Vacheron Constantin makes a strong argument for titanium as a case material of choice in high horology with its Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton. It is the brand’s first watch to be made entirely from titanium – including the 42.5mm case, integrated bracelet, crown and bezel. It uses Grade 5 titanium, which is alloyed with aluminium and vanadium to make it stronger.

Strong, light, and characterised by a dark, matte finish when sandblasted, titanium is synonymous with Bulgari’s ultra-thin Octo Finissimo models, and gives them a industrial-futuristic look. It is also the case material of Bulgari’s technical blockbuster, the Octo Finissimo Ultra – a 1.8mm-thick timepiece that was the world’s thinnest mechanical watch when it was unveiled in March. Until, that is, it was dethroned last month by Richard Mille’s 1.75mm-thick RM UP-01, also cased in titanium.

In 2019, A. Lange & Sohne released its first sport-elegant model, the Odysseus, in steel with a matching bracelet. The brand is known for working almost exclusively with precious metals, so this came as a surprise. A few months later, it unveiled a white-gold version of the model, paired with a rubber strap. This year, it surprises onlookers again with a titanium version of the Odysseus. The brand’s first titanium watch, it comes with a titanium bracelet and an “ice blue” dial.

This article first appeared in The Peak