The Titanium Field Guide

Titanium Watch Brand Terms

Watch brands use many names for titanium and titanium-related materials. Here is what the common ones likely mean, and which are alloys, coatings, treatments, or composites.

Why brands rename titanium

Some brand terms refer to an alloy, some to a coating, some to a surface treatment, some to a titanium-related composite, and some are mostly marketing. The label tells you what to look into; it does not always tell you the exact recipe, which is often undisclosed.

Common terms decoded

Citizenalloy + treatment

Super Titanium

Citizen titanium combined with its Duratect surface hardening for better scratch resistance and light weight.

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Grand Seikobrand alloy

High-Intensity Titanium

A Grand Seiko titanium alloy promoted as harder and more scratch resistant than ordinary titanium.

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Seikocoating

Titanium with super-hard coating

Seiko titanium finished with a hard surface coating to raise scratch resistance.

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Rolexalloy

RLX Titanium

Rolex's name for the Grade 5 titanium it uses on titanium models.

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IWCcomposite

Ceratanium

A titanium-based material that is finished to behave like ceramic on the surface. It starts from titanium but is not a conventional titanium case.

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Omegaalloy

Grade 2 / Grade 5 titanium

Omega uses standard titanium grades, typically Grade 2 or Grade 5 depending on the model.

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Tudoralloy

Titanium

Tudor uses titanium (commonly Grade 5) on its titanium references.

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Sinnsurface hardening

Tegimented titanium

Titanium parts treated with Sinn's Tegiment surface-hardening process, hardening the metal itself rather than coating it.

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Formexsurface hardening

Hardened titanium

Formex applies a case-hardening treatment to its titanium cases for better everyday scratch resistance.

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Damaskosurface hardening

Hardened cases

Damasko is known for hardened cases. It is included here for context; titanium Damasko references are not catalogued in the guide yet.

Not yet catalogued in the guide.
RZEcoating

UltraHex

RZE's hard surface coating (around 1200 HV) applied to its titanium watches.

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Horagealloy

Titanium

Horage uses titanium on its titanium models; check the individual reference for grade and finish.

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Bulgarifinish

Sandblasted titanium

Bulgari often uses a sandblasted matte finish on titanium, which is a finish rather than a separate material.

View 1 Bulgari titanium watch →
An important distinction

Not every titanium-related term means a conventional titanium case. Ceramic-titanium composites such as Ceratanium, and coated components, behave differently and are tracked separately in the catalog. Verify with the maker before assuming.