Metal

[cal14]

Steel, Titanium, Yellow Gold, White Gold, Platinum, Tantalum… How do different case materials compare when it comes to properties that matter like scratch resistance? What is your preferred metal?

[shafran]

I believe in order of scratch resistance. Tantalum most resistant, titanium,steel, platinum,gold (all colors)

[kunlun]

I would say density/weight and heat conductance add a lot to how a metal feels on the skin

[ChetBaker]

There’s also Palladium to complete the list.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

There’s also Palladium to complete the list.

And zirconium

Tungsten? It would be the hardest metal

[kunlun]

18k palladium white gold (grey gold) is one of my favorite alloys for watch cases. It's completely under the radar, looks like steel, but it is entirely precious metal, imperishable, and hypo-allergenic.

You see it with some independent watchmakers.

[cal14]

Originally Posted by kunlun

18k palladium white gold (grey gold) is one of my favorite alloys for watch cases. It's completely under the radar, looks like steel, but it is entirely precious metal, imperishable, and hypo-allergenic.

You see it with some independent watchmakers.

3 types of white gold right? With palladium white gold being the best?

[kunlun]

Originally Posted by cal14

3 types of white gold right? With palladium white gold being the best?

There are many types, more than 3 of white gold, I just like 75%gold, 25% palladium. But, a "whiter" white gold is possible with other alloys, sometimes at the cost of yellowing over the years, or allergies for some people.

So, trade-offs, plus my subjective preference for the mythology associated with gold and palladium.

[GB-man]

I like titanium myself. Light and strong.

[brandrea]

Good old stainless steel for me.

It’s just the right balance of being rugged with just the right amount of heft. It also polishes up beautifully. YMMV.

[ChetBaker]

Originally Posted by kunlun

18k palladium white gold (grey gold) is one of my favorite alloys for watch cases. It's completely under the radar, looks like steel, but it is entirely precious metal, imperishable, and hypo-allergenic.

You see it with some independent watchmakers.

Moser used to do quite a few Palladium watches in the past. Not sure if those where an alloy of Palladium and WG though.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

Moser used to do quite a few Palladium watches in the past. Not sure if those where an alloy of Palladium and WG though.

MB&F has been using palladium and zirconium. Palladium looks "whiter" and feels lighter to me.

And we forgot to mention bronze.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Good old stainless steel for me.

It’s just the right balance of being rugged with just the right amount of heft. It also polishes up beautifully. YMMV.

+1

The one titanium watch I owned appeared to (1) ding easier than stainless steel and (2) show any scratch a lot more than brushed (and even polished) steel. The blasted matte titanium surface made any small shiny scratch look a lot bigger.

In addition to stainless steel I also like platinum. It scratches easily but polishes well if one choses to get rid of the scratches. Another fact worth noting is that, at least when it comes to Patek, the case and bracelet features look less sharp / well defined in platinum compared to steel or gold for any given reference. I believe I noticed the same comparing platinum and gold Journes but would not bet an arm and a leg on the latter.