Is This the Best Titanium Chronograph Under $500?

One of America’s best microbrands makes a compelling argument.

Published April 1, 2024

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It wasn’t that long ago when any titanium chronograph would have been considered a luxury watch. The combination of a high-end material with a complex complication is an age-old recipe for an expensive timepiece. But over the last decade, we’ve seen an impressive democratization of titanium chronographs, thanks to established Japanese brands Seiko and Citizen and affordable microbrands, such as Brew Watches.

The New York microbrand just dropped a in titanium version of its popular Metric Chronograph, which not only boasts the looks of a luxury watch but also utilizes a special high-end material that goes beyond your common titaniums.

Oh, did I not mention it only costs $495?

Meet the Brew Metric Titanium

For the most part, the titanium Brew Metric is the same microbrand chronograph we’ve come to adore — the one that has earned spots in our guides to the best watches under $500 and $1,000 — but it’s been given a high-end makeover.

The unique dial layout is the same, featuring a chronograph minutes counter at 10 o’clock and a running seconds display at six o’clock. The watch is still powered by the Seiko meca-quartz caliber VK68, which combines a quartz movement for the main timekeeping with a mechanical chronograph module. This gives the Metric’s pump-style pushers a tactile feel like you’d get on a mechanical chronograph while also ensuring a satisfyingly smooth sweep of the chronograph seconds hand.

The ultra-wearable 36mm x 41.5mm TV-shaped case remains the same, as does the nicely tapering integrated-style bracelet that closes via a dual-pusher clasp.

The dial has been cleaned up, however, offering a more industrial look. Gone are the Metric’s usual color-coded minute track markings between 25 and 35 seconds (the ideal time for pulling an espresso shot, a unique quirk of the coffee-inspired brand), opting for a black, white and red color scheme that echoes the earlier Metric black PVD variant. The word “Titanium” above the sub-dial at 6 clues you into the fact that this is a bit more special than your standard Brew Metric.

brew watch clasp — The periodic symbol for titanium joins Brew’s coffee bean logo on the clasp.

Not your average titanium

Titanium watches are hardly anything new, with practically every brands now offering at least one model in titanium. Titanium is commercially available in a number of different forms, called grades, with each offering its own unique properties.

When it comes to watches, we overwhelmingly see just two types used. One of those is Grade 2 titanium. It’s the most common form of pure titanium, which makes it affordable. It’s softer than higher grades, which makes it easier for watchmakers to finish and polish, but is also more susceptible to scratching. Most microbrands and affordable watches use Grade 2.

The other commonly seen form of titanium is Grade 5. It’s the most common of the titanium alloys and is a mix of titanium, aluminum, vanadium and iron. It’s ultra-durable and frequently employed by the aerospace industry. It’s harder than stainless steel, and thus more difficult to work with. Hence, Grade 5 titanium is most often seen in luxury watches due to the higher costs and expertise required to finish it to a high degree.

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Brew used neither of these common grades for its Metric Titanium. Instead, the brand went with Grade 4 titanium, which off the top of my head I can’t recall seeing in any other brand (though Brew makes no claims of being the first to use it).

Grade 4 is the highest grade of pure titanium available, and is extremely strong and durable. It offers comparable levels of scratch resistance to stainless steel while still being 40 percent lighter. It’s more difficult to polish than stainless steel, though, which is likely the reason Brew has opted for a largely bead-blasted finish here rather than its usual combination of brushing and polishing. This allows the brand to keep the cost of the watch reasonable.

A serious bargain

There is an awful lot to like here for under $500. The Metric was already a great-looking and compelling chronograph with little competition at its price point, but this version — utilizing a unique form of a high-end material — is even more tempting.

It’s especially impressive that Brew is able to offer the Metric Titanium at only a $45 premium over the standard stainless steel version. With such a small mark-up for a big material upgrade, picking one of these up is a no-brainer to me if you’re a fan of the style.

Brew Metric Titanium

Brew’s popular meca-quartz Metric chronograph gets a high-end material makeover thanks to a case and material made from Grade 4 titanium, the strongest form of pure titanium.