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Table of Contents
Ceramic Watches Pros & Cons
Do Ceramic Watches Break Easily?
No. Ceramic watches are not as tough as stainless steel in many ways, although they are less durable when dropped. This does not mean they are easy to break, but are easier to break than typical metal-based watches.
There is a tradeoff between ceramic and other materials such as gold/steel/platinum.
Metals will scratch A LOT more easily than ceramics. Meaning if you brush your watch off a surface or give it a small knock, the chance of it getting a long-lasting scratch is far higher than ceramic.
The tradeoff comes when dropping your watch from a reasonable height onto a solid surface. If you drop a steel watch from hip height, maybe it will scratch, but it will not chip or break. If you drop a ceramic timepiece from a similar height, there is a much higher chance of chipping or breaking.
Are Ceramic Watches Still In Style?
Ceramic watches were first introduced in 1962 with the release of the Rado Diastar. However, ceramic watches did not really catch on and were pretty unpopular until the late 1990s. With the release of the Chanel J12 in 2000, this is when the popularity of ceramic watches exploded. The popularity of ceramic watches reached an all-time high at this time, and has steadily declined ever since.
This does not mean that ceramic watches are unpopular or out of style. In fact, with allergies on the rise hypoallergenic materials are in higher demand. Many high-end watch brands such as Omega or Rolex have begun using both metallic cases alongside ceramic bezels on their watches. Meaning that their work is somewhat of a hybrid rather than a single material.
It could be argued that the heyday of ceramic watches is over, but it’s likely that the material will see another resurgence at some point. As if everything within fashion and design. One thing becomes unpopular for a long period of time and then gains momentum and makes a comeback.
Why Are Ceramic Watches Expensive?
Ceramic watches are more expensive than most other watches because of the technology and material it takes to make them. In particular, when compared with plating metal, coloring ceramic is a completely different task.
Stainless steel can be electroplated by simply submerging the metal into the required color and turning on a machine. To color a ceramic bracelet or dial takes a lot more effort and is a careful balancing act to get the tone just right.
As technology has developed, machinery has become less expensive over time. With that being said, ceramic watchmaking is still relatively new compared to metalwork. Therefore the research and development costs are still fairly high when compared to standard watchmaking.
Is A Ceramic Bezel Better?
Ceramic bezels are preferred particularly on high-end, luxury watches. This is not to say that ceramic bezels are better per se, but they do offer a layer of protection that other materials (such as steel) do not.
In general, the areas that will both you the most when scratched are the dial and the bezel – this is because they are visible to you every day. A scratch on the case back or the underside of the bracelet is pretty much irrelevant. These areas are not visible when the watch is worn and neither are they difficult to polish. A scratched gold or stainless steel bezel can be polished, but it is much more intricate than a bracelet or case back.
Ceramic bezels are usually scratch-resistant to a much higher degree. Anything that does look like a scratch can usually be removed by a magic eraser. However, ceramic bezels are not bulletproof and can still get scratched, they are much more resistant to wear and tear though.
Is A Ceramic Watch Better Than Stainless Steel?
Almost all of the choice between steel and ceramic watches is a personal preference. Steel is more heavyweight, masculine, and resistant to damage from dropping. Ceramic is more lightweight and scratch-resistant, although can chip when dropped.
Another point to mention is specifically for plated watches. Many black or gold fashion watches are stainless steel which has been plated. Over time color will wear away from stainless steel plating, whereas it won’t wear off from ceramic material. This means if looked after, ceramic watches should have a longer lifespan than their steel counterparts.
Is A Ceramic Watch Better For People With Allergies?
This is where there is a clear definitive answer. Yes, ceramic watches are certainly better for people who suffer from metal allergies. Modern stainless steel does not really contain much (if any) nickel at all due to various laws and regulations.
With that being said, we know that companies like Rado, that specialize in hypoallergenic ceramic watches do not use any kind of irritable material. Ceramic watches will certainly not give you a rash or skin irritation, whereas other brands might, depending on both their metal and the severity of your own condition.
Best Ceramic Watches For Men
Emporio Armani Ceramica
The Armani Ceramica is an entry-level ceramic fashion watch. It offers a sleek black design in an entirely ceramic case and bracelet, with only the crown and chronograph pushers made of metal. Other than this, the watch is pretty much exactly what you’d expect from an Armani watch. Sleek Italian design which shows off the brand, but at the same time is not overly loud or too garish. The Ceramica is more expensive than other Armani watches, but this is because those are made of steel.
Rado
Rado is the true originator of ceramic watches, creating their first watch in 1962. Since then they have not taken their foot off the gas and continued to develop their ceramic materials to the highest caliber. This semi-skeleton open heart dial shows off their high spec ETA movement, which has a gigantic 80-hour power reserve. Meaning even if you don’t wear this watch for 3 days, it should still be ticking exactly where you left it without the need to reset the time.
Even though Rado is a luxury brand, they are still not too popular outside of Asia or Mexico, meaning that you can pick up a high spec watch for a great price.
Tissot Seastar
The Tissot Seastar silicium is not a full ceramic watch but does have a ceramic bezel to stop scratches. The silicon strap also adds to the lightweight feel of the watch, instead of being weighed down by stainless steel. However, the main genius behind this watch is that the mainspring is made of silicon. This makes sure that the watch will never become magnetized. In a world where we are increasingly exposed to magnetic fields from phones and laptops, this is a really good idea and well-executed.
Bering – Budget Pick
At the bottom end of the budget, Behring makes a ceramic bezel watch for under $150. This watch has a stainless steel bracelet and case, but this is what you’d expect given the price. Overall, the design is very minimalist and is in line with the Danish brand’s philosophy. The dial features 3 subdials that display hours of the day alongside day of the week and date of the month.
This watch is by no means a horological masterpiece but is one of the cheapest mens ceramic bezel watches you can find.
Longines Hydroconquest
Arguably the most iconic timepiece created by Longines is the Hydroconquest. The Swiss brand put their own take on a classic-looking dive watch with a ceramic bezel. Most notably are the two large prominent crown guards which protect the crown from getting any unwanted knocks. Inside the case of the watch is a solid ETA movement. This watch is not fantastic value for money given the alternatives available. But if you’re a fan of the brand it isn’t bad for an automatic watch with a ceramic bezel.
Best Ceramic Watches For Ladies
Rado True Thinline
The Rado True Thinline is a ceramic watch by the father of ceramic watchmaking – Rado. This particular model is very feminine and minimalist. The dial is 30mm wide, as a traditional woman’s watch should be. Secondly, true to its name, this watch is only 5mm thick. Overall, you will barely notice that you are wearing a watch as it’s so lightweight.
Bulova
Bulova is another solid Swiss brand that regularly makes watches that look a lot more expensive than they are. By no means is Bulova cheap, but they are pretty good value for money. This particular marine star model has 5 diamonds on the mother of pearl dial and a date window at the 3 o’clock position. Both the case and the bracelet are ceramic on this watch, with only the case back and links containing any stainless steel.
Anne Klein – Budget Pick
Anne Klein offers a variety of ceramic watches at low prices. In fact, these are pretty much the cheapest women’s ceramic watches that you can buy. At well under $100, there isn’t much else available for this kind of money. Available in a variety of different colors, this model is very feminine and has a 35mm dial with a thinline ceramic strap. If you are after a bargain price ceramic watch for a low budget, this is your best choice by far.
Movado Bold
Movado are a very consistent brand that has stuck with the same design of watch since 1947. Of course, their materials and manufacturing processes have updated, but their dial design is very similar. The ceramic version of the Movado bold is extremely scratch-resistant. Other than the case back (which is steel), you will find it very difficult to scratch the ceramic case or the K1 mineral glass on the front of the watch. This model is typically more expensive than the non-ceramic Movado bold range, but obviously this is made from superior materials.
Tissot
This model of Tissot is made of both ceramic and stainless steel material, so is not really quite a full ceramic watch. However, it is included because of its price. The 28mm dial of this watch is nowhere near the size of modern day oversized women’s watches, which is good if you’re looking for a feminine size. The main selling point of this watch is that it regularly sells for under $200. It’s not the cheapest watch on the market, but for Tissot – that really is a good price.
