Watchmaking in Japan


Citizen Super TitaniumTM

WHEN INNOVATION MEANS MATERIALS

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October 2020


Citizen Super TitaniumTM

As illustrated on the cover of the lastest edition of Europa Star, in 2020 Citizen is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the first titanium wristwatch. It was in 1970 that the Japanese watchmaker unveiled its X-8 Chronometer, using 99.6% pure titanium for the case.

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s illustrated on the cover of the lastest edition of Europa Star, in 2020 Citizen is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the first titanium wristwatch. It was in 1970 that the Japanese watchmaker unveiled its X-8 Chronometer, using 99.6% pure titanium for the case.

During the decades that followed, the R&D teams at Citizen have worked flat out to coax ever more from this capricious material and bend it to its watchmaking needs. This resulted in the development of Super TitaniumTM, the proprietary trademark for a material whose possibilities are such that it is currently being used in a Japanese moon mission.

The new Super TitaniumTM Armor line by Citizen is the result of 50 years of R&D aimed at evolving titanium into an ideal material for watchmaking.
The new Super TitaniumTM Armor line by Citizen is the result of 50 years of R&D aimed at evolving titanium into an ideal material for watchmaking.

By combining its titanium-processing know-how with a surface-hardening technology (Duratect), Citizen removed the obstacles standing between this material and its application in watchmaking, including its susceptibility to scratching, its resistance to machining, or the difficulty of polishing it, creating glossy finishes or adding colour variations.

But they removed none of its advantages: Super TitaniumTM is 40% lighter than stainless steel. Thanks to this R&D work, titanium now comes in a wide variety of colour shades, including silver, black, gold and even rose gold.

As part of this high-tech commemoration, Citizen is launching a new line called Super TitaniumTM Armor, consisting of two chronographs and one three-hand model. Inspired by modern armour, these three new pieces show bold, sharp lines, the crown set at 4 o’clock in a contoured case. With them, the Japanese watchmaker is offering a hefty dose of technology with unrivalled value for money (550-650 dollars).