Ceramic

[lapince]

Hi all,

I will soon have a ceramic diver, very excited, one of the reasons why I always wanted one is that they are almost unscratchable, but of course in case of a serious shock or ding they can dent or break. I heard of some breaking the case, wanted to know if anyone already dented or broke a ceramic part, bezel, case, crown or pushers, and if yes how did it happen?

As I understand the ceramic used by AP is top notch, just on looks they explode the competition, and I'm sure they are very hard, but did hear some stories or watches being dropped on tile floors and breaking, has this happened to you or anyone you know?

I am not a die hard AP fan, I like many models but some less, but the AP ceramic is second to none, I saw a ceramic Pam last week, it's nice but it's only brushed ceramic, AP mixes brushed and polished with these vertical lines, it's clearly awesome, I'm glad I could secure a BNIB one from AP and would like to say that the AP customer service was top notch, Panerai is awful, at least in their Paris boutique, and can't say that Patek is great also, I was very surprised that they offered me a nice discount on a hot piece seeing I never bought an AP before, so for now only good impressions, can't way to be the 24th to get my diver

Thanks guys

[singe89]

I've heard one or two reports about chipped/cracked ceramic. I can tell you that the ceramic bezels on my APs still look like the day I bought them. I've wacked my AP's ceramic bezels on a few door jams and also once pretty hard on a brick wall and there are no marks.

[AK797]

Yes, very few reports here of cracked bezels. I am actually not such a fan of the look of brushed bezels actually, I prefer polished and on APs brushed SS/PM.

[beer]

Would probably have to hit it so hard that if it was not there something just as costly would have been damaged

[s14roller]

Ceramic is resistant against scratching, but the material is more brittle than steel.

[eonflux]

I've struck my bezel (lightly) against a few objects (metal door knobs, granite counter edges, etc), and it looks fine.
But the bezel has inflicted 3 small chips on the edge of my desk, and with only light strikes.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by eonflux

I've struck my bezel (lightly) against a few objects (metal door knobs, granite counter edges, etc), and it looks fine.
But the bezel has inflicted 3 small chips on the edge of my desk, and with only light strikes.

Your FC doesn't chip off? I heard that FC bezels chip off like crazy, seen a few pics it's awful, for the case I don't know

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by lapince

Your FC doesn't chip off? I heard that FC bezels chip off like crazy, seen a few pics it's awful, for the case I don't know

No, the FC case has no chips or scratches.
It may be more vulnerable to such damage than a ceramic case would, but I think the design of the watch, with a tall bezel and relatively short "lugs" that angle downward make the case less exposed to possible damage.

[Muzz]

I was worried about this as well. So far I have not damaged my AP in any way (ceramic) however the titanium tang has some scratches but I am not concerned.

I have several friends with ceramics and all of theirs are still perfect after years of enjoyment.

[grnman]

I have a scratch on my bezel. ill try and get a pic for you. very disappointed and I thought ceramic was indelible only to diamond.

[codecow]

I touched my bezel on my desk today, still dead mint!

[benlee]

To be honest, it is possible to scratch ceramic, esp by something just as hard or harder, such as diamond and another ceramic. Other than this, it is much more resilient than SS to scratches.

[redsubby]

Originally Posted by benlee

To be honest, it is possible to scratch ceramic, esp by something just as hard or harder, such as diamond and another ceramic. Other than this, it is much more resilient than SS to scratches.

I have a very light scratch on my bezel, it was done by my coworker's steel Seiko.....

[thurgood]

Congrats in advance Arnold!

[lapince]

Originally Posted by singe89

I've heard one or two reports about chipped/cracked ceramic. I can tell you that the ceramic bezels on my APs still look like the day I bought them. I've wacked my AP's ceramic bezels on a few door jams and also once pretty hard on a brick wall and there are no marks.

Well I am quite careful with my watches, so I think I should be fine, at least I hope

Originally Posted by AK797

Yes, very few reports here of cracked bezels. I am actually not such a fan of the look of brushed bezels actually, I prefer polished and on APs brushed SS/PM.

I love ceramic bezels, it's what made me buy a Daytona, didn't and don't like them with metal bezel

Originally Posted by grnman

I have a scratch on my bezel. ill try and get a pic for you. very disappointed and I thought ceramic was indelible only to diamond.

No as I understand to anything as hard or harder, like the watch's crystal...

Originally Posted by benlee

To be honest, it is possible to scratch ceramic, esp by something just as hard or harder, such as diamond and another ceramic. Other than this, it is much more resilient than SS to scratches.

Thats what I heard too, that the real risk is chipping it or breaking but hard to scratch it...

Originally Posted by redsubby

I have a very light scratch on my bezel, it was done by my coworker's steel Seiko.....

Man that sucks, how the hell is that even possible, must have been quite a shock to make a scratch, sorry that happened to you

Originally Posted by thurgood

Congrats in advance Arnold!

Thanks Scott

[Andad]

By the look of that I'd stay away from ceramic.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by directioneng

By the look of that I'd stay away from ceramic.

On the contrary, I've always wanted a ceramic watch, I don't have many activities in which I risk having a big shock so think it should be ok

[Cru Jones]

for me, the ceramic is a definite bonus, but the looks of the watch itself is what wins me over.

[grnman]

Scratch at 6 oçlock.
Buggered if I know how it got there.
Is anyone game to get a key out and attack there bezel for the sake of science???? When they replace over the next few weeks. hopefully I get this one back and I can do some tests.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by grnman

Scratch at 6 oçlock.
Buggered if I know how it got there.
Is anyone game to get a key out and attack there bezel for the sake of science???? When they replace over the next few weeks. hopefully I get this one back and I can do some tests.

Ouch. Have you asked AP what they could do about it?

[lapince]

Originally Posted by grnman

Scratch at 6 oçlock.
Buggered if I know how it got there.
Is anyone game to get a key out and attack there bezel for the sake of science???? When they replace over the next few weeks. hopefully I get this one back and I can do some tests.

notcool, if we/I get c ceramic pieces the unscratchable factor is at least for 40%...

[Archangellight]

Originally Posted by grnman

Scratch at 6 oçlock.
Buggered if I know how it got there.
Is anyone game to get a key out and attack there bezel for the sake of science???? When they replace over the next few weeks. hopefully I get this one back and I can do some tests.

this is not good, the color is different.

[jdkrut]

That may not be a scratch at all. It could just be the residue of whatever you knocked your bezel into. If I am correct, the mark will come off with a pencil eraser.

[masterserg]

Originally Posted by jdkrut

That may not be a scratch at all. It could just be the residue of whatever you knocked your bezel into. If I am correct, the mark will come off with a pencil eraser.

Or toothpaste.

[Patrick Lim]

Originally Posted by grnman

Scratch at 6 oçlock.
Buggered if I know how it got there.
Is anyone game to get a key out and attack there bezel for the sake of science???? When they replace over the next few weeks. hopefully I get this one back and I can do some tests.

Have you try using a soft eraser (some patience needed) on the scratch? Eraser works on ceramic and the scratch could be residue of the steel instead of damage to the ceramic itself.

My IWC top gun cermamic suffered a number of "scratches" but was restored to its original condition after intensive cleaning using eraser

[grnman]

Originally Posted by Patrick Lim

Have you try using a soft eraser (some patience needed)

I have given it a good rub but not with an eraser yet. I didn't realise it needed quite a bit of elbow grease. its at the AP service so cant try yet. ill see what AP say.
Thanks for the help anyway.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by grnman

I have given it a good rub but not with an eraser yet. I didn't realise it needed quite a bit of elbow grease. its at the AP service so cant try yet. ill see what AP say.
Thanks for the help anyway.

Hope the scratch will go away mate, it's a bummer, I know if I'l getting, well I am, a ceramic piece 50% is because it doesn't scratch, seems it's mostly the case but not always...

[yachty 1]

I still will take ceramic bezel over ss, but if you check my post you can see 2 tiny chips and also have scratch. Those sharp edges on the bezel are thin and will eventually chip. That's why the ceramic case scares me. Esp if you go to resell it. Bezel 2000 plus and case I think 6000+ . Things to consider

[grnman]

Re my scatch above. I assume AP wont "fix" the damaged bezel but rather bolt on a new one.
Just like mainstream car dealerships these days. if you have a problem with your gearbox, they will put in a new gearbox rather than repairing the old.

[benlee]

Originally Posted by grnman

Re my scatch above. I assume AP wont "fix" the damaged bezel but rather bolt on a new one.
Just like mainstream car dealerships these days. if you have a problem with your gearbox, they will put in a new gearbox rather than repairing the old.

That's what I was told as well. Ceramic bezel cannot be polished out like RG or SS, only can be replaced. Cost is around 4K.. I have one light scratch on mine as well at 2o'clock but it is not obvious most of the time so I just leave it.