Customers often inquire about the grade of titanium we use in our watches. We use Grade 2 Titanium, the most common type used in watchmaking due to its unique properties. It has a relatively low tensile strength, making it highly ductile and easy to work with. Additionally, it's extremely resistant to corrosion and has a low density, making it lightweight - an essential feature for comfortable everyday wear.
Notably, Grade 2 Titanium is the preferred choice for renowned watch brands such as Omega and Hamilton. Omega utilizes it in their Titanium Seamaster 300M series, as stated by Teddy Baldassarre's watch website. Similarly, the Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic watch also employs this grade of titanium.
In addition to Omega and Hamilton, Rolex, another esteemed watchmaker, also incorporates titanium into their timepieces. Specifically, they utilize Grade 5 titanium alloy for their Yacht-Master 43 RLX Oyster Titanium Oyster, Reference 226627. The use of this high-grade material in their watches is a testament to Rolex's commitment to quality and durability. However, the superior properties of Grade 5 titanium come at a cost – as of the time of writing, the Yacht-Master 43 RLX Oyster Titanium Oyster is priced at $14,050.
Grade 2 Titanium is commercially pure, with a minimum of 99% titanium. Its chemical composition affects its mechanical properties and design capability. However, its corrosion resistance is consistent across all four grades. This lightweight material outperforms the corrosion resistance of stainless steels in most environments.
With its lower density, Grade 2 Titanium is highly sought after in industries where weight is a concern. It's extensively used in the medical and aerospace sectors. The strength and corrosion resistance properties of Grade 2 Titanium make it ideal for marine, chemical processing, and desalination industries. It can be found in oil & gas components, reaction vessels, tubing systems, heat exchangers, liners, and many other industrial components. It can withstand continuous service temperatures up to 800°F and intermittent service at 1000°F.
The corrosion resistance of commercially pure titanium grades comes from a protective oxide film that forms in the presence of oxygen. This film makes Grade 2 Titanium resistant to most oxidizing, neutral, and inhibited reducing environments, as well as mildly reducing ones. It offers excellent resistance to seawater and marine atmospheric corrosion.
Fabrication and heat treatment of Grade 2 Titanium are straightforward due to its good ductility. It allows for cold formability, easy machining, hot working, and welding. The material can be welded using various methods such as MIG and TIG, with inert gas shielding being crucial to prevent oxygen pickup and embrittlement of the weld area. Preheat or post heat treatments are not required, making it a versatile material for our watchmaking process."
View our entire collection of titanium timepieces Here
**** Oceaneva is in no way affiliated with Rolex, Omega, Hamilton or Teddy Baldassarre. Any trademarked brands or names are property of their respective owners and fall under "fair or descriptive" use when used in the above article with regards to trademark law and does not constitute infringement.