Admittedly, titanium is not a "traditional" metal, but it is on the rise.
Heavy Hitters, from to Grand Seiko to A. Lange & Sohne, are now embracing titanium--and not just on one-offs or special editions. Titanium is now a part of their flagship models.
Take the latest "Night Birch" from Grand Seiko, which combines a rich, dark dial with a titanium ensemble (see video below).
Similarly, the entry-level segment is also turning to titanium, as evidenced by Tudor's Pelagos line (FXD and 39mm, pictured below).
Omega has also led in the titanium trend, with their Planet Ocean and their James Bond Seamaster
Most of us are accustomed to run-of-the-mill stainless steel, or the occasional gold piece. So why the recent turn toward titanium? It really comes down to a few factors:
1) Novelty: In a world awash in stainless steel, titanium timepieces can be a breath of fresh air. They have a crisp look that stands out in terms of appearance and feel different.
2) Weight: Many people equate weight with quality, but that is not always the case. In fact, with the long-term trend toward bigger watches, titanium's lightness offsets the heft. It's the best of both worlds--big and not burdensome.
3) Design: Per Hodinkee, "The new Odysseus has, quite honestly, the most detailed and arguably the best-finished titanium case I've ever handled in a watch – so much so that it genuinely blew me away..."
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