Aluminium watch cases?

[TaketheCannoli]

Other than Apple watches, has anyone ever seen, heard of or owned a ‘normal’ watch with an aluminium case? I’d never heard of it until I was offered one by a micro brand this week. It’s exactly the same watch as their steel version other than the case material which makes it around half the weight. Water resistance is the same.

TIA

[Qatar-wol]

Not owned one, but Hamilton use aluminium sometimes.

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/...n8EZqQgg3MQkDU

[TaketheCannoli]

Thanks Walter, that’s interesting. I was struggling to find any.

Not owned one, but Hamilton use aluminium sometimes.

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-gb/...n8EZqQgg3MQkDU

[gbn13]

Bulgari have had a range for many years.

[kevkojak]

I've had a few aluminium Swatch watches. I've got one now in fact. Trying to think what else, but there are definitely a good few brands out there who've experimented with Aluminium.

[LukeBird]

Only one I’d ever heard of was a Girard-Perregaux, was listed on SC some years back as I recall.

[aFiercePancake]

This Sinn 143 (and its relations) use an aluminum case.

IMG_5264_res (1).jpg

It is wonderfully lightweight but also not very good with small dings and such. The finish on these particular models was not very good, so perhaps it is an anomaly. That said, human sweat and aluminum are not friends.

An unexpected thing: The ticking of the movement inside this case is loud. Louder than any other watch I have owned. As in very noticeable. No other Lemania 51xx-powered watch was this noisy in other cases.

HTH

[TaketheCannoli]

Interesting, thanks a lot.

This Sinn 143 (and its relations) use an aluminum case.

IMG_5264_res (1).jpg

It is wonderfully lightweight but also not very good with small dings and such. The finish on these particular models was not very good, so perhaps it is an anomaly. That said, human sweat and aluminum are not friends.

An unexpected thing: The ticking of the movement inside this case is loud. Louder than any other watch I have owned. As in very noticeable. No other Lemania 51xx-powered watch was this noisy in other cases.

HTH

[Top Cat]

The Girard Perregaux F1 046 (38mm 3 hander) and F1 047 (40mm chrono) both had aluminium cases made from an F1 racing cars engine block.

Also the first FP Journe Linesports had aluminium cases before being switched to titanium in later iterations.

[Top Cat]

I was offered one by a micro brand this week.

Please share out of interest?

[TaketheCannoli]

Certainly, it’s a Proxima:

Please share out of interest?

[TaketheCannoli]

Thanks all. I just wasn’t sure it was a recognised material for watch cases but no I am assured it is.

[HookedSeven]

A fair few of the early IWC / Porsche Design watches were aluminium cased. The compass watch and the volcano shaped chrono spring to mind.

[Dr Wolff]

This Sinn 143 (and its relations) use an aluminum case.

IMG_5264_res (1).jpg

It is wonderfully lightweight but also not very good with small dings and such. The finish on these particular models was not very good, so perhaps it is an anomaly. That said, human sweat and aluminum are not friends.

An unexpected thing: The ticking of the movement inside this case is loud. Louder than any other watch I have owned. As in very noticeable. No other Lemania 51xx-powered watch was this noisy in other cases.

HTH

In a similar vein, Lemania 5012. Very light, prone to chipping and bezel/crown wear

[Neil.C]

During WWII Omega used cases made of some sort of light alloy.

Here's mine.

[Rev-O]

During WWII Omega used cases made of some sort of light alloy.

Here's mine.

Duralumin, I think.

[kozza6]

I have a Panerai 504 I bought off here...it has an aluminium composite case. Apparently, ceramic-coated aluminium. Good job as at 47 mm, I appreciate the lightness of it!

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[helidoc]

Before I was infected by the WIS virus, one of these was my only watch for about 8 years. Tempted to find another out of shear nostalgia



Dave


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[Steelgecko]

My take on aluminium is that a) it's viable for a watch case, b) it is light but scratches, dents and bends easily, is highly conductive, aluminium leeches into the skin... c) there are very few watches made of it exactly because it's a terrible choice with much better options d) it would be tiresome discussing the case material spelling with American watch lovers

[monogroover]

I have an aluminium case Swatch as well, somewhere. Wore it quite a bit in the late '90s, light and practical.

[RobDad]

Isn’t it a very cheap material? And watches are now quite expensive. You can get relatively cheap Ti cased watches so why bother making them of aluminium?


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[mycroft]

Isn’t it a very cheap material? And watches are now quite expensive. You can get relatively cheap Ti cased watches so why bother making them of aluminium?


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Agreed - cannot see the point tbh.

Simon

[Kingstepper]

My take on aluminium is that a) it's viable for a watch case, b) it is light but scratches, dents and bends easily, is highly conductive, aluminium leeches into the skin... c) there are very few watches made of it exactly because it's a terrible choice with much better options d) it would be tiresome discussing the case material spelling with American watch lovers

Disagree with much of this : -
It’s certainly strong enough for a watch case.
Leaching into the skin is negligible. People have been cooking with aluminium utensils for years.
Believe Apple Watches are available in aluminium.

[monogroover]

Isn’t it a very cheap material? And watches are now quite expensive. You can get relatively cheap Ti cased watches so why bother making them of aluminium?

Aluminium's significantly lighter than titanium. So for an inexpensive watch it does make sense. Of course plastic's lighter as well, but the aesthetics are different.

[MartC]

I find this type of question interesting as material choice plays a big part for me, especially if the watch in question commands a large sum of money.

Tissot did a range of T-Race watches a while back that had aluminium cases in colours. While not massively expensive, it was the soft aluminium that put me off, although I loved the design.

[TaketheCannoli]

Well it’s actually really nice! All the benefits of a ‘Tuna’ but super light. Having said that, you still know you’re wearing it which I always like.