American Express introduced the first U.S. credit card made from metal, the Centurion Card, in 1999.
The Centurion Card is the premium product commonly known as the American Express Black Card. American Express launched it in the United States in 1999 after expanding an invitation-only service associated with its highest-spending customers. The card became notable for its metal construction and exclusive positioning.
The product is often confused with the “Black Card” trademark and with later metal cards issued by other companies. The Centurion Card is an American Express charge-card product in many markets, so it should not automatically be described as a conventional revolving credit card.
Its physical material is a branding and design feature rather than a different payment network. Metal cards have since become more common across premium banking products, but American Express’s Centurion Card is the landmark U.S. example associated with the late 1990s.