A look at TPG’s new American Express Business Centurion card
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
American Express recently announced that it was refreshing its American Express Centurion card — colloquially known as the Amex Black Card. Along with the changes comes a new look, and since TPG himself, Brian Kelly, is a Business Centurion cardmember, we were able to get a peek at it. And we must say, it's quite sleek.
First of all, Amex sent Brian his new card in a chic black Tom Ford T Line card holder, which retails at $340. The matte black card fits nice and snug (but not too snug) inside the sturdy wallet, which is key to keeping the card looking pristine.
Overall, I personally like the new design of the Black card much better than the old version. It looks more sleek and elegant than the old card, which was frankly too busy for my preference. I love the minimalistic look as it adds to the exclusiveness of the card.
Here's a side-by-side look at the old and new:
When it comes to the feel, both cards are smooth to the touch, with the American Express branding embossed. However, there's a noticeable difference in the weight — a 2.35 gram difference to be exact. The old version of the card weighed in at 14.91 grams with a 0.1 millimeter bend, while the updated version comes in at 12.56 grams with a 0.2 millimeter bend. That drops the Black Card from the fourth-heaviest metal card all the way to the twelfth heaviest. Here's a closer look at the updated rankings:
| Credit Card | Bend (millimeters) | Weight (Grams) |
|---|---|---|
Mastercard® Black Card™ | 0.5 | 21.54 |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | 1 | 18.6 |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | 1 | 18.8 |
Ritz-Carlton Rewards Card | 1 | 27.96 |
The Platinum Card® from American Express (contactless version) | 2 | 17.34 |
Apple Card | 2 | 14.75 |
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card | 2.5 | 16.25 |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 3 | 16.46 |
American Express® Gold Card | 4 | 14.73 |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card | 5 | 14.46 |
American Express Business Centurion Card | 2 | 12.56 |
Chase Sapphire Reserve | 6 | 12.41 |
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 7 | 12.37 |
Citi Prestige® | 7 | 11.46 |
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For elite card holders, the clank of the card is almost part of the fun. In fact, Amex was the first to introduce metal cards with the Centurion card. Back then, it was definitely more of a status symbol, but today it's become more about convenience, durability and even a bit of a competition about who can issue the heaviest credit card. However, card issuers including Amex have also been making efforts to be more environmentally conscious about their card materials.
Regardless, the new Centurion card has more perks, a sleeker look and less clank — what do you think of the new combination? In the words of TPG himself, "I've never been a happier member of the American Express family."
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
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- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
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- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
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