Do titanium watches darken after a while?

[Toshk]

Do you know if all titanium watches tend to turn darker over time?

[ktmog6uk]

i think duratect lessens the effect, see also citizen's "super titanium"

[SSK007]

I have a Citizen Duratect Titanium watch and nothing has darkened there, maybe with some others it does.

[Toshk]

I have a Citizen Duratect Titanium watch and nothing has darkened there, maybe with some others it does.

Good to hear. Mine is a GS.
How long have you had it for?

[markrlondon]

Have a Steinhart Proteus and it had darkened noticeably. But no special coatings/treatments like Citizen and Seiko.

[nasar.39]

It also depends on the grade of titanium used. Specially coated and higher grade titanium would be less prone to scratches and fading or changing colour over time.

[ASK3L]

If it's coated its about the coating not base material. All titanium is subject to surface oxidation which leads to dulling with cheaper, lower %s dulling more, then again it could depend on the other components in the alloy so ask for a spec sheet :-)

[imattersuk]

I have a Citizen Titanium and it has not darkened at all, no scratches either, also the most comfortable watch i've ever owned.

[Kingstepper]

Interesting short article here http://www.ablogtowatch.com/watch-ca...ined-titanium/

[carlt69]

I have a Tissot T-touch titanium and it's never darkened.

[SSK007]

Cant quite remember but its a few years now and still looks as good as new.

Good to hear. Mine is a GS.
How long have you had it for?

[Puntsdog]

My Oris Pro Diver hasn't darkened at all. In fact the bracelet is as shiny as it was when new and I've had it more than 4 years.

[PJ S]

I have a Van Nicholas sports bicycle made from Titanium & it looks exactly the same as the day I bought it 5 years ago

For obvious reasons, it’ll not be bare metal – they’ll have anodised it, most likely.

[ach5]

Do you honestly think anyone here has ever owned a watch long enough to know?!

As for the multiple Aerospace's I have owned (at most 6 months I think), none seemed to darken.

[walkerwek1958]

Titanium rapidly develops an oxide layer; the associated darkening happens v quickly and it'll already be in this state when it's purchased new. It's nigh-on impossible to produce a mirror finish unless working in an inert atmosphere. A very smooth finish can be produced but it'll dull overnight.......I speak from experience!

Titanium scratches easier than steel because it's softer, but owing to the rapid oxidation of the damaged surface it the marks don't show up as easily.

I've no urge to own one, but I can see the appeal. The lack of weight is odd; just finished work on a titanium Omega SMP and it feels strange, the mismatch between what your eyes say it should feel like and the way it actually feels is uncanny.

Paul

[sulla_hibernia]

yes, you'll get some surface oxidation which depends on the grade of Ti used. I actually think that the higher the grade the more likely it is to oxidise, unless the surface is treated.

[stoneyloon]

My Titanium SM300 is not dark at all and the polished sections have a mirror finish. This may be because they use grade 5 titanium (whatever that is?).
Cheers,
Adam.

[Omegamanic]

I have a highly polished Ti watch, which you would never guess had a Ti case. I've had many Ti Omega SMPs and none of them over changed colour.

[walkerwek1958]

I worked on one titanium watch bracelet with polished sections; try as I might I couldn`t get anything like the same mirror finish as stainless steel, it wouldn`t 'take' the final polishing. In the end I put this down to oxidation of the freshly-revealed surface. Not saying it didn`t have a shine, just somewhat duller than steel. Possibly some polished titanium watches have a surface coating added?

One odd effect I`ve seen on heavily worn titanium cases is a 'ploughing up' effect on the surface of the metal. Hard to describe abd very strange. I polished it all out and redid the brushed finish starting afresh. The effect was confined to the top of the lugs, never did fully understand it. Could've been a result of previous attempts to rework it?.....I don`t know.

Personally I prefer straightforward stainless steel or gold, but some titanium watches do look nice........once you've got used to the colour.

Paul

[Toshk]

Thanks for vast amount of facts gents. So much experience on this forum.

I no longer google watch related stuff. I just ask here :)

[100thmonkey]

You will get a noticeable change in the colour on titanium watches depending on their exposure to light/heat/moisture etc I really like the change which is unnoticeable as its very gradual but nice comparing old to new

[Kingstepper]

You will get a noticeable change in the colour on titanium watches depending on their exposure to light/heat/moisture etc I really like the change which is unnoticeable as its very gradual but nice comparing old to new

Light will not effect it.

[Omegamanic]

You will get a noticeable change in the colour on titanium watches depending on their exposure to light/heat/moisture etc I really like the change which is unnoticeable as its very gradual but nice comparing old to new

I love the effect heat has - I've had many Ti exhaust on my motorbikes change with the constant heat and cooling cycles.

[100thmonkey]

Light will not effect it.

Im no scientist! But shut in a box or safe over worn out and about it changes!

[Kingstepper]

Im no scientist! But shut in a box or safe over worn out and about it changes!

Not sure what you mean. It may look different in different light but it will not have changed due to exposure to light. Any changes will be due to surface oxidation by air or 'micro' scratches it picks up.

[saintsinner]

Interesting short article here http://www.ablogtowatch.com/watch-ca...ined-titanium/

Thanks for that, interesting..always hoped mine would get darker with age..oh well

[Blueboy1]

I think titanium is generally a darker metal anyway than others - possibly due to that oxidation process. It was like that on a Merlin titanium bike I used to have.