myles721
6769
Ceramics…
I put it to all of you Purists…Steel vs Ceramic
I must say owning both I’m not sure I would ever buy another steel watch. When “civilians” look at my Speedmaster GSOTM not a single person ever asked whether it was ceramic…only occasionally whether it was platinum (I am specifically omitting precious metals from this debate). When you consider the pros:
1. Basically scratch proof.
2. Much lighter than steel.
3. It now can be produced in virtually any color / texture combination.
4. Omega / BP (at least) have figured how to treat the molecules for diving.
Cons:
1. Harder than but not as tough as steel.
2. The pesky bracelet issue.
3. Probably unsuitable for “ultra deep” diving.
Feel free to opine…
Ceramics…
I put it to all of you Purists…Steel vs Ceramic I must say owning both I’m not sure I would ever buy another steel watch. When “civilians” look at my Speedmaster GSOTM not a single person ever asked whether it was ceramic…only occasionally whether it was ...
The ceramic Speedys are so very cool, both the gray and black versions.
But when I found out about the non-quickset date, I couldn't hand it back to the Omega salesperson fast enough. What a stupid, stupid design for a modern watch movement. So...I'd very much be into the DSOTM without the date. But I know your post isn't rea...
The GSOTM does have a quickset date depending on how you
define quickset. The 9300/9900 series movement allows you to set the date forwards and backwards across midnight.
Definitional, perhaps, but I would not call that a quickset date.
In any event, that doesn't stop many from buying and enjoying the watches.
Actually not why I mentioned that..
Just curious … my Seamaster PO 2500 has an independent date set (quickset?) but it only works forward…you then have to scroll through a month to go to a previous day…do they all work that way or can you go backwards AND forwards? Always wondered about tha...
I have two Aqua Terras with this type of date setting. It can only be considered "quick" if you are already close to the date you need to access. On the flip side it IS very quick for
changing back and forth between daylight savings time and standard time (and timing is not affected during the change) or if you are traveling across time zones.
Yes exactly…
It’s a toss up but I prefer the time zone option because I keep my watches on winders so for me it’s only about the time zone but now I realize for others that have to set their watches every time quickset is better.
I love my blue Orbis AT and my rose gold AT but for me the traditional quick set is more desirable. Too many in the collection to keep them running and besides continuous
running can lead to more frequent need for a movement service. Once your collection reaches a certain size you realize the best way to keep the movements happy and lessen trips to the spa is to make sure they never remain motionless for extended periods s...
It shatters easily.
To me that’s the biggest downside. I had a high polish black ceramic hublot integral earlier this year that was awesome but I missed steel for a daily sports watch. Maybe in a larger collection having a dedicated ceramic piece makes sense.
I guess that’s ultimately my question, just how sensitive is it? Not sure it can be accurately characterized.
But the ceramic pieces are very impressive given the range of finishes that can be achieved on par with steel, and with the relative resistance to scratches and aging.
My Bathyscaphe also looks very much like metal. I love that it still doesn't have a single mark on it. Yes it can crack if whacked hard enough but I think you'd have to hit it hard enough that
if your high end steel watch took a hit that hard you would be beside yourself with grief over the huge ding/scratch it just received. That steel watch could possibly never be returned to like new appearance so depending on your level of minty appearance ...
Did someone say ceramics?
Love exactly the benefits above - they are my preferred material for me and my wife every day... And with the advent of new materials that are more white metal like BMG and Cermet I wish all of my watches had ceramics especially in the surface areas which...
BMG is supposedly quite britle
I almost got a BMG submersible and hit the brakes after seeing online pics of cracked lugs. Looks like Panerai had to replace quite a few cases. As usual, there's no free lunch.
I remember those days with Panerai!
Panerai does do a decent job exploring new materials. BMG, Ceramic, Bronze, PVD and others. But was equally apprehensive seeing broken bits on the P.com website! It does seem each manufacturer has their own proprietary mix of ceramic / BMG - as they do fo...
Yes…
With Omega I believe they inject molecules as is mentioned with IWC etc that allows some flex in in the case for depth pressure while diving so agreed for high end models the ceramic will be much more reliable…and to the point I make below at what point d...
Good point!
More recent movements seem to include more robust shock protection - and ideally - if there is a way to combine that with a case that is equally scratch and water proof - it could be a watch that could last for generations! Might not be for all collectors...
Especially love the grey/silver, I still can't get out of my head how much your grey side looks like liquid metal!
I've had a hard time getting excited about the colored ceramics though, especially when fully polished since I think they can come off looking a little plasticky. Black and silver though, yes. I think this really is the only way to do a black watch, the n...
Yes I completely agree with you. Until they were able to texture the
ceramic properly they looked like plastic as would my DSOTM BB if Omega hadn’t done such a good job. I would REALLY like to see Omega do a metallic PO instead of the deep black. I would also like to see them do ceramic bracelets….well.
Blancpain doesn't even have a steel bracelet anymore, ceramic or titanium. Steel is definitely feeling a little old fashioned at this point
I think as the brands keep raising prices, they have to give us more than the same old stainless steel. Atm i think there's a gap, something more premium than steel but cheaper and more durable than white gold / platinum. I'm a fan of titanium but it is n...
If Bogie, who passed away from cancer, was still around today he'd have a ceramic Omega . . .
. . . if only to not go thru the hassle of taking it off while in an MRI. 😉
I love black ceramic, but at the moment I am a little … unsettled.
In July of last year, I bought a brand-new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Black Ceramic. Since then I did not wear the watch during sports or expose it to any physical stress otherwise. Due to technical problems with the chronograph, the watch is curr...