At one time in history, watches were only made only from steel and gold. With technological developments, a wide variety of materials are used in commercially available watches, including plastic, steel, aluminum, gold, titanium, and ceramic.
A ceramic watch body cannot be repaired, and the best that can be done is for the owner to stabilize a crack using a clear epoxy. Similarly, ceramic watch straps cannot be repaired; however, removing the broken links and replacing the entire strap or shortening the strap is possible.
Ceramic watch cases and straps provide strong protection against corrosion and have a very high tolerance for scratches/abrasions. If a ceramic watch case is dropped, there is a real chance it will shatter, unlike metal and gold, which will dent.
Damaged Ceramic Watches Cannot Generally Be Fixed
It depends on which ceramic part of the watch is broken.
Ceramic Watch Cases
It is not possible to fix a broken or cracked ceramic watch case.
While it is not a fix, applying a thin layer of clear epoxy to stabilize the case and prevent further damage is possible.
If the watch is repaired, the repairer will order a new case and install this.
Ceramic Watch Straps
Most watch manufacturers make it very difficult for their customers to carry out basic repairs.
They do this by concealing the links making them very hard to access.
Before starting is a very good idea to purchase a watch repair kit (Available on Amazon below). This low-cost collection of tools will have all the tools to help you fix a broken ceramic watch strap.
This section assumes that the strap is long enough to join a missing link or that a replacement strap has been purchased.
There are two types of ceramic straps:
- Exposed links.
- Concealed links.
Exposed Links
If the links are exposed, set up the watch band strap link pin remover and remove the link, splitting the watch strap into two pieces.
Place the pin remover needle into the tiny holes on the strap and tighten until the pin is pushed in and the strap detaches.
Concealed Links
While fixing a damaged link is not always possible, it can expose the concealed spring-loaded link within the band.
This repair method requires a small angle grinder with a fine metal cutting and blade.
Bend the strap so the link is exposed, and VERY carefully grind the surface of the link off. The person performing the task must do it extremely precisely because any deviation could damage the watch case.
Once the outer surface of the link is ground off, it will expose the spring-mounted link inside the outer link.
Carefully remove the link, attach the shortened strap, or replace the whole strap.
What Is The Ceramic Material Used In Watches?
The ceramic material used in the manufacture of watches is different from the normal material associated with ceramic.
Ceramics is a broad classification of materials that display the following properties:
- They are inorganic.
- They are nonmetallic.
- They are solid.
The ceramic material used in watches is generally harder than steel and gold. It is generally a mix of inorganic, nonmetallic powders, such as, most commonly, zirconium oxide, that are formed through heat and pressure but kept just below the melting point.
The resultant material is an attractive, solid material.
Some of the manufacturers who use ceramic include the following.
Hublot CH
Hublot combines ceramics with metals to create the “Cermet” model watch.
Hublot has also developed a material named “Magic Gold,” which contains 75% pure gold.
The material is produced under very high pressure by filling the pores in the ceramic material with molten twenty-four karat gold.
The result is the strongest eighteen-karat gold watch on the market.
Rolex
Rolex uses ceramic material in its watch designs.
The first in the range was the 2013 black and blue bezel watch, which Rolex called “Batman”
In 2014 the company introduced the red and blue bezel under the “Pepsi” range.
The company’s “Cerachrom” ceramic inserts are generally believed to be superior to the previous metal bezels used in older models.
Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Edition (GPS + Cellular) 42mm has a Ceramic Case.
Junghans Force
The Mega Solar Ceramic is manufactured with a black ceramic case.
Longines
Longines Hydroconquest Ceramic is manufactured in black.
It is a divers watch with a water resistance depth of 300m.
Omega
The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon incorporates a ceramic case.
The Pros And Cons Of Ceramic Watches
Ceramics has been hailed as the perfect material for watch manufacturers, and in some respects, it is. It is harder wearing than plastics and resists damage that would impair metal, aluminum, or gold watches.
The following details the advantages and disadvantages of Ceramic Watches.
The Advantages Of Ceramic Watches
The following qualities make ceramic watches impervious to scratches and fading.
- Ceramic watches remain looking good for longer because they resist scratches and wear
- Ceramics are renowned for their hardness, particularly when compared to steel and gold.
- Ceramics are not affected by the sun’s ultraviolet rays produced by the sun.
- Ceramic watches weigh less than other materials.
- The ceramic watch models which don’t contain metal make the material hypoallergenic, making them ideal for people with sensitivity to metals.
- The darker ceramic colors are more easily manufactured, and blacked-out watches continue to have grown in popularity with this.
- Because the dark color is embedded in the material, it is resistant to fading and wear.
The Disadvantages Of Ceramic Watches
The disadvantages of ceramic watches are listed in the following list.
- The primary disadvantage is the materials’ vulnerability to strong impact, where they may shatter.
- Ceramics is an expensive material.
- While Ceramic watches don’t age, the watch’s downside is that they are not unique and mass-produced.
- Cracked or shattered ceramic watch bodies cannot be repaired.
Conclusion
Ceramic watches have grown very fast as a popular material for some models of watches. There is, however, hesitation from many potential purchasers, afraid that it is impossible to repair a damaged or broken ceramic watch.
