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.

[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.

[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???

[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 .

[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

[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!

[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.

[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

[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!!

[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

[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!

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

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

I know it.......... You know I'm just giving ya trouble Dan!

Originally Posted by 2th DR

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

Crazy ain't it?

[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......

[Speed]

Originally Posted by 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......

So Larry... help me understand...

I saw the TT and White Gold Subs on Rolex.com. I think these portend what is in store for the new (whenever they actually arrive) SS Subs, right?

- New wider case shape
- bigger lumes
- wider hands and of course
- Ceramic Bezels...

All of this and a $7500 price tag.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by masugu

So Larry... help me understand...

I saw the TT and White Gold Subs on Rolex.com. I think these portend what is in store for the new (whenever they actually arrive) SS Subs, right?

- New wider case shape
- bigger lumes
- wider hands and of course
- Ceramic Bezels...

All of this and a $7500 price tag.

That's about right.........

And I think that if anybody thinks that it will be as cheap as 7,500 will be in for a shock.........

[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