Ceramic watches have risen in popularity in recent years. Due to this, many more collectors have gained interest in the material. Ceramic is an unusual material that is still relatively new within the watch industry. This makes ceramic watches a very desirable and collectable option for watch lovers. However, if you are new to the world of ceramic watches, today we aim to answer the question of ‘what is a ceramic watch’, provide some pros and cons for the material, and offer some recommendations. If you are interested in learning more about this fascinating material, keep reading.
What is a Ceramic Watch?
‘Ceramic’ refers to any material that is solid, inorganic, and non-metallic. This relatively vague definition provides plenty of room for watchmakers to play with their ceramic formulas and improve their timepieces. If ceramics are used in the construction of a watch, they tend to be incorporated into the case, bracelet and bezel of the timepiece. Different watch manufacturers use different combinations of materials to create different versions of ceramic. This means that watch companies all produce varying ceramic watches, making each model unique. Manufacturers create ceramics using pure materials and metal compounds. Some brands combine the powder with alloys to create a unique product. Ceramics tend to be made using compounds of metals, metalloids or non-metals. Modern ceramics contain a mix of ionic and covalent bonds to ensure for the most durable finish possible.
Pros of a Ceramic Watch
Ceramic watches have become popularised due to their many desirable traits. Ceramic is a fascinating material due to its useful properties. It is incredibly resistant and it is known for its hardness. This material is three to four times harder than stainless steel, making it a great option for a watch that will be worn regularly. The wearer would not have to worry about their watch becoming scratched as ceramic is scratch proof, so these models can be worn for more demanding occasions. Additionally, ceramic is unaffected by ultraviolet light, so the colour of the material will not change or fade over time.
Ceramic is an incredibly lightweight material. This substance rivals aluminium in its lightweight nature. Aluminium is not as hard or durable as ceramic, so ceramic is becoming the obvious choice for many watch manufacturers. Ceramic is also a good choice for people with metal allergies. This material does not tend to contain metals, so the wearer would not need to worry about having a reaction to the bracelet of their watch. Also, as ceramic does not rust or corrode, a wearer would not have to worry about reacting to these processes either.
Cons of a Ceramic Watch
Although ceramic has many traits that makes it very desirable in watches, it does also have some characteristics that a collector ought to consider when selecting their perfect timepiece. One downside of ceramic is that it has the potential to be brittle. Although the material is incredibly durable, it is not immune to shattering. If a ceramic watch was dropped onto a hard surface, the material may shatter. Therefore, some care must be taken in how ceramic watches are handled and stored.
Ceramic is much more difficult to manufacture and use in watches than metals are. The processes involved in creating ceramic are complicated. The material must be heated and cooled throughout the manufacturing period, and this can take a very long time. Once ceramic is moulded, it must be polished. This can be quite an involved and arduous process. Due to the complexities in the manufacturing stages, the price of ceramic is considerably higher than that of some metals. This means that ceramic watches are often more expensive than their stainless steel alternatives. Due to this, ceramic tends to be reserved for expensive and limited edition watches.
Ceramic Watch Recommendations
RADO Ladies Quartz Centrix Diamonds 28mm Case R30555724
RADO is famed for its ceramic timepieces. The brand released the first ever scratch proof watch in 1962. The watch was named the Diastar. Since this launch, RADO’s ceramic watches have gone from strength to strength. The brand has become known as the ‘master of materials’ within the horological industry due to its expertise. This timepiece exudes luxury.
The brown dial is set with twelve diamonds to denote hours. The dial is also detailed with a date aperture and rose gold hour, minute and second hands. The dial is protected by sapphire crystal to provide this hard wearing watch with even more durability. Both the case and bracelet of this watch are made from a mix of titanium, stainless steel and high-tech ceramic in shades of brown and rose gold. The case of this watch measures just 6.7mm in thickness and 28mm in diameter to ensure for an elegant and comfortable fit on a woman’s wrist.
Daniel Wellington Iconinc Link Ceramic 28mm Black Strap DW00100415
This Daniel Wellington model proves that not all ceramic watches need to be highly priced. Ceramic works incredibly well in watches with an all black design as the ceramic itself is black in colour, whereas stainless steel would have a black coating. This blacked-out watch features a black dial with dark grey baton indices and dark grey hour and minute hands. The dial is surrounded by a black ceramic case. This case features stainless steel elements but still has all of the great traits of ceramic. A reliable quartz movement is housed in the case. The watch is secured on the wrist using a black ceramic bracelet, providing a durable and hard wearing finish. This timepiece is splash resistant and should not be submerged in water.
Roamer C-Line Automatic Black Dial Steel Ceramic 672661 41 55 60
Roamer is a Swiss watch brand that prides itself on a strong tradition of high-end production and constant innovation whilst maintaining a reasonable and affordable price. This watch is from the C-Line collection, meaning that it has a classic and elegant dress watch style. The C-Line watches all have ceramic elements to ensure for a durable finish. This model features a black dial with two aperture windows that expose the Swiss Made Automatic movement within. This movement provides the watch with up to 48 hours of power reserve. This movement is housed in a stainless steel case. The case measures 41mm in diameter to ensure that the dial is easy to read at a glance. The watch is finished with a stainless steel bracelet that features black ceramic links through its centre. This detailing ensures that the watch is long lasting. This timepiece is water resistant up to 100 metres.
Swatch NEW GENT | ROUGE & NOIR | Bio-Ceramic SO32B401
Swatch introduced its innovative answer to ceramic in recent years. It is an entirely new material that is created by mixing ceramic with bio-sourced plastic. Swatch have made several moves to become more eco-friendly in recent years and this is a big step towards that goal. The case of this model is made from black bio-ceramic to ensure for a lightweight and durable finish. The watch features a white dial with a black centre. The dial is decorated with black Arabic indices and multicoloured hands. The hour hand is red, the minute hand blue and the second hand yellow. The watch is powered by one of Swatch’s iconic quartz movements. This timepiece is secured on the wrist using a red strap that is made from bio-sourced material.
RADO Centrix Automatic Open Heart High-Tech Ceramic R30180162
RADO’s ceramic watches are iconic within the industry. This model combines ceramic with an open heart dial for a truly luxurious feel. The dial is black in colour and exposes the automatic movement that powers the watch. The dial is adorned with gold baton indices and gold hour, minute and second hands. A gold bezel surrounds the dial to complement the gold features on it. Both the case and bracelet of this watch are made from a mixture of PVD coated stainless steel and RADO’s signature high-tech ceramic. The case and bracelet are black in colour for an elegant, every day style. The dial is protected by sapphire glass for an enhanced scratch-resistant finish. The watch features an exhibition case back that is made of sapphire glass. This allows the movement to be observed from all angles. This watch has a power reserve of up to 80 hours.
What did you think of our answer to the question ‘what is a ceramic watch’? Would you consider adding a ceramic watch to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!
