watches we have seen in the Fratello offices recently. As mentioned, if you want, you can still buy the black-dial version for CHF 4,200 before taxes.
Grand Seiko SLGB003
When it comes to great titanium watches, Grand Seiko has an abundance of them for you. The Japanese brand has repeatedly shown us that working with titanium can lead to impressive results. We could have picked the brilliant SBGA413 “Shunbun” or the SBGE285 “Mist Flake.” Those are favorites of mine, but we decided to highlight something else for this list.
This time, we chose the recently released SLGB003 because it combines Grand Seiko’s brilliant treatment of its High-Intensity Titanium with the new ultra-accurate U.F.A. Spring Drive caliber. That makes the SLGB003 one of the brand’s most impressive and important releases this year.
The watch features a 37mm modern Evolution 9 case with an 11.4mm thickness and a 44.3mm length. These dimensions make for a super wearable case, and even better, it’s beautifully finished with a mix of brushed and Zaratsu-polished surfaces.
Grand Seiko paired the case with a beautifully textured silver-blue dial inspired by the icy forests of the Kirigamine Highlands. The finely finished hour markers are simply impressive. But as crucial as they are for this beautiful dial, the three letters on its lower half hint at the SLGB003’s most important feature.
The most accurate wristwatch caliber powered by a mainspring
The new Spring Drive caliber 9RB2 that powers the watch is a groundbreaking new movement boasting an impressive accuracy of ±20 seconds per year. With this new caliber, Grand Seiko sets new accuracy standards that should make other watch brands blush. It is the most accurate wristwatch caliber powered by a mainspring.
The movement offers a 72-hour power reserve, and with a 30mm diameter and 5.02mm thickness, it opens the door for smaller Spring Drive models. The first proof of that is the brilliant SLGB003, which also comes with a new bracelet and a slim clasp with a toolless micro-adjustment system. At €12,000, this Grand Seiko SLGB003 has a substantial price tag. However, what you get in return defines the future for the Japanese brand.
Final thoughts on the titanium watches of recent years
There you have it — our five favorite titanium watches that came out in the last few years. As you’ll now understand, they are all on this list for different reasons. That said, many more options could have qualified, of course. That’s why we want to hear about some of your favorite recent titanium watches. Let us know in the comments section, and we will see you next week for another list!