Titanium is a fantastic material that can be used for building a dive watch, it is very lightweight, it is far more corrosion resistant to sea water than 316 stainless steel and it is stronger than nearly any other comparative metal.

Titanium is an element on the periodic table with the symbol Ti. It was found in 1791 by German scientist William Gregor in Cornwall, England. It is used in everything from building military equipment, sporting goods, in the airline industry, for jewelry and yes for watches.

The first watch built out of titanium was in the 1970’s by Japanese watchmaker Citizen. Then in the 1990’s Seiko built the first dive watch out of titanium. Titanium used in dive watches can be pure titanium, or it can also be an alloy consisting of mainly titanium alloyed with small amounts of aluminum and vanadium.

Titanium, although it has many benefits over other materials including strength and weight is not without its drawbacks. Although it is very strong, it scratches easily, which is why it is often alloyed with other metals. Titanium is also more difficult to work with which is why titanium watches are more expensive than their stainless steel brethren. Titanium, although beautiful in its own right, will not polish to a high luster like others metals or alloys. It has a dull hue that is beautiful in its own right.

Another benefit of titanium specifically over stainless steel is that it doesn’t contain nickel. Nickel is used in stainless alloys to prevent corrosion, and some people are allergic to nickel. Titanium is highly hypoallergenic.

Most watchmakers that make dive watches out of titanium have the exact model they also make in 316 stainless steel. They duplicate the model with no or minor modifications to the titanium model. When you pick them up side by side the weight difference is noticeable, aside from the dulled hue of the titanium, it is noticeably lighter in weight.

Below is the complete list of titanium dive watches on the marketplace at this time. I am trying to keep this list up to date, so if you know of another titanium dive watch not included on my list, please drop me a note through my contact page.

Without further ado, if you want to own a watch made out of the same material that they build tank armor from, one of the list below could be your next watch.

The List

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date Titanium 5050

Blancpain is the inventor of the original dive watch. Others were very soon to follow, but Blancpain did it first with the invention of the first modern dive watch with a rotating bezel. The Titanium version is very similar to the original in design, kind of a throwback. Why change a good thing.

Citizen Promaster Dive Super Titanium Eco Drive

Citizen is a prodigious maker of dive watches. The Citizen Promaster line has a lot of different watches. I have a lot of scuba instructor friends who own them, go onto a dive boat and you are likely to find a few adorning the wrists of divers anywhere in the world. Most of them are great watches at a very good price. The titanium version is no different. As far as price, it’s one of the most reasonable titanium dive watch on the market.

Citizen Promaster 1000M Professional Diver Super Titanium

This is a purpose built dive watch, what I mean by that is you’re probably not wearing this on your wrist unless you are diving. It is just so darn big at 53mm in diameter. You would have to have some large wrists to pull this off. But, if you’re a commercial diver and go very deep, this could be the one for you since it’s rated to 1000 meters. I bet it’s easy to read in those cold dark depths.

Tudor Pelagos Titanium

If you’re looking for watch that is: Swiss made, titanium, a dive watch, a certified chronometer and a depth rating of 500 meters, this is your watch. Call me crazy, but I’d rather have this than a Rolex Submariner. This watch has it all in spades, and yes the bracelet is titanium as well. Yes please. At 42mm it’s the perfect size for a lot of men.

Oris Aquis Grey Dial Titanium

I personally love the styling of Oris dive watches. The Aquis is their most popular dive watch, and this is the titanium version. It’s got everything you would want, sapphire crystal, swiss movement, 300M water resistance, you can get it in a bracelet or a rubber strap. Another of many excellent watches on this list.

Oris Aquis Regulateur “Der Meistertaucher” Titanium

Similar to the original Aquis, this is a regulator watch. The Regulator, or “Der Meistertaucher” is a watch that has different hands for sub seconds and minutes. There are a lot of these out there, but it has been recently discontinued.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional Titanium

If you want to own the same watch that has the record for the deepest dive ever taken, this is your watch. Omega specifically built this watch for Expedition Ultra Deep to go to the deepest part of any ocean on the planet. They strapped it to the outside of the submarine and set a record. At 28mm thick, it’s probably not going to fit under a shirt cuff.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Titanium

This is essentially the same watch as the original Planet Ocean from Omega in a titanium case. Most titanium variants are considerably more expensive than their originals, but the titanium Planet Ocean is not much more than the stainless steel variant.

Hublot King Power Diver 4000

One of the most expensive watches on this list, you may need to be a King to afford it. Waterproof to 4000M, the Hublot King Power Diver is like nothing else out there. It’s a massive watch measuring 48mm in diameter. It’s was only a 500 piece limited edition run, so my guess is they will keep going up in value. Send me a picture if you get your hands on one.

Hamtun H2

The Hamtun H series of watches are watches through a boutique watch maker, they are no longer available, but you do see them on the used market. Although the venture apparently failed, Hamtun’s are good watches.

Sinn T1 B, T2 B Titanium Dive Watches

Sinn is a German watch manufacturer, but this watch features a Swiss ETA movement. Sinn has a captive design bezel, which needs to be depressed before you manipulate it, this prevents accidental movement of the bezel. Although through thousands of dives I’ve never had accidental bezel slippage, this is a well thought out feature. The T1 is 45mm in diameter, and the T2 is 41mm.

Seiko Prospex Titanium Diver Watch

The Seiko Prospex line is chocked full of beautiful, yet rugged dive watches. Seiko actually built the first titanium dive watch on the market as noted above. Seiko continues that tradition with the Prospex Titanium Diver.

Hamilton Frogman Titanium

The Hamilton Frogman Titanium is one of many very large tool watches on this list. It measures in at 46mm wide and a chunky 17mm thickness. Waterproof to 1000M, the Frogman Titanium can probably handle anything you can throw at it. I’d have to wear a wetsuit under it to fit my wrist.

Invicta Pro Diver Titanium Watch

Invicta makes a slew of Pro Diver watches, so it’s no surprise that they make a titanium version. At barely over $100 it’s affordable for everyone. If I wanted a reasonable titanium dive watch I would probably go with the Citizen listed above, but Invicta sells a ton of these Pro Divers, they are very popular.

Mido Ocean Star Captain V Titanium

Aside from the aesthetics of this beautiful watch, the feature I like the most is the starfish on the case back. What a great feature, Ocean Star indeed.

Orient Beast M-Force Automatic Titanium Diver Watch

Appropriately named, at 47mm in diameter this watch is a beast. Orient is a division of Seiko, so there’s a pedigree of Japanese watchmakers, Orient is a popular brand. Most people cannot pull off a 47mm watch, but if you can this is a good automatic dive watch.

Nixon 51-30 TI Watch Titanium

Nixon is actually a surf brand that builds fashion watches. I would not expect them to build a titanium dive watch, but they have. The 51 in the model stands for the diameter, so yes it’s pretty big. I don’t think this watch is for everyone, and you’re not going to pair this with a suit. But for the right person, this could work.

Victorinox Swiss Army 45MM I.N.O.X. Professional

Yes, Victorinox not only makes wonderful knives, I’ve owned many throughout the years, they make military, field and dive watches. They have a lot of varieties of their titanium dive watch, some with paracord straps, some with rubber, even one with a speckled blue dial. They are nice, and Victorinox sells a lot of them.

Minus 8 Diver 2.0 Titanium

The Minus 8 Diver 2.0 looks like it should be a gauge on an aircraft carries. Rugged tool watch would be a great descriptor for this watch. Minus 8 is a boutique brand, and as of this writing they are sold out. This is a chunky 300M diver with a more modern look.

Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 Premium

You could do a lot worse for a sub $750 dollar titanium dive watch from a premium watch maker. The Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 Premium is simplicity wrapped in a rugged titanium cocoon. It even has an exhibition case back for its Swiss made movement. If I was making a list of titanium dive watches to potentially purchase, this would be in the top three or four. The 500 in the name is how deep it’s WR to, yep 500M.

Ocean 7 LM-7 Tribute Professional Hardened Titanium Diver

Ocean 7 is an American watch brand that makes tribute watches that harken back to an older era. The LM-7 is one of those. This is a serious dive watch. Easy to read with multiple different options of colors. It’s also WR to 250M.

Ulysse Nardin Diver Deep Dive 3203-500LE

On the Ulysse Nardin website it says, “If you’re overcompensating with a superyacht, you need this watch.” Now I’m not sure what that means for people who do buy this watch, but you may need to own a superyacht to afford one.

Hazard 4 Heavy Water Diver Titanium Tritium

The Hazard Heavy Water Diver in Titanium is a bit of a mixed bag for me. It looks durable and with WR to 300M should be a no brainer, but it has too much of that fashion watch look for my taste. But everyone has a different style and perspective. At 50mm wide it is a big watch. There is also a black variant if that’s your style.

Phoibos Apollo Titanium

Phoibos builds excellent dive watches, the Apollo Titanium is no different. Titanium, although incredibly strong scratches rather easily. Phoibos layers an HV800 Anti-Scratch coating on the case, bracelet, bezel, crown and buckle to combat scratching. The Apollo Titanium is also incredibly thin at 12.5mm for an automatic watch. They put 15 layers of Super-LumiNova for the lume. This thing is bright in the dark.

What you wind up with is a great titanium dive watch that is fairly priced.

Closing

Don’t be shy to drop me a line if you know of a titanium dive watch I may have overlooked. I’m trying to keep this list up to date.