Titanium watch bracelet longevity

[Quattro Pete]

Are these as durable as stainless steel?

I've read a few comments stating that titanium is not as durable... wears quickly and the bracelet/links are more likely to bend and become sloppy over time. Is this generally true?

The particular watch in question is Seiko SGG709 with titanium case and bracelet.

I can get a similar Seiko in stainless steel for half the price. The main advantage of the titanium one appears to be weight, but I'm not all that worried about this aspect. Not sure about looks - haven't seen either one in person.

 

[Cristobal]

I think your main issue will be mechanical wear, as titanium is generally not corroded by the human body. At least that is my understanding, as they use it a lot for certain medical implants.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
I think your main issue will be mechanical wear,

Right, but will this mechanical wear be more pronounced on a titanium bracelet as compared to SS?

 

[PRND3L]

Titanium bracelets are more prone to picking up desk diving scratches than stainless steel.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

What is its toxicity? As bad as Aluminium? I dont want my watch metal to add to my decine into dementia. I'm a rubber strap guy. I do like the TissoT 516 sport chrono though. A LOT.

 

[Quattro Pete]

SGG709 (titanium) on left, SGGA49 (stainless steel) on right:

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
What is its toxicity? As bad as Aluminium? I dont want my watch metal to add to my decine into dementia. I'm a rubber strap guy. I do like the TissoT 516 sport chrono though. A LOT.


It's used as hardware for surgery, so it's probably considered safe.

I think the longevity will depend primarily on what alloy they use. Pure titanium is quite soft, but the structural grades can be very hard and strong. I have a titanium Citizen Eco-Drive that I like because it is light and comfortable, but I don't wear it enough to provide any insight.

 

[greenaccord02]

I have some stainless and some titanium watches, Seiko and Citizen mostly. Stainless holds up better and looks a little better in the same design, IMO.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: PRND3L
Titanium bracelets are more prone to picking up desk diving scratches than stainless steel.



+1

 

[bepperb]

Seiko bands aren't that great to begin with. I'd go stainless. Scratches are easy to repair with some rouge and an ink eraser. I'm not sure if that's the case with titanium. Though my Seiko Automatic I replaced the stainless band with a leather one and will have to replace that every year or two.

 

[Astro14]

I wear a titanium Seiko every day. It weighs less than half what a stainless watch weighs. It is absolutely inert - no reaction, no surface oxidation like aluminum.

It also does not have to be removed for the airport magnetometer.

After 5 years, it shows some scratches, but I wouldn't say they're a lot worse than stainless...it may be that the links are thinner because the material is more expensive and thus show the wear a bit more...

But there is no way that I am going back to stainless - this one is so much more convenient.

 

[suspiciousmind]

I've had a four hundred plus dollar titanium citizen watch riding in the center console of my truck for over four years. Its band broke after two years and looks near impossible to repair....stainless pin broke in one of the links. Last check, best price I could find was over two hundred dollars to replace the band.

I searched ebay for a similar watch to steal the band from and found one but it wasn't similar enough so, I just started wearing it. That was over four years ago and the band still works fine.

I don't know how this might help but, that's my story.

 

[UNC197]

I have a Seiko titanium band watch that I really like. It's extremely light weight and slim but it will scratch easily. I use it as a formal watch to avoid scratches. If you are looking for a watch to wear everyday, get a SS watch as a "beater". I wear a SS Seiko as my everyday watch.

 

[Fredric_Flod]

I have a Omega Seamaster Titane, only watch that I have used since 1982 and used it daily.
Still looks really good only some small scratches on the gold parts, the titanium bracelet do not scratch.

 

[onebigunion]

I would say pick the one you like based on appearance. Both materials will be durable but both will scratch. The titanium material tends to get shiny with wear, whereas the steel version will get marks that look more like typical scratches. (titanium can be polished to look nearly new again, if you are that into the watch),

I personally would be more concerned about the longevity of the crystal. I would assume the watch is hardlex or some other type of mineral glass. The watch you're looking at is pretty small and thin, so even the stainless version won't be heavy.

Most titanium watchs are more of matte grey in color rather than the high gloss shiny silver. I personally like the look of titanium much better, but that's just a personal preference.

 

[charbaby]

Exactly! Buy a watch that you will like wearing. I buy a wrist watch for it's look as well as for it's function. I prefer SS but, that's just me. If your worried about scratching the Titanium, ware it less often and be carefull while doing so.

Seiko uses a "HardLex Crystal" so scratching it in everyday use will be hard to do unless you work in construction. Also, find out if the crystal is only "Hardlex" or is it Saphire? Doubt it's saphire!

I like SS for it's weight. I like a heavey watch without stepping up to Tungsten(way too much money)but, I do love the weight.

Croton offers Tungsten/Saphire for a reasonable price.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: Fredric_Flod
I have a Omega Seamaster Titane, only watch that I have used since 1982 and used it daily.
Still looks really good only some small scratches on the gold parts, the titanium bracelet do not scratch.


Well, Titanium does scratch but, you have been very carefull!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Seiko uses a "HardLex Crystal" so scratching it in everyday use will be hard to do unless you work in construction.

Thanks. Although, my current Seiko 5 uses hardlex as well, and I've already managed to put some scratches on it, and I have a desk job.

 

[onebigunion]

I'm not sure that Hardlex is anything more than a marketing term for mineral crystal. From what I've known, it isn't anywhere close to sapphire in scratch resistance. Perhaps there are different grades of Hardlex??

BTW, the watches you're looking at are very nice for the price range.

 

[UNC197]

I just looked up the Seiko watch you are considering. I have a similar one but mine is dark titanium. This is the one I have:

SGF709