watches stainless or titanium

[vieque]

Hi there:

Doing some research about a couple of dive watches before making purchase. Has anyone had bad experience with stainless steel band (im more into a metal bracelet). Is it really worth to pay more for titanium? Some SS knives do show some signs of rust over time. I was wondering how durable these types of watches can be.

thanks

 

[Greg_Manko]

I'd go with the stainless steel myself. Good quality stainless should not rust. The knives you saw with rust were probably not good quality steel - were they "name brand" knives or the "made in China" variety?
Titanium is much lighter than steel but steel is stronger and good quality stainless should be less reactive. Titanium is very chic right now, and this and it's relative rarity (vs. steel) makes it more expensive, but it's not necessarily a better material than steel - it's only better when weight becomes a factor (like in airplanes, etc).

Hi there:

Doing some research about a couple of dive watches before making purchase. Has anyone had bad experience with stainless steel band (im more into a metal bracelet). Is it really worth to pay more for titanium? Some SS knives do show some signs of rust over time. I was wondering how durable these types of watches can be.

thanks

 

[Meng_Tze]

If you rinse the watch off after diving (as you should with most/all your equipment), SS will out live us all. Titanium in my opinion is a luxury or only important if indeed Greg, weight becomes an issue. Just buy a SS, rinse and you'll be fine.

 

[Norda]

Do check out the weight difference. I was surprised at the "lightness" of the titanium in comparison. Not sure if weight is really an issue, but if you were going to wear it as an everyday watch it could make a difference.

Bill.

 

[vieque]

Thanks for your advice guys. I'll have to see how much expensive they are and if the "looks" will be worth it.

 

[caveseeker7]

Do check out the weight difference. I was surprised at the "lightness" of the titanium in comparison.

For me the weight made the difference. I had the Aqualand Duplex in ss, all silver/no gold. Really liked it until I tried the titanium one. At the time I lived in the San Fernando Valley were 100+ degrees can stay for weeks at a time during summer. The titanium was simply more comfortable to wear. Sold the ss for what I paid originally. Corrosion was never an issue. Went into the sink for an hour at the end of a dive day, then a quick rinse.

I still think the Duplex is the best dive watch out there.

 

[SHPWRCKDVR]

Being a watchaholic (wife has me in a 12 step program) I find myself being more concerned about the watch working when I need it to work.

On many of the posts there are discussions about dive computers and user changeable batteries. For me, being on vacation and having my watch battery die is not a viable option. There are many options out there, selfwinding, kinetic, solar, and ....... along with the choice of which metal the watch is made of.

Just my 2 cents......

 

[gunslinger808]

Do stainless steel watches attract fish like barracuda? Or any other types of fish that have a tendancy to attach nice shinny things?

 

[RJP]

Do stainless steel watches attract fish like barracuda? Or any other types of fish that have a tendancy to attach nice shinny things?

No, they don't.

 

[fnfalman]

Titanium has the edge in lightness. That's about it. Of course, there is the corrosion resistance deal too, but unless you plan on submerging your watch in salt water 24-hours a day, 365-days a year without cleaning, I wouldn't worry much.

I personally don't care for metal bracelets, be they steel or titanium. I switched all my dive watches' bracelets and straps out for the nylon Maratac Zulu straps.