13 Best Titanium Watches Under $1,000
Collectors and newbies often have trouble finding reliable, high quality watches in the under $1,000 price-point. And it’s even harder to find high quality watches with titanium cases at under $1,000. Obviously, titanium is more expensive than stainless steel. So, brands often have a hard time creating something out of titanium that is reasonably priced. But that’s not to say affordable titanium watches do not exist. They do! In this buying guide, I take a look at 13 of my favorite titanium watches, all under $1,000 USD.
Certina DS Action Diver 38mm Powermatic 80
If you are looking for an affordable diver, you can’t go wrong with Certina. The brand produces well-finished, attractive Swiss Made watches for accessible prices. The Certina DS Action Diver is a great example of this. At 38mm in diameter, it is similar sized to many of the vintage-inspired divers released recently. However, the DS Action Diver is actually very modern in design. The titanium model features a dark grey dial with baby blue applied indexes, matching the baby blue pip. It is just very attractive and well executed. If you want the watch on a full titanium bracelet, it will cost over $1,000 USD. But on a NATO-esque bracelet, it retails for CHF 855 (just about $1,000 USD).
Citizen Zenshin Mechanical
If you would like your titanium watch with a full titanium bracelet, I would recommend the Citizen Zenshin Mechanical. This piece gives me Czapek Antarctique or Christopher Ward The Twelve vibes without the price-tag of either. It is over $1,000 cheaper than The Twelve (and obviously significantly cheaper than the the Antarctique). Offered in a few different dial colors, the baby blue variation really speaks to me. If you are looking for an integrated bracelet titanium watch for just $500 USD, the Zenshin is a great choice.
Tissot Gentleman Titanium
If you are okay with a quartz movement in your titanium watch, the Tissot Gentleman Titanium checks off most of the boxes. While the design is fairly understated, it is Swiss made, from a reliable legacy brand, so you can be assured of the quality you are receiving. On top of that, the sunray blue dial is a nice touch, adding just a bit of flair. And the best part? The Tissot Gentleman Titanium retails for Just $550 USD.
RZE Endeavour
How has microbrand RZE managed to produce solid titanium automatic dive watches for under $600 when so few big brands haven’t? I’m not exactly sure. But the Endeavour not only boasts 200 meters of water resistance and a Seiko NH35A automatic movement, but a full titanium case AND bracelet. Additionally, the textured dials are well done, and remind me somewhat of Grand Seiko’s textured dials (like the White Birch). You can pick up the RZE Endeavour on titanium bracelet for $579 USD.
Brew Metric Titanium
Brew has really made a name for itself in recent years with its coffee and espresso themed watches. But the brand really made a jump to the next level with the release of the Metric, a retro, 70s and 80s inspired chronograph. And since the release, Brew has expanded the Metric collection, releasing many different iterations of the watch. Recently, the brand released the Metric Titanium. The titanium Metric features a dark titanium case and bracelet, a black dial and red accent chronograph hands. While the hints of the past are still present in the Metric Titanium, it is quite a bit more modern than many of the other watches in the collection. It retails for just $495 USD.
BOLDR Venture Green Star
Dive watches make up a large portion of the titanium watch category, and that makes sense. Having something light on the wrist during your dive is helpful, even if the watch is large. Well, the BOLDR Venture Green Star is only 38mm, but it is another well-executed diver in titanium. I particularly like the light green dial, matched to a slightly darker green bezel. The large white hands and indexes make the watch extremely legible (perfect for a dive). And the location of the crown at 4 o’click instead of the standard 3 o’clock gives the watch just a bit of added personality. It retails for $449 USD.
Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto
When I think of affordable, Swiss made field watches, I immediately think of Hamilton. And Hamilton has quite the selection of field watches to choose from (I personally own the Khaki Field Murph 38). And the Khaki Field Titanium Auto in 38mm takes Hamilton’s classic field watch and places it in a light titanium case. And while you can get the Khaki Field Titanium in 42, it will cost you over $1,000. Personally, I think the 38mm is just a better wear, at least on my 6.75 inch wrist. You can pick up the Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto 38mm for $995 USD.
Islander Sands Point Titanium Diver
Long Island Watch is best known for being a retailer of affordable, but high quality, watch brands. But, Long Island Watch also has their own brand, Islander. Aligned with the other brands Long Island Watch sells, Islander timepieces are both high quality and extremely affordable. One piece I quite like is the Sands Point Titanium Diver. If you are looking for a unique titanium diver for under $500, this is a great option. There are multiple different dial colors and dial designs, from a wave dial pattern to a fully lumed coral dial. The Sands Point Titanium Diver retails for $395 USD.
Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium Blue
Whenever we do a guide focusing on watches in the under $1,000 price-point, we inevitably feature a Baltic. And if you are looking for a vintage-inspired diver, you just can’t go wrong with the Aquascaphe. With the Aquascaphe Titanium Blue, the brand has modernized the design quite a bit. The case is obviously titanium, and instead of vintage indexes, they are white. The combination of vintage and modern design points happens to work very well together and results in a stellar diver with 300 meters of water resistance. It retails for $788 USD.
MTM Grey Patriot
MTM is an American watch brand founded over 30 years ago by a former member of the military. And due to this heritage, the brands have a very utilitarian and technical look and feel. The Grey Patriot is a very tactical looking titanium chronograph. The cream dial has a very military-esque feel, and the watch’s larger 44mm makes a very suitable tool watch. The MTM Grey Patriots retails for $890 USD.
Zelos Hammerhead Titanium
A full titanium watch with automatic movement, titanium bracelet and 1000 meters of water resistance for under $1,000? That’s what you get with the Zelos Hammerhead titanium. To be sure, the Hammerhead is a bigger watch. At 44mm in diameter and 49mm lug-to-lug, it’s not a small watch by any means. But with the the high depth rating and larger size, this watch is a true diver’s watch. It retails for $849 USD.
Unimatic U2S-T-MP
I like Unimatic watches because their modern, Scandinavian design language is so rare in the industry these days. When we are constantly seeing new vintage-inspired pieces pop-up every day, Unimatic watches retain their contemporary aesthetic. And the U2S-T-MP takes the standard Unimatic design and, you guessed it, places it in a titanium case. The sandblasted block titanium case and blue dial are done incredibly well. And the 38.5mm case diameter means that it’s a great fit on the wrist. The Unimatic U2S-T-MP was a limited edition of 500 and is currently sold out, but we hope that Unimatic decides to produce more titanium watches. It retailed for just under $1,000 USD.
Timex Expedition GMT Titanium
Many don’t realize that Timex actually makes some great watches, even including pieces with automatic movements. And the Expedition GMT is a titanium automatic watch that retails for just over $500. At the end of the day the Expedition GMT is somewhat of an homage to a Rolex Explorer II (in both look and functionality). But whose to say that’s a bad thing? And at $549 USD and in titanium, I think it’s a great deal.
For more, check out our 50 favorite watches under $1,000 and our 33 favorite titanium watches.