Ceramic as a Material
One of the most fascinating materials used in watchmaking is ceramic. It offers a very smooth and very polished finish, and it often offers more heft and a more “solid” feel to the timepiece as a whole. In terms of its physical properties, ceramic is much harder than steel, which measures 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, while ceramic can measure as high as 7. This means that a ceramic watch is much more resistant to scratches and blemishes, but the crystalline structure of the material makes it less shatter resistant. There is also the aesthetic value that comes with practicality: a solid ceramic case of any color is not plated; the color is solid through and through, from surface to surface. Even if it were to crack or chip, the underlying color would be identical to what you see on top. It is a brilliant and ancient technology that is constantly being perfected, and it is definitely something that should be a part of every watch collector’s wishlist.
