QA

Quick Answer: When Did Rolex Switch To Ceramic Bezel

In 2013, Rolex created the first two-tone ceramic bezel, in blue and black, for the steel GMT-Master II nicknamed “Batman”. The blue and black bezel is made of Cerachrom, Rolex’s patented version of ceramic; it is produced through a patented process of creating two colors out of a mono-block Cerachrom bezel.

What year did Rolex Submariner change to ceramic bezel?

In 2012, Rolex began outfitting the Submariner No Date with the same ceramic bezel, fat case lugs, and bracelet.

Does Rolex ceramic bezel scratch?

The ceramic retains the color and is scratch-resistant; this means the bezel will always keep its “brand new” look.

Which Rolex holds its value?

Several Rolex sports watches are known to consistently hold or increase in value. For example, the ever-popular Submariner is a good investment choice for its popularity alone. Easily one of the most recognizable Rolex watches, the Submariner is a highly coveted piece – especially on the secondary resale market.

Is Titanium better than ceramic watch?

Titanium is a lighter material, stronger than stainless steel and, in many situations, a better choice for durability than the ceramic. Ceramic is more scratch-resistant, but it’s an overall more brittle material. And to a certain extent, that’s also true with the titanium watch.

Is Rolex Submariner a good investment?

The Rolex Submariner is probably the safest bet when it comes to buying Rolex watches for investments. The Submariner is Rolex’s most iconic and recognized watch, and it is also the Rolex watch which has proven to increase the most in value. The Submariner is sporty, robust, durable, and has a truly timeless design.

What is the hardest Rolex to buy?

Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 The first time a Sea-Dweller piece featured Rolex’s iconic cyclops-eye, the 126600 is just about the most hardcore Rolex timepiece you can buy, more than capable of handling the very best and the very worst you can throw at it.

Can ceramic watches break?

While ceramic is extremely durable and can resist scratches and common damages, due to the molecular structure it is not resistant to shattering. If a ceramic case falls onto a hard surface from a few feet or more, there is a good chance that it may shatter.

Is ceramic bezel better?

Simply put, a ceramic bezel is widely known to be more reliable than a stainless steel bezel. It would help to keep this in mind when looking for your next timepiece as ceramic bezels do not scratch while their stainless steel counterparts are very prone to such damage.

What is the best Rolex to buy?

  1. Rolex Submariner. The Rolex Submariner is one of the best Rolex watches to buy and could also be considered as one of the best Rolex watches to invest in.
  2. Rolex Daytona.
  3. Rolex Sky-Dweller.
  4. Rolex GMT Master II.
  5. Rolex Day-Date 40.
  6. Rolex Sea-Dweller.
  7. Rolex Datejust 41.
  8. Rolex Yacht-Master II.

Why is ceramic watch so expensive?

Thus, a ceramic case is rather expensive due to the purity of materials and the difficulty in sintering them. It is perfectly normal that a ceramic case is more expensive than a steel or even titanium case.

What Rolex holds its value the best?

As a general rule, steel Rolex sports watches reliably hold or appreciate in value. This includes, in particular, the GMT-Master II with its famous two-coloured bezel, the Cosmograph Daytona, and the ever-popular Submariner 16610.

Is ceramic heavier than steel?

Although it looks heavy, ceramic is lightweight. It is lighter than most metals and can rival aluminum on the scale. Ceramics are light, usually ranging from 2 to 6 g/cc, most of them being around 3 g/cc. They are lighter than stainless steel (8 g/cc) and titanium (4.5g/cc).

Why is a Rolex Submariner so expensive?

The materials are very expensive. Rolex, for example, tends to use 904L steel which is leagues ahead of even most luxury market equivalents, which tend to use the cheaper 316L steel. This 904L steel makes the watches harder, shinier, and also more expensive by default.

Do Aluminium bezels fade?

Aluminum inserts have many pros. A benefit of aluminum bezels that many watch enthusiasts and collectors love is the fact that they do age and fade.

Is ceramic stronger than steel?

Extreme Hardness Surpassing that of Metals The hardness of alumina ceramics is nearly three times that of stainless steel; silicon carbide is more than four times harder than stainless steel. This extreme hardness is one of many unique properties that makes Fine Ceramics “super materials” for modern technology.

How tough are ceramic bezels?

Ceramic bezels (at least the ones I’m familiar with) are certainly quite shiny. The advantage is that they are far more scratch resistant than aluminum, and modern ceramics are pretty tough.

What is the rarest Rolex Submariner?

The rarest are the ref. 5517 based on ref. 5513 cases, so-called double-reference because of both 5513 and 5517 reference numbers. That makes this Military Submariner a highly sought-after collectible.

Is the ceramic watch worth it?

This hard property of ceramic does work to its benefit when it comes to intense levels of scratch resistance. While the surface of a ceramic watch case isn’t as hard as diamonds or sapphire, it is several times more scratch-resistant than steel (which itself is much more scratch-resistant than bare aluminum).

Did Rolex discontinue the submariner?

Discontinued Rolex Submariner Watches in 2020 With the introduction of the brand new Submariner 41 collection, Rolex has naturally discontinued the previous Submariner Date 11661x and Submariner 114060 models.

Do ceramic bezels fade?

The advantages of Cerachrom ceramic include its resistance to scratching and fading — thus, the bezel should essentially remain the same a couple of decades down the line. The material is also prized for its look adding a distinct shine to the Rolex.

Can you polish ceramic bezel?

Ceramic surfaces are essentially a glaze. A very tough, slightly flexible, surprisingly thick glaze all things considered, but a glaze nonetheless. You can’t polish it. Try to do so and you’ll end up dulling or marking more of the bezel.