Ceramic Bezels or Classic Aluminum?

[Cato]

The new ceramic bezels have a lot going for them but there is a "tinniness" to the aluminum ones that I maintain a fondness for. Which do you prefer and why?

[Speed]

The new Ceramics seem to "pop" more in my view...but I have yet to own one.

Love my Sub Date...but I feel my next Rolex should be different enough. I am leaning to the Coke / Pepsi GMT Vs. the newer ceramic due to price. However, I would like to see the new Ceramic Coke /Pepsi if and when they come out.

[DRMOVIE1]

ceramic, looks much better

[padi56]

Most Rolex sports watches are meant to be tool watches,thats a simple fact.Although the ceramic might look good,its very costly to replace. So myself quite satisfied with the aluminium ones thats been perfectly functional over the last several decades.If things look better don't always mean they will be better.The most
important thing in any watch is the movement and not a ceramic bezel etc.

[Speed]

On the ROLEX site, you can see the SS Sub - which looks like it always has - save for the ROLEXROLEXROLEX on the rehaut...

The blue Sub looks to have a ceramic bezel and larger lumes / hands / case. Is it my imagination or is the classic sub the only variant without Ceramic bezels and retaining its original lume, brushed bracelet???

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Cato

The new ceramic bezels have a lot going for them but there is a "tinniness" to the aluminum ones that I maintain a fondness for. Which do you prefer and why?

After owning a ceramic bezel for a while and parting with the watch, I have to say I prefer the aluminum bezels. The ceramic bezel is beautiful in certain lighting but washes out in other light. For the SS GMTII C I had, I alternated between loving the ceramic bezel and wishing it were aluminum. I know I'd surely like it much better with the TT or gold versions.

[ashu2289]

Originally Posted by Otto

After owning a ceramic bezel for a while and parting with the watch, I have to say I prefer the aluminum bezels. The ceramic bezel is beautiful in certain lighting but washes out in other light.

Very well said Otto

[Desperado]

Is there any preference to ceramic over aluminium bezels in terms of functionality?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Desperado

Is there any preference to ceramic over aluminium bezels in terms of functionality?

Its just a simple time lapse bezel on say the subs and would not make any difference what material it was made from.As long as you can clearly see the markings, thats all you want to be perfectly functional .

[tinstar]

Originally Posted by Desperado

Is there any preference to ceramic over aluminium bezels in terms of functionality?

Aluminium.......Hands down!

Aluminium= 120 clicks
Ceramic= 24 clicks

It's kinda hard to set my ceramic to the minute hand when it only jumps in one hour increments.

I'm wearing my coke right now because of just that!

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by tinstar

Aluminium.......Hands down!

Aluminium= 120 clicks
Ceramic= 24 clicks

It's kinda hard to set my ceramic to the minute hand when it only jumps in one hour increments.

I'm wearing my coke right now because of just that!

Agreed!. The aluminum has stood the test of time, easy to swap, and much more affordable.
dP

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Agreed!. The aluminum has stood the test of time, easy to swap, and much more affordable.
dP

And Dan...........what's all this? I thought you threw away all your steel bracelets!!

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Brushpup

And Dan...........what's all this? I thought you threw away all your steel bracelets!!

Oh no. I'm prepared for all occasions.
dP

[rayt]

i like the ceramic bezel on my two tone gmt2.i cant speak for the ss gmt2.

[Desperado]

I didnt try the Ceramic bezel, but i love the looks of the GMT iiC

[IT-guy]

Ceramic bezel is beautiful but it comes together with polished center bracelet links and clasp, and that's makes the watch more of a jewelry item as opposed to a tool watch. Whenever I am wearing the "new" I find myself having to be extra careful to not put a scratch on the watch (but they get scratched anyway - very, very vulnerable!), whereas when I am wearing the "old" - an almost-all-brushed watch (Sub or SD), I am completely relaxed.

[Brushpup]

We are already seeing posts of them being cracked. This to me, like others takes away from it being durable. Fragile........ is not what a tool watch should be. As for looks, I much prefer the aluminum on the GMT.........by a very large margin.

[Brunotheboxer]

I like the aluminum much better. The ceramic looks nice but costs way too much to replace.

[DRAWTOOL]

I cannot warm up to the ceramic, I think they look too glitzy for a tool watch...

[McGary911]

I like the aluminum. It seems to have more texture\depth. The ceramic isn't too bad on the GMTIIC (until you consider that it limits bezel choices model T style, black). I saw the ceramic on the new TT sub. I hated the color. It's more of a sky blue. Not actually sky blue, but closer to that end of the spectrum than the old one.

On it's own, I think the material innovation is cool, just like the looks of the aluminum better.

How much DOES the new ceramic bezel cost? Be interesting to see when\if they come out with a pepsi\coke ceramic. That'll be even more I bet....

[2th Dr]

i LOVE the ceramic bezel on my GMT IIc. Not too worried about replacement cost, as I have yet to see solid proof of any fracturing.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

i LOVE the ceramic bezel on my GMT IIc. Not too worried about replacement cost, as I have yet to see solid proof of any fracturing.

Well Mark hope you are right its sure going to cost a lot to replace.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

i LOVE the ceramic bezel on my GMT IIc. Not too worried about replacement cost, as I have yet to see solid proof of any fracturing.

Hey! What are you doing here? I thought you were quitting us!!

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by Brushpup

Hey! What are you doing here? I thought you were quitting us!!

LOL! I could never leave! I'm addicted to TRF as much as I am to watches!

[Jason71]

DEFINITELY Aluminum over ceramic. The ceramic looks nice, but it will not stand the test of time, and it is also not end-user replaceable. Too expensive also.

I like my DSSD, but for a tool-watch...............................aluminum bezel inserts all the way

[Tools]

I don't like the look of the ceramic on the GMt...

I like it on the Sub... They have duplicated the size and look very well.

What I don't like is the block cases..............., so, I think that I could get used to ceramic on a Sub bezel, the case is a deal breaker......

[cmr]

Originally Posted by jclevoy

DEFINITELY Aluminum over ceramic. The ceramic looks nice, but it will not stand the test of time, and it is also not end-user replaceable. Too expensive also.

I like my DSSD, but for a tool-watch...............................aluminum bezel inserts all the way

will not stand the test of time? why?

i have hit my gmt2c bezel on titanium aircraft parts hard enough to put small dents in the 904 stainless bezel and there is not a mark on the ceramic insert, mine is a tool watch. if it was a old style gmt i would have been through a dozen or so inserts by now. how much are they a piece plus a trip to rolex and back? i have no access to buy them from rolex and my ad won't sell them, they carry no parts what so ever. you can change the ceramic insert the same as the aluminum, it just snaps into place.

i want to see pictures of one of these that's cracked, bezel and all. if you crack one of these the bezel assy will also be bent or dented. i have to assume most people don't work with their hands with one of these on so they have no idea how tough they are. i am an inspector for boeing and i am constantly reaching back into structure assembly's looking at things.

judging from my hands on experience there is no comparison of durability between the 2, the ceramic is certainly much more durable than a soft anodized piece of aluminum and obviously will never fade from the sun's uv rays.

[Singslinger]

It's all about appearance for me, so it's ceramic because it simply looks better.

[SDDS]

i luv the ceramic on my deepsea it feels so smooth..., the Aluminum bezel insert typically costs US $ 51.

But the CERAMIC bezel insert is much more expensive. The cost of the ceramic insert for a SS GMTII is US $734) and price for the bezel complete for a SS GMTII is US $ 1,324. (source: "Ironstark").

[Armand]

I own a GMT II Pepsi since 04, and I wear it everyday.

I like the smaller case / "standard" hour marker lume dots and Aluminium Bezel, as well as the beautiful colours ( Pepsi, Coke, BLUE 16613 dial ) SOO much, I bought a 16613, because it was discontinued by Rolex!

I do not like:

too big cases

too big "Dots" on the dial

---> for me, the new Sub ist not an alternative.

And IF GMT IIc, I have to confess, I feel a slight feeling towards the GMT IIc Rolesor. The Gold numbering on the TT looks MUCH better than the SS silver ( yes, I know, Platinum or whatever ).

But there are the TT YM,, the SS or TT DJ II, ... so many choices!

;-)

Hermann