Staineless > Titanium

Titanium is lighter and stronger.

It is objectively better.

I like stainless steel. Although, I confess I've never held or worn a titanium watch. 🙄

Subjectively 😉

I prefer SS over titanium as well… enjoy the “heft” of it. Grade 5 might be more resilient, but most watches, including the Pelagos are Grade 2 which from what I understand is more scratch prone than SS.

My preference is Grade 5 titanium. From my discussions with my local Tudor AD, I have found out that they are unable to polish their grade 2 Titanium watches. That was a dealbreaker for me, as I am extremely OCD and tend to get my watches polished when I send them in for a full service every five years. Grade 5 is more scratch resistant than SS too. Titanium also works for people who might have joint issues as it wears much more comfortably if you’re dealing with like an issue like a rheumatoid arthritis flareup or something similar. That why I personally love Titanium watches-whenever I have a flare up it’s much more comfortable than a gold or SS watch. I think most people associate quality with weight. If you hand a SS watch to a regular person one of their first reactions is going to be “oh my gosh that feels really nice and heavy; it feels like it’s a high quality timepiece.” And you just don’t get that from Titanium.

And if you get a GS, you’ll even find that they’re able to Zaratsu polish grade 5 titanium and it makes it look less industrial and more luxurious. Perhaps you’ll warm up to the material after some experience with it. I know spending time with it changed my initial perspective. Cheers 🥂

Yup, had a few Ti watches. Latest has a full Ti bracelet too. Absolutely awful, hate it. My reptile brain just rejects it.

SS>Ti for me. I'm a caveman.

“Heft” 💯 Agree 👍🏼

Great comment. I see your point about comfortability with some folks. I once wore a Rolex Skydweller for about two hours, and it was too heavy for my wrist. I just like the heft and feel of stainless. It’s not so much the quality for me as it is a preference.

If my Pelagos was my only watch I might agree with you..I wear it as a beat it to death tool watch and for that purpose it is wonderful...JMO

I haven’t tried grade 5Ti from GS. I’ve held them and they are very nice. My only gripe with Tudors grade 2 Ti is the same thing @TheHoroSexual mentioned about the inability to polish them. The Pelagos orginal and 39mm have insanely sharp edges. I had to get my watch maker to polish the inside of the bracelet because it felt like a cheese grader on my arm. It helped but was still on some bullshit for the price. I really enjoy the weight for the same reason, sometimes my heavier pieces just feel a little too overbearing and painful to wear on bad days. But I do prefer stainless. I have been eyeballing a GS shunbun Ti for the last year so who knows.

Agreed… I wore a Rolex Deep Sea for awhile and it was like a VW bug on my wrist. I think it depends on the watch.

I had a Peli 39 and ultimately was not a fan of the Ti. It is nice in that it is light weight but it does not age well and get a nice patina like SS IMHO. After only a little while it looked beat up compared to any of my much older SS watches.

Admittedly I only have 2 titanium watches compared to 30+ in steel, but I really like how different titanium is, I wouldn't be able to tell which is better, they both have pros and cons, but some days I enjoy wearing titanium more than steel and the reverse is true as well. Besides the difference in weight is only about 30-40g for a full watch+bracelet.

I like how titanium watches, due to their more greyish tone, are less "blingy" than the stainless ones. That gives them a more subtle apperance in my opinion, so bigger watches doesnt stand out toooo much on your wrist.

The light weight and color of titanium is great, but I hate its susceptibility to scratches. I also like the heavier weight and feel of stainless steel and how it holds heat better.

Both are fine, but if it's a metal bracelet watch I definitely prefer steel.

Zelos Mako V3 Titanium Frost. Case and bracelet are titanium, but clasp is stainless. Not sure how much weight that adds, but it helps balance the head of the watch, I reckon.

Is there a significant color contrast in the clasp and the bracelet?

Nope, not even a little. Only reason I know is from reading the website with the stats.

Love my grade 5 titanium diver. I do understand the heft argument for SS. Personally, I think it’s different but not preferred. For those that love heft, bronze is the next step since it’s 13% heavier than iron.

My wife bought me an Endeavour Ross Ice for my birthday so I can't open it before the 15th.

I wanted a white, with date, GADA watch.

The new titanium bracelet is supposed to be great: quick release, slim and easyily opened clasp, on-the-fly adjust and the coating RZE uses prevents most scratches (like Citizen uses). I just hope I get lucky with the accuracy of the NH35 movement !

https://eu.rzewatches.com/collections/endeavour/products/endeavour-ross-ice

That’s a baller watch man. Love it! Wished it came in ALL stainless! 😉

Your OCD so extreme that you only buy Sinn Tegimented and Damascus Steel watches?

I’m all about the weight of steel … makes it feel real.

It’s starting to make me think twice about SS, ya. I love cases made of ceramic, carbon fiber, High Intensity Titanium (Grade5) & Tantalum. And for the watches that I own made of gold and stainless steel- I’m just super careful with them. For example:

1. I’m always rolling up my sleeves to avoid unnecessary contact with my watch.

2. I always carry gloves with me to handle my watch

3. I never set my forearm or wrist down on a table as to avoid scratches on the bracelet and clasp.

Sorry for drawn out response… hope you have a great rest of your week! 🥂

Same!!!

Ceramic and carbon fiber are indeed nice. I've yet to purchase one as I'm concerned it might break while in my care. But it may also be due to me not finding one that fits my taste.

Grade 5 titanium is only marginally more scratch resistant than 914L SS and 914L is not very scratch resistant. If I'm not mistaken, one of the only reasons Ti6Al4V (Grade 5 titanium) would be used is because it can actually be highly polished. Highly polished surfaces = easily scratchable surfaces, regardless of material.

Never heard of Tantalum, thank you for sharing!

But based on your temperament it would seem, that a carbon or ceramic-cased watch would more appropriately fit your lifestyle!

I enjoyed your response! Thank you for sharing! I wish you a great rest of your week as well!

Grade 5 is about 150 vickers harder than stainless steel. It’s rated at 350 HV compared to the typical 150-200 HV of stainless steel. And yes, you are correct about the ability to polish Grade 5 titanium as well. That’s why I’ve gone with GS over say a Tudor Pelagos 39. With my High Intensity Titanium Grand Seiko’s, I’ve personally hit my SBGE285 Mist Flake on the knob of a kitchen cabinet and there was no scratch incurred. I swear I thought I had just created a huge gash on the 9 o’clock case side but nothing. I was shocked. That incident demonstrated to me the real world difference between grade 5 titanium and SS.

You’re also correct about carbon & ceramic cased watches being good for me. I actually own a Tudor BB Ceramic for exercise and sleep duty to give me peace of mind. Hahaha. I’m trying my best! Cheers! 🥂

Titanium inhibits my girth.

Precisely!

I have two watches that are identical except that one is sand blasted titanium and the other is stainless steel. (TAG aquaracer calibre 5 41mm, ones white/silver dial with the stainless bezel, the other a Bamford edition) The blasted titanium one is a collaboration model with a UK designer, I can wear it but it has to be sized properly or I don't get on with it, and I tend to prefer wearing the stainless steel model of the same watch.

The stainless version I can get away with wearing a little looser on the bracelet.

I also have a little Seiko sq100 kinetic titanium from the early 90s that I was gifted, it feels objectively cheap compared to similarly sized stainless Seiko watches I own.

Given the choice, I'd go for a good quality stainless steel watch over a similarly sized titanium one, but I'm yet to try a grand Seiko in, so they might swing me.