Titoni Freshens Things Up With The Airmaster Glacier Turquoise

With Swiss heritage stretching back over a century to 1919, independent family ownership, and an extensive catalog of men’s and women’s watches, Titoni is a brand that deserves more of the spotlight than it sometimes receives. As part of such a diverse catalog, some models are fundamental. Nestled between the dress watch and the toolish diver sits the Airmaster.

This is the model that will be able to satisfy most of the needs of most customers. While the Titoni Airmaster model occupies the safe center space as a moderately sized, elegant three-hander with a date, the new Glacier Turquoise colorway pushes that understated nature to one side with a big smack of vibrancy. This new Airmaster model appears more “Turquoise” than “Glacier,” and the color palette is hardly unique at this point. Nevertheless, the chosen hue is perfect for an expansive dial in an otherwise elegant watch.

The Airmaster’s minty-fresh dial

The minty-fresh dial features Roman numerals at three, six, nine, and 12. Slender, faceted spearhead indices mark the remaining hours. All are diamond-cut and highly polished, and a matching applied logo sits below 12 o’clock. The upper half of the dial also features the Titoni brand name in black while the lower half displays the model name and “Automatic” wording. The date window and discreet minute track are the only other makings on an otherwise unsullied light blue-green dial.

The lance hands of the Airmaster are a blend of purpose and the same refinement exhibited elsewhere. The hour and minute hands incorporate a lumed area poised between two polished facets, while a polished central seconds hand extends to the outer limits of the minute track. Perhaps the only blemish comes from the functional yet somewhat matter-of-fact date window beside the index at three o’clock. Thanks to the large dial span in this 40mm watch, though, the date window thankfully doesn’t encroach into the index. An internal anti-reflective coating on the sapphire crystal further enhances clarity.

A Swiss engine inside

Powering the Titoni Airmaster line is the Sellita SW200-1. This well-known automatic caliber represents a solid choice for a Swiss watch in this price range. With a fully wound mainspring, you can expect at least 38 hours of power reserve as the movement ticks away at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Although Titoni doesn’t specify expected accuracy, the brand advertises that the movement is adjusted in four positions and customized the rotor with gold plating and an engraved logo.

Assertive elegance

If assertive elegance is the theme of the dial, then that is also largely carried through to the case and bracelet. A combination of polished and brushed surfaces offers glimpses of luxury without being too showy, and the flowing case lines create soft rounded edges and crisp steps. The polished facets of the case are at their widest towards the lug tips. Still, they narrow considerably towards the middle part of the case on each side. This sliver of polished steel is replicated just a step above in the form of the narrow bezel on top.

At 40mm in diameter and only 9.7mm in thickness, the Airmaster makes the most of some simple design choices and finishes. A modestly sized case with a balanced combination of subtlety and shimmer is the perfect housing for the correlative dial within. So much so that a more conservative colored dial might feel like a slight let-down.

Airmaster by name, but not by nature

Flip the watch over, and you’ll see that the solid case back is etched with a sailing boat. Powered by air, this image is a nod to the Airmaster name. However, it’s clear from the overall design that this is neither a typical watch for an airman nor a seafarer. The connection isn’t helped either by the relatively meager 5 ATM pressure rating. This is despite the crown’s double-security system, which contributes to this figure. However, Titoni’s usage of the Airmaster name goes all the way back to the 1960s. As such, there is a definite lineage than can be traced between those early models and the one presented here.

A comfortably handsome bracelet

As standard, the watch comes fitted with a handsome five-link stainless steel bracelet. It has brushed and polished surfaces alternating across those links, ending with a simple push-button folding clasp. With short links, I would anticipate good articulation and a comfortable fit on most wrists. If you’re tempted to switch out the bracelet for something dressier, it’s worth noting that the 21mm lug width may make the strap selection slightly more awkward.

Titoni Airmaster price and availability

While the Glacier Turquoise dial may initially feel like an attempt to jump on the bandwagon already brimming with countless other watches, the specific shade chosen here plays perfectly well against the Titoni Airmaster’s existing characteristics. This version of the Airmaster retails for €990, and you can find more details on the official Titoni website.

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