Yeah It does and It's kinda a myth that it's stronger than steel also, Titanium Is only stronger on a pound for pound scale and when the weight of it is 45% less than steel, well, you know. I do love a titanium watch though.

I've owned every generation Omega x-33, Tudor Pelagos, Oris Prodiver Chronograph, Casio Mrg's, etc.

They are scratch magnets. Just embrace It. It adds character to a titanium watch.

 

Yeah It does and It's kinda a myth that it's stronger than steel also, Titanium Is only stronger on a pound for pound scale and when the weight of it is 45% less than steel, well, you know. I do love a titanium watch though.

I've owned every generation Omega x-33, Tudor Pelagos, Oris Prodiver Chronograph, Casio Mrg's, etc.

They are scratch magnets. Just embrace It. It adds character to a titanium watch.

Thanks Cali. I hear what you're saying regarding embracing scratches, Ive been ok so far on other watches. This is the most money I've spent on a watch so I guess I'm a little fragile regarding scratches on it at the moment. Another lesson regarding research or lack of.

 

Grade 2, yes.

Grade 5 is a little harder than steel and a little more scratch resistant.

 

^ this.

Also, you can use an ink eraser to remove scratches from titanium:-

How to Clean a Titanium Watch

Titanium is a popular metal for many types of jewellery because it is lightweight and hypoallergenic. However, because titanium is slightly softer than other jewellery metals, it can get scratched with frequent wear.

www.ehow.co.uk

TZ-UK Forums

TZ-UK Forum, a friendly place to discuss watches without excessive moderation

forum.tz-uk.com

 

Yes and no. Pure Ti will scratch more easily than steel, but some processes can be done to augment the surface hardness. Anodizing is one, and there are others.

 

Also If I remember correctly titanium reacts to air and has an oxide layer or something like that, that makes the watch look more scratched than It actually is because it's the oxide layer getting scratched away..

 

Also If I remember correctly titanium reacts to air and has an oxide layer that or something like that, that makes the watch look more scratched than It actually is.

Yes I was reading about the oxidising basically masking the marks.

 

All the titanium watches I have had over the years have scratched easier than steel, and are a lot harder to polish up as well.

 

Well, I had never seriously considered titanium because I like the heavier feel of steel anyway, but after going through this thread it pretty much seals it. Can't imagine why I would ever give it a second thought.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

What did AD say about the scratches on both new watches

 

They were embarrassed, especially as the second "new" watch was checked by their watchmaker and he said it was perfect. He definitely needs a new glasses prescription as I could see the scratches with my naked eyes. They had a steel FF and that was also scratched. I didnt spot the scratch on the steel FF, the salesman did.

I looked at the new watch with a loupe, for a few hours wear it looked awful. several small dents and marks. I took it back tonight and got my money back. I contacted a very good case repairer and he said he doesn't touch Ti, too difficult to finish and he cant get the correct welding wire.

I tried on a brand new Zenith Defy Classic Ti last year, and guess what. That had a big scratch on the side of the case.

 

Yes, but it can be corrected. Not as easy to work out as stainless, but most marks are usually capable of being removed or reduced, at least in my experience.

 

I did not like my Titanium watches. To me, the look and feel of aluminum was not worth the weight savings. Unless someone really knew their metals its hard to tell the difference between Ti and Aluminum. Most people would say aluminum if the saw and felt it.

 

Ti and Al are quite different. You could blind-fold me and put two equal sized pieces in my hands and I could tell you which is which. Hint: the Ti will feel warmer and the Al will feel cooler.

 

In contrast, I love titanium watches. But not all titanium watches are created equal!

 

I have a Full titanium Zelos V3 Mako “graphite” and a Tudor Pelagos 25600TN.

My experience with the Zelos has exceeded my expectations as the only scratches on it are on the case back and the bracelet in areas where the titanium parts come into contact with each other.

My Tudor on the other hand has snail trails. Other than that there are no scratches.


Sent from my [emoji336]

 

I have a Full titanium Zelos V3 Mako “graphite” and a Tudor Pelagos 25600TN.

My experience with the Zelos has exceeded my expectations as the only scratches on it are on the case back and the bracelet in areas where the titanium parts come into contact with each other.

My Tudor on the other hand has snail trails. Other than that there are no scratches.


Sent from my [emoji336]

If I'm not mistaken, Zelos treats their titanium with a surface hardening which makes them quite scratch resistant. Similar to Diashield, Tegiment, etc... You're not dealing with just natural Ti or Ti alloy.

 

In my experience they're broadly similar (ie not night and day). Neither will get scratches unless you catch it on something, both will if you do.

But then I also get scratches on DLC so maybe I'm just prone to letting my watches get banged about.

 

I don't know whether it scratches "easier", but it's much easier to see on titanium compared to steel. Obviously, there are all kinds of things that come into play (e.g. finish, specific type of steel, etc.). I own a few knives that have titanium scales. Even if I'm cutting abrasive materials, the scales show scratches almost immediately with use whereas they may take a bit to develop on the blade, depending on what you're cutting.

I'm still getting used to not asking what type of steel it is when someone says it's "stainless"...

 

Knife steel is a LOT harder than the stainless used in watches. Completely different family of steels.

 

On a WUS you don't scratch Titanium, Titanium scratches your itch!

 

@FTH_BR You’re in luck. I believe IWC generally uses Grade 5 titanium, which is more scratch-resistant than 316L steel.

Not every titanium is created equal (I recommend reading post #24 by @MissileExpert).

 

Yeah it's one of the reasons why I don't buy titanium watches.

 

I have a Pelagos; occasionally I pick up a nick or scratch - the brushed finish is easily restored after a desk-diving mark by using the green side of a new, dry Scotchbrite pad rubbed briskly in the direction of the grain. Totally non-issue.

 

I totally agree with is. My Pelagos is WAY easier to buff up with a scotchbrite pad and ink eraser. Unlike my stainless steel watches, I can get it looking perfect in a matter of seconds. I haven't read everything people have said on here but trust me, do not believe anyone who says they wouldn't but a titanium watch because it scratches- they have never had one or they have not gone very far into researching how to look after it.

 

I’ve heard Omega’s grade 5 titanium ”doesn’t scratch”. Take it with a grain of salt, I have no clue. I wonder if different grades of titanium are more prone to scratching. One thing I know, some grades you can take a pencil eraser to the ‘scratch’, and erase it. I like how light the metal is, and how strong it is. That said, I need to learn a lot more about it before purchasing a Ti watch.

 

I’ve heard Omega’s grade 5 titanium ”doesn’t scratch”. Take it with a grain of salt, I have no clue.

@MissileExpert explained (in post #24) why Grade 5 titanium is more scratch-resistant than stainless steel, but Grade 2 is less scratch-resistant. Also, it's straightforward to remove scratches from titanium using an ink eraser.

I have no clue why the pencil eraser trick works so well, but it does. Just did it today in fact.

And while a fresh scratch reveals the bare titanium (it show ups), the scratch eventually oxidizes to match the rest of the watch and fades.

FWIW, in my wearing experience neither of my Ti watches scratch up worse than 316L.

 

It really depends on the material and the finishing/surface treatment.
I'm not really sure what grade Casio uses in the MR-G G1000B series, but the black DLC coating on top of the base titanium works as advertised. Usually the top layer of aluminum is absurdly hard and will cause scratches (it was the edge of my notebook i've used for my job), but that was getting scratched by the clasp of my MR-G.
The TIC coated titanium of the OCW-S100 i've got is by far inferior to the MR-G DLC coating, it scuffs, scratches and swirls a lot easier and leaves more visible marks.
Citizen uses a different surface treatment process with Duratect and for my navihawk, it's both the watch case design and brushed finishing that hides any scratches a lot easier than any high polish surface would do. The surface hardening also helps and with about the same time on the wrist as the MR-G and the Oceanus, duratect is about on par with the Casio DLC in quality.

 

I may have found the solution to the problem

 

Yeah, they’re not scratch resistant. I picked this one up last Thursday.

Personally…I like it. Titanium watches…to me…have personality, because they show wear so quickly. I’m an oddball though and I’m sure that’s not how most folks would look at it.

 

What's funny about that is the clasp is stainless, as is the caseback on the Pelagos..the rest is Ti though.

 

Hardening treatments help a lot. Budget priced Citizen’s surface hardening treatment for titanium is quite good, especially for the price.

grade 5 titanium may also be better, but it’s supposedly not easy to work with. Even some luxury watches use grade 2.

if scratches irk you, titanium and polished surfaces aren’t ideal.

 

Hardening treatments help a lot. Budget priced Citizen’s surface hardening treatment for titanium is quite good, especially for the price.

grade 5 titanium may also be better, but it’s supposedly not easy to work with. Even some luxury watches use grade 2.

if scratches irk you, titanium and polished surfaces aren’t ideal.

I think they look great once they’ve collected enough scratches to dull the polished look a bit.

 

Scratch magnet. Embrace it, or not.

It’s ridiculous though that new Blancpains would be scratched regardless of material. I wouldn’t mess with them anymore.

 

Scratch magnet. Embrace it, or not.

It’s ridiculous though that new Blancpains would be scratched regardless of material. I wouldn’t mess with them anymore.

Yeah..they’re your thing or they’re not. I.e. I took my Pelagos in to get a bracelet link installed and was “upset” (not really upset…more a little “sad panda”), because they took a polishing cloth to it to remove the scratches.

It took me at least a week or two to get it back to it’s former glory.

 

I have titanium frames for some of my glasses they are really resilient and flexible however get hairline scratches very easily and I'm sort of gentle w my glasses.

I've seen new titanium watch bracelets at the dept stores all the time they are all hairline scratches (nothing egregious) and actually to my eye I see titanium as more a functional metal than a luxury metal, and that having it in its natural used state of being a little scratched up looks more organic to me and pleasing to my eye. That's why I like the look of a well worn pelagos (especially the green one) it is exceptional in its tooly-ness, but I don't get other models made in titanium that are more for dress or jewelry like appearance. It doesn't match. (E.g there is a 36mm baume mercier Riviera model that is stunning but comes w a titanium bezel which, I'm afraid it will look horrid once it takes on some scratches).

Stainless is another matter. I want it pristine as much as possible.

 

This wouldn't happen if it was Ceratanium (IWC) 🙃

 

Yep it can. Unless there’s some extra treatment applied to it which I heard is often done?