The Titanium Sub

[Goodwatch]

Titanium, discovered in 1791 by the Reverend William Gregor, is 45% lighter than steel, stronger, corrosion resistant (even in salt water) and inert to the human body. Absolutely non-allergenic. It is the ideal material to make a watch from, one might think. A Sub or SD would be almost half the weight of their stainless steel counterparts. How about a titanium Sub gents? Feasible? Perhaps our PhotoShop wizard can bestow a titanium hue on a Sub to get an idea how this would look. (Awful I think).






Take care,



Frans.

While Ti can be polished to a high sheen, I think brushed Ti looks really dirty, particularly on a watch. I mean, a brushed Ti bicycle frame is one thing, but on a watch? nope.

However, the hypo-allergenic properties would certainly take care of one niche market for Rolex, but I don't think it would look good, or be a big seller as a Sub or a SD.

[JJ Irani]

I'm with Johnny on this one, Frans.

With all its superb chemical properties, Titanium can never look shiny and new like 904L SS. Ti is excellent in aircraft, cars, ships and several other industrial uses, but on a watch - NO!!

Cheers - JJ

[Rodentman]

Titanium is strong, but scratches very easily and is hard to work with. I much prefer the SS and I don't think a titanium Rolex would have much appeal.

Rolex probably won't lose many sales to people allergic to SS. I'd wear one anyway. So I get a rash, it's worth it.

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I'm with Johnny on this one, Frans.

With all its superb chemical properties, Titanium can never look shiny and new like 904L SS. Ti is excellent in aircraft, cars, ships and several other industrial uses, but on a watch - NO!!

Cheers - JJ

I would hate it too, that's the whole point. Progression isn't always improvement. BTW: you're on an average of 18 posts a DAY! How do you do this? Too much spare time?

Take care,

Frans.

[Gedanken]

Well, the other issue is weight - I like a bit of heft in my watches, and titanuim doesn't stack up in this respect.

A while back I tried on a Brietling Chrono Avenger M1 - even before I put it on, while I had the M1 in one hand and my SD in the other, the wieght difference was apparent already, despite the M1 being substantially larger than the SD.

Being a psychologist, I once sat around idly with one of my mates trying to come up with the defining characteristics of a boy's toy. A complete boy's toy would:
1) be shiny
2) feel dense and hefty
3) have metal parts sliding against each other
4) produce noise and/or light


By its nature titanium, unfortunately, fails in the first two aspects.

[Rockrolex]

No question that Ti doesn't come close to SS in look or heft. I have a GP ww.tc in titanium and it does not have the shine of my SS GMT-II. There's not much difference in the feel of the weight, though. But that may be because the GP has more components, what with the world time ring and the chrono functions in addition to the date function. But trust me, a Ti Sub would not work. It would look almost as bad as a Pumpkin.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

I would hate it too, that's the whole point. Progression isn't always improvement. BTW: you're on an average of 18 posts a DAY! How do you do this? Too much spare time?

Take care,

Frans.

Most of them go on in the morning between 6 and 7.30 am!!

[padi56]

Must go with rest Frans, not a lover of titanium watches

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I'm with Johnny on this one, Frans.

With all its superb chemical properties, Titanium can never look shiny and new like 904L SS. Ti is excellent in aircraft, cars, ships and several other industrial uses, but on a watch - NO!!

Cheers - JJ

Actually JJ, titanium can look as shiny or moreso than 904L SS, but the polishing rather goes against the point of ti, i.e., a tough metal that can take a beating. Since it scratches so easily, it makes the polishing moot.

I had a buddy who showed up for our routine saturday morning 120km ride on a polished titanium bicycle and over the course of a couple of months of regular riding, it became quite scratched (and this guy was anal about keeping it 'perfect'). In the end he sent it back to the factory to have it refinished in satin.

[Uncle-AJ]

I have a titanium and gold Omega sea master which I think looks good. Unfortunately it's at home in the UK but I may have a picture of it on my desktop computer. I wear it occasionally as a dress watch. The movement is quartz and it is thin and light. If I can find a picture I'll post it later. Of course my Panny has a Ti case and I think that's the bees knees.

[dman]

I think I may look into getting a Ti case watch down the road. I like the "dirty" look of them.

[Rockrolex]

Here's what the Ti case GP ww.tc looks like. Nice watch, but it just doesn't have the shine of SS.

[JJ Irani]

Gosh, you do love complicated watches, Ed. I hope you're not that complicated in life! LOL!!

[dman]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Here's what the Ti case GP ww.tc looks like. Nice watch, but it just doesn't have the shine of SS.

Holy busy dial batman!!

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by dman

Holy busy dial batman!!

Now you know why I'm looking for a Breitling Olympus. The GP is simple by comparison.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Now you know why I'm looking for a Breitling Olympus. The GP is simple by comparison.

If you consider that GP simple and the new Breitling even more complicated than that, then I might just go into a dizzy head-spin when I see the Breitling....

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by Gedanken

A complete boy's toy would:
1) be shiny
2) feel dense and hefty
3) have metal parts sliding against each other
4) produce noise and/or light

What you described is a handgun

Frans.

[Rodentman]

I have a Breitling M-1 SQ in titanium, white dial. Titanium works with that piece. The dull finish suits the sheer bulk of the thing. If it were SS it would weigh too much I think. It's my upscale casual beater.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

If you consider that GP simple and the new Breitling even more complicated than that, then I might just go into a dizzy head-spin when I see the Breitling....

Here's the Breitling Olympus that I'm looking for.

It's got a couple more complications than the GP. In addition to the chrono function, it's got day, date, month, moon phase, and slide rule functions. Of course, the GP has world time plus date. So that means the Olympus has three more net functions than the GP.

[JJ Irani]

64,000 Dollar question, Ed. How many of these functions are you actually going to use (or are capable of using?)

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

64,000 Dollar question, Ed. How many of these functions are you actually going to use (or are capable of using?)

Believe it or not, the only one I need a little refresher course on is the slide rule function. But I grew up in engineering school with slide rules so I used to be good at it. All the other functions are standard.

How many would I use? Good question. I hardly ever use the chrono functions, except when I walk for exercise, which, when I'm in Florida, is nearly every day. The calendar functions I use nearly every day.

The bigger question is: How often would I wear it? Given that my GMT is my every day watch, probably not that often. But I do love the complications, so it is next on my list of wantahaves.

[JJ Irani]

Good one, Ed.

About the slide rule....is there a big difference between the use of a normal straight slide rule and the circular one as shown on the watch?

[SLRdude]

My 5 years old SMP was worn every day for 4 years, been in two motorcycle accidents (I almost died in one of them). That watch has been burried in sand, the clasp was used to cut open boxes, etc. That watch was my "swiss army knife"
5 years later and without being serviced it still looks great.
And I abused that watch to no end.

Here are some undedited pics:






I got married wearing that watch in April this year!
Below is a pic of me snorkling in Jamaica, wearing the SMP.

[JJ Irani]

Exhilirating pics as always, Chip.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Good one, Ed.

About the slide rule....is there a big difference between the use of a normal straight slide rule and the circular one as shown on the watch?

No difference. They both work the same way. It's all about logarithmic relationships, which don't care whether the rule is straight or curved.