CITIZEN proprietary
titanium technologies
Titanium is so hard to process that is known as the “material that makes craftsmen weep.” Through a combination of skilled craftsmanship and decades of research, CITIZEN has surmounted the many challenges posed by the metal.
Pressing
The process of forcing titanium into a mould to form shapes. Precise temperature control and the avoidance of galling are crucial here. The titanium is heated to a high temperature to reduce deformation resistance and enable a variety of shapes. Excess metal is cut away to prevent titanium filings from sticking to the mould. Despite the softness and viscosity that make titanium so challenging to process, CITIZEN can press it into precise shapes.
Machining
Finishing the press-formed titanium down to the last intricate detail. At the machining stage, titanium presents two major challenges: first, its filings adhere to the cutting edges of tools; second, its machined surfaces are prone to poor surface quality. CITIZEN experimented with a wide range of cutting fluids, lubricants and machining speeds to find the perfect prescription for stable processing. We possess an extraordinary depth of knowledge in all three areas.
Polishing
A CITIZEN craftsman hand-polishing the precisely machined titanium to a beautiful, smooth mirror finish. Since titanium is soft and viscous, standard polishing can produce an uneven surface (the so-called orange peel effect). CITIZEN’s skilled craftsmen combined different polishing techniques—barrel polishing, Sallaz polishing and buff polishing—to come up with a proprietary polishing method which produces a beautiful shine no other watchmaker can replicate.
Cleaning
Cleaning is essential before the application of surface-hardening treatment to the titanium with its beautiful mirror finish. We use a variety of liquids to remove grease and other impurities that have attached themselves to the watch during the manufacturing process. Every single speck of dirt is eliminated to guarantee that the surface-hardening treatment can be applied with a level of unsurpassed quality.
Surface Hardening
The application of Duratect, our proprietary surface-hardening technology, is the final process. This treatment makes the surface of the titanium both hard and beautiful. Duratect comes in three categories: technology for coating materials; technology that makes the actual surfaces of the materials harder; and, finally, technology that does both. Selecting the version of Duratect that best matches the specifications of each individual model, we can control colour and hardness levels with great precision.
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