Ceramic questions

[FightOnSC!]

Just a general question, from theoretical standpoint, ceramic doesn't dull or dent correct?

Just picks up material that brushes up against it unless it's a material harder than it on the vickers scale?

[SMD]

I think that is correct, but I would be curious whether anything in particular is prompting this question. I have not noticed anything unusual on mine yet, but I haven't been wearing it a lot lately.

[locutus49]

Ceramic tiles are used on space craft to protect against heat, right?

[FightOnSC!]

I was browsing an iwc forum and seems as though people had some issues on their ceramics

[SMD]

Originally Posted by FightOnSC!

I was browsing an iwc forum and seems as though people had some issues on their ceramics

Well, since not all ceramic is created equal, hopefully AP's is not as problematic. Mine still shines like its new fingers crossed.

[TaipanJob]

Pardon my intrusion, but how does one know if the watch is ceramics

[locutus49]

The literature that comes with a watch will tell you the materials, or you can google it.

Originally Posted by TaipanJob

Pardon my intrusion, but how does one know if the watch is ceramics

[yachty 1]

Love my ceramic bezel but hard pressed to get the all ceramic..Here's my reasoning, looking at my bezel there are little nicks on it. I AM ALSO NOT HARD ON MY WATCHES. So I can't imagine spending that kind of money and having all the sharp corners with small almost not visible nicks missing. I can swollen the cost of a bezel but to replace the case at 6 plus grand, I don't think so. After time it will happen eventually with only the option of replacing.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by yachty 1

Love my ceramic bezel but hard pressed to get the all ceramic..Here's my reasoning, looking at my bezel there are little nicks on it. I AM ALSO NOT HARD ON MY WATCHES. So I can't imagine spending that kind of money and having all the sharp corners with small almost not visible nicks missing. I can swollen the cost of a bezel but to replace the case at 6 plus grand, I don't think so. After time it will happen eventually with only the option of replacing.

Mine has taken some pretty hard knocks and it is pristine. Ymmv.

[FightOnSC!]

With the bezel because of the non smooth portion have grain sometimes it's hard to tell what's material or possibly real damage but I do t think it's easy to damage

[yachty 1]

Originally Posted by FightOnSC!

With the bezel because of the non smooth portion have grain sometimes it's hard to tell what's material or possibly real damage but I do t think it's easy to damage

Mine is definitely a pin size chip. Like I said sooner or later it will happen

[SMD]

Originally Posted by yachty 1

Mine is definitely a pin size chip. Like I said sooner or later it will happen

Would love to see a pic if you can get it to show up. Never seen AP ceramic bezel (or otherwise) that has been chipped.

[yachty 1]

Originally Posted by SMD

Would love to see a pic if you can get it to show up. Never seen AP ceramic bezel (or otherwise) that has been chipped.

Will do. When I get home I will try to caption it.

[FightOnSC!]

Well chipping does happen but anyone had any weird issues?

[masterserg]

I suppose the sharp edges can chip with a hard knock against the wrong surface.
I owned a ceramic PAM for a while. At one point it looked like it had a half an inch long scratch running through the side and it would not come out ... I was very baffled and upset, but it turned out to be rests of whatever I hit it against, and it came out rubbing it with some tooth paste. I heard that a pencil eraser works for this as well.
I didn't own any of my 44 ROOs long enough to have an opinion but I think that, bad luck aside, it would be hard to damage this material.
The extreme brushing can create some brighter dots under the right light where it meets the polished areas so that might look like a chip but it is just the finishing (same on the steel case and bezels).

[FightOnSC!]

Originally Posted by masterserg

I suppose the sharp edges can chip with a hard knock against the wrong surface.
I owned a ceramic PAM for a while. At one point it looked like it had a half an inch long scratch running through the side and it would not come out ... I was very baffled and upset, but it turned out to be rests of whatever I hit it against, and it came out rubbing it with some tooth paste. I heard that a pencil eraser works for this as well.
I didn't own any of my 44 ROOs long enough to have an opinion but I think that, bad luck aside, it would be hard to damage this material.
The extreme brushing can create some brighter dots under the right light where it meets the polished areas so that might look like a chip but it is just the finishing (same on the steel case and bezels).

i can attest to the eraser working but it must be an "ink eraser". looks grey, feels a little sandy.

i can attest to this working as when a titanium tang buckle from another AP hit my ceramic case, it left a mark I couldn't brush out with my t shirt.

enter the eraser...like magic the hairline went away.

just be sure to painter's take any non-ceramic metal near the area you are brushing with the eraser as it can leave a "brushed" effect afterward

[SigloII]

I'd also love to see a dinged ceramic bezel on a ROO.
I have a forged carbon 44mm for a year and a half now and the bezel is flawless - it scrapes off wood without a scratch if it takes a desk dive - while the carbon case has taken a ding or two.

[yachty 1]

So hard to take pictures of this

[yachty 1]

Originally Posted by yachty 1

Attachment 591073

So hard to take pictures of this

Near my thumb around 5 oclock and where the screw is

[FightOnSC!]

Bizarre ! How did it happen?

[yachty 1]

Originally Posted by FightOnSC!

Bizarre ! How did it happen?

No idea..... like I said I am not hard on my watches. Really was interested in the ceramic AP but after that I would hate to see it on the case. When you have sharp shallow corners it's a matter of time. I also have scratches that are there and aren't resin, confirmed by AP. Don't get me wrong still like ceramic concept but would see what the case replacement would be prior in other brands. Still skeptical about the longevity, My opinion.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by yachty 1

No idea..... like I said I am not hard on my watches. Really was interested in the ceramic AP but after that I would hate to see it on the case. When you have sharp shallow corners it's a matter of time. I also have scratches that are there and aren't resin, confirmed by AP. Don't get me wrong still like ceramic concept but would see what the case replacement would be prior in other brands. Still skeptical about the longevity, My opinion.

Well maybe it would be much worse if it was SS, but with SS you can always polish the dents and scratches out, does anyone know if you can polish a ceramic case or bezel? Of course I suppose you can but does AP do it?

I always had the thought of getting a ceramic watch one day as I thought it's near impossible to scratch, dent or break, but from what I see here it's really not the case, that's not super IMO

Too bad as I love the way ceramic watches look, AP and others...

[MrJ320]

Originally Posted by yachty 1

No idea..... like I said I am not hard on my watches. Really was interested in the ceramic AP but after that I would hate to see it on the case. When you have sharp shallow corners it's a matter of time. I also have scratches that are there and aren't resin, confirmed by AP. Don't get me wrong still like ceramic concept but would see what the case replacement would be prior in other brands. Still skeptical about the longevity, My opinion.

Wow that's the first time I've seen nicks on an AP ceramic bezel, granted I own a jumbo and haven't dealt with AP ceramic much.

It is right at the edge between two planes so that probably is the most vulnerable spot for nicks.

[GB-man]

Looks like what happens if you knick an SS RO bezel. Unfortunate but I could live with it.

[Wesley Crusher]

Ceramic shatters so I am not surprised. I have seen shattered Panerai cases and even a shattered DSOTM case. If you bumped the watch against a very hard, fine edge, I can see how a piece chipped off.

The downside with ceramic, unlike metal, is that there is no polishing or laser welding. Once a piece breaks off, there is no fixing it.

Your chipped bezel would not bother me. It's so small. How did you first notice it, anyway? Were you looking at your watch under an electron microscope?

[yachty 1]

Yes definitely not noticeable. I was admiring how beautiful the sun was reflecting and it looked like a dust speck. Tried to wipe off and it wouldnt......but I would still take a ceramic bezel over steel.

[lapince]

I'm surprised that it chipped but as others say it's so small that you shouldn't let that bother you, if you had in SS you would probably have much more noticeable scratches or dents in it, so just enjoy it and if one day you happen to have to many dents and chips off then you can ask AP to replace it when you will service it, guess it's far from being cheap but it's just the bezel, not the case, I guess a ceramic case would really cost 30% of the watch's price tag

[yachty 1]

Originally Posted by lapince

I'm surprised that it chipped but as others say it's so small that you shouldn't let that bother you, if you had in SS you would probably have much more noticeable scratches or dents in it, so just enjoy it and if one day you happen to have to many dents and chips off then you can ask AP to replace it when you will service it, guess it's far from being cheap but it's just the bezel, not the case, I guess a ceramic case would really cost 30% of the watch's price tag

doesn't bother me at all. Just showing people it can happen easily and buy with caution when purchasing the all ceramic. I would be much more upset with scuffs and dents in a ss bezel then this..

[csi-n]

Theoretically, and practically, engineered ceramics are harder, tougher, have higher modulus of elasticity, and are less ductile than stainless steel (304, 316, 904, etc.) that are the main case materials used in watches. So, no doubt, these ceramics have their advantages - and some disadvantages - over stainless steel.

I think this thread has proven to all of us that these ceramics aren't indestructible and are vulnerable to some damage, especially at the sharp edges.

Nevertheless, I think that AP makes one of the best out there and maaan, they look awesome.


Sam

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by csi-n

Theoretically, and practically, engineered ceramics are harder, tougher, have higher modulus of elasticity, and are less ductile than stainless steel (304, 316, 904, etc.) that are the main case materials used in watches. So, no doubt, these ceramics have their advantages - and some disadvantages - over stainless steel.

I think this thread has proven to all of us that these ceramics aren't indestructible and are vulnerable to some damage, especially at the sharp edges.

Nevertheless, I think that AP makes one of the best out there and maaan, they look awesome.


Sam

I smell an engineer

haha