For over half a century, Citizen has been quietly shaping the future of watchmaking with one particular obsession: titanium. While other brands dabbled, Citizen went all in, becoming the first to mass-produce a titanium watch back in the 1970s.
But what makes the company’s modern Super Titanium™ so remarkable is how it takes the naturally light, hypoallergenic, and corrosion-resistant metal and turns it into something harder, more versatile, and far more beautiful than raw titanium ever was.
The secret lies in Citizen’s proprietary Duratect technology, a surface-hardening and coating process developed after decades of research. Traditional titanium has always been loved for its comfort on the wrist, but it scratches more easily than stainless steel and generally comes in a dull gray tone. Duratect changes that, boosting hardness up to 10 times and opening up a spectrum of colors and finishes that range from sleek black (via DURATECT DLC) to subtle Sakura Pink, platinum-like mirror polish, and even the new Amber Yellow – an elegant gold-toned finish designed without nickel to avoid skin irritation.
Getting titanium to behave in watchmaking is no small feat
. The metal resists deformation, quickly wears down tools, and refuses to polish with standard compounds. Citizen’s engineers had to develop custom hot forging methods, specialized cutting conditions, and even their own polishing agents to achieve the crisp lines and refined surfaces seen in models like The CITIZEN. These aren’t just technical tricks – they’re part of a craftsman’s tradition where each case and bracelet is meticulously inspected and finished to jewelry-grade standards.
What truly separates Super Titanium™ from rival coatings and alloys is not just its toughness, but its philosophy: durability married to daily wearability. Citizen’s watches are built to be lived in, not tucked away in safes. The company also took care to address skin sensitivity, deliberately avoiding metals like nickel and chromium that can trigger reactions. The result is a material that’s 5 times harder and 40% lighter than steel, looks strikingly modern, and stays beautiful for years.
While Super Titanium™ is already used beyond watchmaking in Citizen’s surface treatment business, it remains most celebrated in the brand’s own timepieces. With ongoing R&D, expect even more colors, finishes, and applications. For collectors and casual wearers alike, Citizen has managed to turn one of the trickiest metals into a symbol of everyday luxury and engineering mastery.