My first wristwatch (I think I was six…) was a Mr. Peanut watch that would be a collectable today. Since then, I’ve never been a “big heavy watch” guy, per se. I don’t like changing batteries or winding, and I really do like being able to tell time in the dark. Over the years, finding a quality timepiece that met all my criteria has been a challenge, especially one equally at home when I’m in a jacket and tie, in jeans, or on the water. The Reactor “Titan” fits the bill, and more.

Reactor is probably the fastest-growing contender for a top spot in the performance sport watch industry. Over the past ten years or so, they’ve built a presence in the marketplace around the “Reactor DNA”, a set of performance criteria and features common to their entire line. This standard really sets the bar high for every aspect of their products, and they’ve certainly cleared that bar with the Titan. From the innovative packaging (which turns into a really cool koozie – who knew?), to the look and feel of the watch and its impressive feature set, the DNA is apparent in every aspect of the watch.

The Titan it built around a 45.5mm case that is 14mm thick - about the biggest watch I’ve worn. The watch looks solid, and when I took it out of the package I was surprised that it only weighs 110 grams (a touch shy of 4 oz.). That relatively light weight comes from the case design - a stainless steel core wrapped in Nitromid™. This is a very strong, very light glass-filled polymer that makes the case tougher than steel. A screw-down crown and forged stainless case back combine to give the Titan a 200m/660ft depth-tested water resistance rating.

The feature set includes a one-way external rotating bezel, and an internal rotating timing bezel that adjusts in either direction using a rubberized crown. This internal bezel is the only thing about the watch about which I am not enthused. The rubberized crown rotates freely - there are no click-detents or other resistance to turning. I consistently find that over a couple hours of relatively ordinary wear, the motion of the watch on my arm, against my sleeve, etc. will turn the internal bezel slightly. It may only be a ten or fifteen degrees, but it’s noticeable, especially when I tend to leave everything “lined up” when I’m not using the bezels for timing.

One of my pet peeves is not being able to read a watch when I move from a bright space to a dim one, or at zero-dark-thirty when the watch hasn’t been exposed to light for several hours. The shining (sorry) feature of the Titan, and I assume other Reactor watches that share it, is their Never Dark illumination. In short, Reactor combines crazy-bright photoluminescent material called “Superluminova” with tritium tubes to make the watch face and hands clearly visible in all lighting conditions. For a detailed explanation, take a look at http://www.reactorwatch.com/reactor_never_dark.html .

The Titan’s Swiss movement is powered by a ten-year power cell, so no winding, shaking, or batteries to change. The rubber/nylon strap is attached to the case with very serious-looking screw pins, and the watch is very comfortable on the wrist. Several intentional, prolonged saltwater dunks have been followed hours later with just quick freshwater rinses, and neither the watch nor band show any negative effects.

I admit that I was not prepared to become such a fan of Reactor DNA and the Titan, but I now count myself a believer. Reactor founder Jimmy Olmes has combined a rugged design with a functional feature set, and has made the Titan a serious contender that belongs on the the performance watch wishlist for the most demanding wearer.