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Grade 2 is unalloyed titanium; Grade 5 is a titanium alloy containing 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium; Grade 23 is the extra-low-interstitial (ELI) form of that same Grade 5 alloy. These are material designations, not a universal ranking of watch quality. To understand a watch specification, check both the stated grade and which part of the watch it describes.
What do the titanium grades mean?
Grade numbers identify material compositions and classifications. They do not, on their own, tell you which watch is better. ASTM International lists the relevant titanium grades in its material specifications, while watchmakers and suppliers describe how they use them.
| Grade | Material meaning | Documented watch context |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 2 | Unalloyed titanium; ASTM’s B861 specification describes it as standard-oxygen titanium. | Hempel Special Metals lists Grade 2 among its watch-industry materials for cases and movement components. |
| Grade 5 | Ti-6Al-4V: titanium alloyed with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. | Hempel lists Grade 5 for the watch industry. Rolex describes its proprietary RLX titanium as a special kind of Grade 5. |
| Grade 23 | The extra-low-interstitial (ELI) version of Ti-6Al-4V. | Hempel lists Grade 23 for the watch industry. Blancpain describes Grade 23 in selected watch cases and bracelets. |
ASTM’s B265 page identifies B265-25 as its active version, and its B861 page identifies B861-24 as active. The retrieved grade descriptions establish the compositions above; they do not establish that any particular watch complies with an ASTM specification just because its maker uses a grade name.
How Grade 2, Grade 5 and Grade 23 differ
Grade 2: unalloyed titanium
ASTM labels Grade 2 “Unalloyed titanium.” Its B861 pipe specification further identifies it as standard-oxygen titanium. Hempel lists Grade 2 in its watch-industry range. The sources cited here do not establish that Grade 2 is inherently more comfortable, stronger, or more scratch-resistant in a finished watch.
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Grade 5: titanium alloy
Grade 5 is Ti-6Al-4V, meaning titanium alloyed with 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. ASTM lists that composition, and Blancpain gives the same description in its watchmaking discussion. Rolex says its RLX titanium is a special kind of Grade 5, selected for strength and lightness. RLX is Rolex’s proprietary name, not a separate ASTM grade.
Grade 23: Grade 5 chemistry with ELI content
Grade 23 is not a fundamentally different alloy family: it is the ELI version of Ti-6Al-4V. Blancpain explains the distinction as reduced interstitial content, particularly oxygen, and says its Grade 23 account specifies a maximum oxygen content of 0.13%. Blancpain links the reduction to improved fracture toughness. That is the maker’s explanation of the material; it does not prove that every Grade 23 watch outperforms every Grade 5 watch in every use.
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Does Grade 5 or Grade 23 make a better watch?
Neither grade is automatically better for every buyer or every watch. The cited sources establish composition, selected mechanical characteristics, and examples of use—not a universal consumer ranking or a like-for-like test of finished watches. A useful comparison separates the material designation from the part’s design, finish, and treatment.
- Grade and composition: Check whether the maker identifies Grade 2, Grade 5, Grade 23, or a proprietary variant such as RLX.
- Component covered: Confirm whether the claim applies to the case, bracelet, clasp, movement component, or another part. A material description for one component does not establish that the entire watch uses it.
- Stated purpose: Note the properties the maker actually claims. Rolex, for example, says it uses RLX titanium for strength and lightness.
- Finish or surface treatment: Evaluate these separately when the maker documents them. A grade name alone does not establish scratch resistance or scratch-proof performance.
- Model priorities: Compare the watch’s design and price alongside its material specification; grade alone is not a measure of whole-watch quality.
How watchmakers and suppliers use these grades
Hempel Special Metals lists Grades 1, 2, 4, 5, and 23 in its watch-industry range, describing materials for cases and movement components. It also says each Watch Case Quality lot receives testing at its service center and independent laboratory analysis; that statement describes Hempel’s own service and product range.
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Rolex calls RLX titanium “a special kind of grade 5 titanium” and says it selects the alloy for strength and lightness. Blancpain describes Grade 23 in selected cases and bracelets. Those examples show why a buyer should look for model- and component-specific wording rather than infer a whole watch’s construction from a brand-level material explanation.
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What to check in a titanium watch specification
- Find the exact material wording. Look for a named grade or a clearly explained proprietary designation, not only “titanium.”
- Identify the component. Establish whether the stated grade applies to the case, bracelet, clasp, or another part.
- Separate composition from performance claims. A grade defines a material designation; any claims about strength, lightness, or fracture toughness should be attributed to the maker and not expanded beyond what it states.
- Check finish and treatment independently. Do not assume that the grade determines scratch resistance.
- Compare the complete model. Consider design, fit, features, and price as well as the documented material.
Sources
- Hempel Special Metals: Stainless and titanium for watches, Staybrite® WCQ
- Rolex: RLX Titanium
- Blancpain: Titanium
- ASTM International: B265 specification page
- ASTM International: B861 specification page
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