It’s been 45 years since Citizen launched the electro-mechanical X-8 Chronometer, the world’s first solid titanium watch.
Light Weight and Light Powered
Today, the Japanese watchmaking juggernaut continues to expand its space age product offerings with a new series of watches crafted from its patented Super Titanium™. Anyone who has worn a solid titanium watch probably appreciates its tough, lightweight and hypo-allergenic properties, but I’ve found that typical titanium (even grade 5 polished) is relatively easy to scratch or mar. Citizen’s “Super Titanium” addresses titanium’s one apparent weak spot.
Super Titanium combines CITIZEN’s own proprietary titanium processing technology with a surface hardening finish called Duratect. It’s much more resistant to scratches than typical titanium and more than five times harder than stainless steel, yet still resists rusting. It’s also 40% lighter than stainless steel and remains hypo-allergenic.
Citizen’s latest models of the Ti + IP collections all feature a 46 mm Super Titanium™ case and solid link bracelet. These sleek new timepieces are all rock-solid sports watches, in spite of their light weight, and are rated to 10 atm. Sapphire crystals continue the scratch-resistant theme and stand guard over textured dials that still allow light to pass through to power the Eco-Drive movement. The chronographs feature 1/5-second timing, a 12/24 hour sub-dial and a running seconds hand. The simpler three-hand with date is less busy and slightly less expensive than the chronographs. Prices range from $375 for the three-hand with date up to $475 for the chronographs. www.citizenwatch.com
