Saudi Luxury / Watch basics
Ceramic watches: what you gain and what to watch for
What a ceramic case, bezel or bracelet does well, where it can let you down, and how to check which parts of a watch are really ceramic.
A ceramic case or bezel resists the everyday scratches that dull steel, and its colour holds up in strong sun. The catch is brittleness: a sharp knock on tile or stone can chip or crack ceramic, and the fix is a replacement part, not a polish.
What you gain
Watch ceramic is much harder than steel, so desk edges, keys and sand leave little trace. Pigment is usually mixed into the material before it is fired, which is why ceramic bezel inserts stay black or blue after years outdoors while older aluminium inserts fade. Black and white are the most common colours; blue, green, grey and others exist, and Rado’s Plasma ceramic has a metallic grey look with no metal in it. Watch Codex explains how watch ceramic is made and finished.
It also suits a hot climate. Ceramic is lighter than steel, though heavier than titanium. It carries heat less readily than metal, so it feels less cold than steel in air conditioning and less hot to the touch outdoors. The ceramic itself contains no nickel, though a metal caseback or clasp may.
Rado has built much of its range on ceramic. The Rado True Automatic Diamonds R27056712 has a ceramic case and an automatic movement. The Rado collection has many more, and our pick of the best Rado watches narrows the choice.
What to watch for
- Drops. Ceramic does not dent; it chips or cracks.
- Repairs. Ceramic cannot be refinished like steel, and ordinary polishing will not remove damage. A chipped or cracked case, bezel or bracelet link needs a new part from the brand, so ask about parts and service before you buy.
- Bracelet sizing. Ceramic links cannot be bent or forced, so have the bracelet sized by someone who has done it before.
- Which part is ceramic. Listings use the word loosely. It may mean the whole case, only the bezel or only the bracelet, and a ceramic case can still have a steel or titanium caseback. Check the case material in the spec table and the maker’s description.
- Care. Wipe it with a soft cloth and follow the maker’s cleaning instructions. Avoid abrasive polishes.
Bioceramic is different
The MoonSwatch range, which the site files alongside Omega, is made by Swatch from Bioceramic, a mix of ceramic powder and a plant-derived plastic. The Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch SO33G100 is light, colourful and quartz-powered. Bioceramic is not the hard ceramic Rado uses, though, and the watch is not an Omega Speedmaster.
Bezel or full ceramic
A ceramic bezel on a steel case puts fade-proof, scratch-resistant ceramic where wear shows most, while the steel case dents rather than cracks if you drop it. It is the safer choice if you are hard on watches. A full ceramic case or bracelet resists scratches all over and weighs less than steel, provided you are careful around stone floors. For a daily watch that should still look new in five years, either is hard to beat. If you want a full ceramic case higher up the market, Hublot and IWC both make them.