Re : AP Ceramic Pieces being discontinued?

[benlee]

I have just heard from my AD that AP is discontinuing / stopping production of AP Ceramic pieces such as the AP Ceramic Diver and AP ROO 44mm. Any one else received news about this?

As some of you might know, AP outsource the actual production / fabrication of the ceramic pieces to 3rd party as ceramic is very hard to machine. The added time and cost esp to make them to AP's specification and finishing makes it not worthwhile as it will mean selling ceramic pieces at a price level near equivalent to RG pieces to break even. That's what I heard anyway.

[improviz]

Interesting if it turns out to be true...in this case they'd be rare birds in the future.

[texex91]

Had not heard that, but I would not be surprised.

[singe89]

So they will stop making watches with ceramic cases but still outsource the production of ceramic bezel, crown, pushers, etc?

Seems like if ceramic was really that expensive to outsource they would stop production on more than just cases.

Forged carbon was being discontinuted on the diver and 44mm novelty now the ceramic too. Guess that will limit the choice on black APs.

[raclaims]

I find that hard to believe

[Randy]

Hublot makes the ceramic bezels for Rolex and many other brands. Rolex will never admit this. Lol

[lapince]

Originally Posted by Randy

Hublot makes the ceramic bezels for Rolex and many other brands. Rolex will never admit this. Lol

Really? Interesting I wouldn't have thought it was so...

[lipjin]

I've heard that from an AD as well.

[Audemars Piguet]

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=401891

[Coastie]

He said it takes eight hours to produce a ceramic case, and one hour to produce a ceramic bezel. He didn't say anything about AP discontinuing the production of ceramic models, but he certainly gave the impression that it was a time-consuming and costly process.

[Exclusivewatches]

Well, I am not shocked. The Rubberclad is no longer in the making, so we will probably see way more stops ahead.

[csi-n]

I would actually be very surprised if this is true. I know it is more time consuming and challenging to produce a ceramic watch case or bezel than it is to make steel, gold, titanium, and platinum ones. However, if so many other watch manufacturers are able to cope with these challenges and the associated costs, why wouldn't AP as well? It would be a shame.


Sam

[arnage]

just a guess, but maybe it's related to getting the ceramic to the level of "brushed" finishing that AP's notable for. many of the other manufacturers, while using ceramic (panerai, omega, rolex for its bezels), aren't finishing the material in such a way?

there have been some threads documenting the different levels of brushing within the production cycles of some APs with a ceramic bezel. i.e. - very early versions of the FC diver didn't appear to have vertical brushing to the same extent of the later ones

[exiger77]

I only heard the white ceramics are on its way out as they are prone to cracks and there had been claims from AP.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by exiger77

I only heard the white ceramics are on its way out as they are prone to cracks and there had been claims from AP.

That wouldn't be so bothering, saw the white one, looks great but if one day I was to get one it would have to be black

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Randy

Hublot makes the ceramic bezels for Rolex and many other brands. Rolex will never admit this. Lol

Source? I was under the impression rolex did ceramics in house.

[Abdullasaif]

I have heard from a AP dealer in Dubai mall that the 44mm's will be discontinued(certain materials not all). But they still made the white ceramic and sell the steel and carbon one so i can't confirm if they actually discontinuing them.

[Dickson Lim]

Originally Posted by exiger77

I only heard the white ceramics are on its way out as they are prone to cracks and there had been claims from AP.

Mind to PM me more info of it buddy?

[grnman]

So when they say the Ceramic is "indelible" and the only thing able to scratch it is diamond. Is this true? I think I have see a scratch on my bezel but ive heard many people thinking is a scratch but really is residue from the other material and a pen eraser will get it off.

Same with the crystal isn't it. but is anyone actually game to get a key or something and try to make a mark on either? Who wants to make there watch the test watch?

[redsubby]

Originally Posted by grnman

So when they say the Ceramic is "indelible" and the only thing able to scratch it is diamond. Is this true? I think I have see a scratch on my bezel but ive heard many people thinking is a scratch but really is residue from the other material and a pen eraser will get it off.

Same with the crystal isn't it. but is anyone actually game to get a key or something and try to make a mark on either? Who wants to make there watch the test watch?

My ceramic diver bezel was hit by coworker's steel seiko and it put a mark on the bezel, it can be seen at an angle. I tried to use eraser to get rid of it but it ain't coming off.

[grnman]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Well sounds like indelible is just a sales lie. I was thinking of getting a FC diver or BumbleBee to use as a beater. looks like I was wrong and the Rolex 904L steel might be better.

[redsubby]

Originally Posted by grnman

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Well sounds like indelible is just a sales lie. I was thinking of getting a FC diver or BumbleBee to use as a beater. looks like I was wrong and the Rolex 904L steel might be better.

Steel is not better. It's my most worn watch since I got it in November and the entire watch has no scratch, not even hairline at all. Just that little faint mark from the bang.

[grnman]

Do AP buff it out at service? or is it a new bezel affair?

[redsubby]

Originally Posted by grnman

Do AP buff it out at service? or is it a new bezel affair?

I don't think it's buffable and it's not obvious enough for me to spend that kind of money to replace the bezel.

[grnman]

Agreed. ^^
im only thinking about resale as im a bit of a flipper.

[Dickson Lim]

Originally Posted by grnman

So when they say the Ceramic is "indelible" and the only thing able to scratch it is diamond. Is this true? I think I have see a scratch on my bezel but ive heard many people thinking is a scratch but really is residue from the other material and a pen eraser will get it off.

Same with the crystal isn't it. but is anyone actually game to get a key or something and try to make a mark on either? Who wants to make there watch the test watch?

IMHO, 99% of the time when it looks like and feels like a scratch on the ceramic would just be the residual mark of the other materials previously in contacted. In your picture, the mark is in shiny white. AP's black ceramic bezel would be totally black inside out. Hence I would believe that it would most probably be some residual mark my friend.


As of the crystal, most of the time the scratches happen on the AR coating instead of the sapphire crystal itself. Sapphire crystal is pretty much scratch resistant, but the AR coating is quite the opposite.

[yachty 1]

I too have multiple scratches confirmed by A.P. like I said before, mine hit a piece of metal wire. Sooner or later it will happen. But I am ok with it becouse you can barely see it. My scratches on the case make me sick to my stomach.

[singe89]

Originally Posted by grnman

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Well sounds like indelible is just a sales lie. I was thinking of getting a FC diver or BumbleBee to use as a beater. looks like I was wrong and the Rolex 904L steel might be better.

I've worn my FC diver as a daily beater for almost 2 years now and it still looks new. Before the FC diver I wore a DSSD for 3 years or so and that watch looks MUCH more used. Nothing bad but has surface scratches, a few dings and a cracked pearl. The FC diver has held up much better for me.

[FightOnSC!]

Originally Posted by Dickson Lim

IMHO, 99% of the time when it looks like and feels like a scratch on the ceramic would just be the residual mark of the other materials previously in contacted. In your picture, the mark is in shiny white. AP's black ceramic bezel would be totally black inside out. Hence I would believe that it would most probably be some residual mark my friend.


As of the crystal, most of the time the scratches happen on the AR coating instead of the sapphire crystal itself. Sapphire crystal is pretty much scratch resistant, but the AR coating is quite the opposite.

i've got a 44mm RG and did the key test, rubbed it against the metal part of an airline tray table etc.

use a pen eraser and it goes away.

[s14roller]

Originally Posted by FightOnSC!

i've got a 44mm RG and did the key test, rubbed it against the metal part of an airline tray table etc.

use a pen eraser and it goes away.

Brave soul!