Don’t Call The Black Card Plastic
Many people refer to credit cards in some manner as plastic, as most cards are, but not the American Express Black Card. It is rumored that the card is made of Titanium and that it will set off metal detectors in the airport. There were some reports that early versions of the Black Card might have been plastic, but currently it is made of some type of heavier, metal material. It is most likely just an excuse to have to show airport security that you are rich, bastards (I promise I am not jealous).
Many people who have commented on this site, especially ones in the retail or service industries, have said the cards were heavy and made metal like sounds when hitting a hard surface. As some people have indicated, they are probably made of titanium, but since I have not held one in person, I can’t be totally sure. Anyone want to send me theirs so I can hold it?
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Comments
they were up until around 2 months ago plastic in australia
we have now received anodized aluminum ones, they are a lot heavier than the plastic ones, but they are definitely not titanium.
They are definitely metal. Unknown on the titanium, but i wouldn’t doubt it. I work in a furniture store and have come across them a couple times.
“A new Centurion card crafted from anodized titanium[2] was issued as a replacement for all plastic U.S. Centurion cards in the first half of 2006, with the titanium version being rolled out to certain other countries as well.”
I finally got my hands on one of them lastnight when the ex-mayor of my city came into my restaraunt. They are very sleek and heavier than normal credit cards. If anyone knows the answer, how many people in the world have these?
I own two centurion cards, one for private use and one for business use. They are made of titanium.
However the service level presented by American Express is a total hoax.
I own the card for 2 years now and have NEVER received any upgrade whatsoever.
Besides this i lost the card once and had to wait for 8 days to get a new card, what’s that for service?
This card is only nice to impress people, but not worth the fee at all.
Anon - whatever. They do send the card to you the next day so I don’t know what you are talking about.
Yes they are Titanium, iv seen high rollers/celebs use the sharp edges of the B card to chop em’ up and hit the alps, its very handy.
At the bar I was working at, someone paid a BarTab with the black card on Saturday night. I was banging it on the bar and it’s obviously metal, and it had very little bend, so it must be Titanium or some sort of rigid composite.
Yeah they are heavy & thick. Compared to plastic they seem bulky. I have some regular customers that come to the well known retail store I work at in the city(Manhattan) and their Black Cards are very hard to get through the machine. I do agree with that! After a month of being annoyed with them I just punch in the numbers as to not ruin the brand new CC Screens. But I must say its kinda fun to hold a ”metal” card once in a blue after swiping plastic all day. My best buddy has one but he complains about the APR & still keeps it, I think he loves the Celeb treatment that all the Hot NYC nightclubs give him when they see him whip that Black Card out his Coach wallet - Lucky bastard indeed!
Yup, I asked my buddy and he says it is titanium, well thats one vote for titanium. I have to ask my aunt & uncle though. They have the Business card. But I think it is Titanium, everyone I ask that own one says it is, I dunno I just have fun making it ”ding” againt stuff. lol
yea when my dad went through the airport the first time with it.. he was going off like crazy. its not flashy at all so when he finally realized what it was (the titanium in the card) he was soo embarassed.
I currently have 4 American Express Centurion (Black) cards. Honestly don’t know what material it is made of but has good weight. Must have some kind of metal in its composition. Great card to have but for those of you that wish to have it, maybe one day you will.
yesterday, one of our clientèle paid using his Black Card, I was told they are made out of Titanium and if something goes wrong, it has to be sent back, and they have to remake another one. It’s pretty heavy for a card.
This is in response to “1 anon’s” post:
Very cool story, thanks for sharing. The over-night thing isn’t just a black card exclusive however; other AmEx cards get that benefit too. When u call and report your card damaged (not stolen) they say they can send u a new card the next business day which means it is over night monday up until friday. I’ve done it twice with both my amex green and later gold card. Very good service from them…again, not just a black-card exclusive…unless black card holders can get a new card over nighteven on weekends.
COOL NEWS: Some people are selling their expired Centurion cards or Centurion “promo cards” on EBay. They are not cheap and some are from Europe but are worth checking out. Once you get on EBay just type “american express card” in the search engine and see what u find…check back frequently if you dont see many the first time. :o)
I had a customer pay with a black Amex card years ago in a restaurant in Toronto. It would have been late 1985 or early 1986. It was made of PLASTIC…definitely NOT titanium (at that time, anyway).
None of us had ever seen one before…but we knew it was “special†as we had all heard rumors about the “invitation only†card. Although we had a lot of celebs at the place, no one recognized him. Maybe he was just some rich guy…lol.
I have to admit…at the time it certainly seemed exclusive and impressive! Mind you, the tip must of been “standardâ€â€¦otherwise I’d have remembered that TOO! LOLOL
i have one and no its actually made out of plastic but some sort of heavier one!! and you have to love their concierge service !~!
any qustions you can contact them at 1877-877-0987
for reals and its not called a black card its called a centurion card!!!!!!
Yes, they are metal. A man handed me his black AmEx card yesterday at my place of employment to pay for his purchases and I was very surprised to see one and to feel how surprisingly heavy it is.
How can anyone with a current U.S. centurion card (whose telling the truth that is) still not see they are indeed now made of titanuim? “private centurin holder”, from post number 19, go to credible sources such as Wikipedia.com, type in “centurion card” and read the article. I’ve been very familiar with all AMEX card products for years now and am more than sure in saying i KNOW current U.S. (and I believe abroad) Centurion cards are indeed made of titanuim. Very credible people, such as personal friends of Tyler Dickman, who have no reason to lie, talk about how his centurion card set off aiport metal detectors.
P.S. I love the sound a centurion card makes when u slap it onto a surface…almost like a glass-shattering sound. You never hear that with plastic. It’s pretty neat. Good day all!
I own a black card for buisness usa I own 10 funeral homes and are very lovely and are made of titanium more convient when you don’t have to watch your credit limit
What is the point to have several cards? I understand two cards as the other can be a backup, and possibly a third as a business card, but after that? Why would anyone pay for several annual fees just to be able to have an extra card?
I work at a bar, and a customer left his black card when opening his bar tab. The other bartenders and I were all amazed to see that it was in fact made of metal and not plastic.
I know the ones here in the U.S are titanium and some abroad, but I recently read a *link someone posted on this site that shows which cards allegedly have been converted to titanium and which haven’t. I think some in the UK might still be plastic. But, the point is, as I said earlier, the US centurion cards are definitely titanium (as of ‘06) and majority of them in other countries are now titanium too.
*on 08 Jan 2008 at 7:36 am138Jacques
Here goes:http://www.geocities.jp/ctwxg845/comparison.html
There’s the link I was talking about…just copy and paste it and read on.
-Eddie :o)
Well, to confirm it once again: yes centurion ones are made from Titanium.
I do not know how it is stateside but the European cards do not make a ringing/clinging/metal sound when they hit a hard surface. However, when you remove the backstrip with the phonenumbers printed on them (hard but it is possible) the card then will make a clinging sound.
Useless information but hey 
They are metal, im guessing aluminum. Not quite light enough to feel like Ti… Im a metal fabricator/welder and deal with metals all day. One of my better friends has a black card, whoopde do its just another credit card, except this one is metal and buy Lambo’s
I work for Amex in Australia. There are 2 types of Centurian Cards (Known as the Black card)
The original is plastic and has an annual fee of AUD $2400.
The newest which came onto the market in Oz in June 2007 is made of titanium and has an annual fee of AUD $4800.
I work for the Corporate sales team and to be completely honest I think the Corporate Platinum card is as good as the Black card and it only costs $1200
Yes they are Titanium. I know someone who works in the Amex centurian travel dept. and she deals with the “elite” clients on a daily basis.
Thay are made of Titanium, you have to spend 250,000+ a year and you must be INVITED my Amex to get one.
Not everyone qualifies.
Anyone selling a promo version of the titanium one? I really want one for collection. Also, can you get one off Amex for a price?
They are metal. Working in a high end camera shop i deal with them a couple times a year, they are actually square with beveled edges and have sharp corners and sanded off edges, very pretty and distinct looking cards, nothing looks or feels like them, though they can be hard to get through CC machines because they are much thicker than a normal card, between 2 and 3 times the size. i dropped one the other day and it boucned and rung out like a bell, i apologized immediately and the gentleman said “Don’t worry if it gets damaged at all they send me a new one over night.” i guess thats what you get for $2500 a year.