Have you heard of the world's first titanium watch?
But there's a difference. It's not actually the first titanium watch. It's the first commercial titanium watch. The first titanium watch has a different story. But I wanted to tell you about the first commercial titanium watch.
Introducing the Citizen X-8 Titanium
The Citizen X-8 Titanium Chronometer, released in 1970, ushered in the "space age" of watchmaking, becoming the world's first commercially available titanium wristwatch. Steel was still king in those days, but Citizen managed to bring a metal two-thirds the density of steel to the wrist, offering a corrosion-free, lightweight, and hypoallergenic alternative.
Initially sold only in Japan, production numbers didn't even reach 2000. The catalogue price was set at 45000 JPY. This price rivaled that of a Grand Seiko of the time and illustrated the high cost of machining titanium.
The watch's heart is the battery-powered Cal. 0820 Cosmotron. This hybrid movement features a transistorized regulator that electrically drives a conventional balance wheel. It boasts a 21 vph rate and is certified by the Japan Chronometer Association, offering accuracy of 600 seconds per day. This makes the X-5 the first Japanese watch to carry both electronic and official chronometer designations.
Citizen aimed to eliminate the problems of corrosion and nickel allergy with titanium, making the watch suitable for sweat, salt water, and tropical climates. This also ensures comfort for daily use.
