Has anyone actually broke a ceramic bezel?

[slfkjasldfj]

With the impending Explorer II announcement I feel like every other comment is “oh no how can they put a ceramic bezel on a cave watch?! It’s going to break!”

My question is, has anyone actually broken or cracked their ceramic bezel without also cracking the crystal? Personally, I have worn a ceramic bezel watch for years doing all manner of adventurous things (including rock climbing) and have yet to break the bezel.

Is the “ceramic bezel is likely to crack” story simply outdated from the early days of ceramic or does it still hold true today?

Please educate me if I am totally (or even a little bit) wrong in my though process here. Thanks everyone :)

[JSolution]

I’ve seen one post here of a shattered ceramic bezel. Don’t think it happens much

[JacksonRain]

They don't easily scratch, but they do indeed crack. It's not old or fake news. It happens, but with the way most of us treat our jewelry and pamper these pieces, it's really unlikely to happen.

Rolex doesn't expect it's customers to climb a mountain and bang these watches on rocks...

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[Johnnynic]

I’ve cracked my ceramic on my Sub a couple of years ago. Dropped it in shower. Wasn’t from a big height either. The Crystal was fine. Had to replace to pip too.

[padi56]

Yes there have been several reports of ceramic scratching and breaking on forum, one of the downsides of ceramic inserts and costly to replace.

[brucethemanlee]

I have never (knock on wood)

[ROLEX*]

Depends how hard you hit the ceramic. The question is redundant because if ceramic were to be questioned, then sapphire glass shall be questioned all together

[Old Expat Beast]

Yes, we've seen quite a few broken ceramic bezel inserts here over the last few years (and even more shattered sapphire crystals necessitating a full movement service).

[alphadweller]

I chipped a ceramic bezel on a non-Rolex diver, there's a bit missing between minute 18 and 20. I don't know how it happened, never dropped the watch, don't remember hitting it or knocking it about and I'm generally cautious with my watches.

The Japanese manufacturer refuses to sell me a new bezel, they have no service center where I live, they want me to send the watch to Japan, which I'm not interested in. No big deal, can live with it, gives it character.

[Jake Collins]

Slightly off tangent but saw an IWC ceramic that had been dropped and broken

[Cru Jones]

13 years of ceramic inserts. 15-20 broken ones have been posted here on TRF. That’s it. Out of hundreds of thousands produced.

The risk is clearly overblown by those who don’t “like” the change.

If it’s good enough for the DSSD, the pinnacle of Rolex sports engineering, it’s good enough for me.

[fskywalker]

Like others have seen them broken, but have not happened to me



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[Gab27]

Mine has scratch on it and signs that it took a pretty substantial hit in its earlier life, but structurally it is fine. They do break, but I am willing to bet that at least some of the incidences of cracking may have to do with manufacturing defects.

[TswaneNguni]

Anything can break .
For scratching ,ceramic is brilliant ,for dropping on tiled floors ,less so .

Its a non-issue .

If ,in the very unlikely event ,it does crack,its expensive to replace .

[RJRJRJ]

There have been a handful, but far more sapphire crystals shattering. It's funny that people obsess about the ceramic bezel's durability, yet are completely fine with the ceramic sapphire crystal that covers almost the entire front of the watch. I don't read many posts wishing we could go back to acrylic crystals.

[envuks]

I’ve observed several examples of this on TRF over the years


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[haaX]

Its not the point, the point is it _looks_ more fragile.

[cbalster]

This is my Pepsi. A friend of mine noticed what we thought was dirt on the bezel when he held the watch in his hand up close. Out came a loupe and we saw this crack. No one knows how it got there. I called RSC Dallas they said the bezel replacement is $298 if not covered by warranty (which isn’t likely). It’s not a money issue but it’s a hassle and I’d rather not be without the watch for many weeks.

No big deal. Maybe in 50 years I have a spider bezel Pepsi and it’s worth more....

[cbalster]

I am 100% sure there are many many many ceramic bezels such as mine out there with hairline cracks. Mine isn't visible to the naked eye. If the bezel was black and the crack didnt run through a number I would never see it. Even in my situation it took me months before a friend noticed it. In the end it's not a big deal and I really don't mind.

[kieselguhr]

I have seen more shattered sapphire Crystals (which itself is ceramic) than shattered ceramic bezels.

The people complaining about a possible change
to ceramic bezel just don’t like change in general (which is a normal human resistance to change).

Their argument is that ceramic is fragile and made of the same stuff they see in the kitchen i.e. the frying pan. Couldn’t be further from the truth.

There are ceramics that are harder than steel.



Here’s a good article explaining ceramics with regard to watch manufacture:
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/watch-c...ained-ceramic/
(Not the most academic source but one that is watch related. You can find plenty of engineering sources out there yourself with regard to ceramics.)

The only issue with ceramics is as Peter says. It will require a full replacement which is an expensive cost to the owner. However, an impact that shattered the ceramic will likely shatter the crystal as well warranting a full service anyway. If maintenance cost was a concern, don’t buy the product.

[Bozack90]

this site has a few listed: https://www.minus4plus6.com/ouch.php

The old aluminum ones didn't crack

[fsprow]

Yes, fell from tree when on safari in East Africa. Hit rock. Submariner bezel broke, crystal OK. Bruises on me.
I prefer metal bezels. Sold Sub, bought Explorer.

[Robert Bruce]

Just handle the watch with the respect it deserves. The ceramic won't break if you don't bang the watch around.

[richard371]

Rolex no longer makes tool watches. They are expensive jewelry. The explorer if will prob be 10K and 20k on the grey market. If you want a tool watch get a gshock.

[jagwap]

I managed it. My GMT IIc dropped from sholder height onto a stone tiled floor. It must have landed on the bezel knurl, and the ceramic shattered. Rolex service in Hong Kong had it looking like new in weeks

[Master_Grogu]

The true advantage of ceramic is it won’t scratch as easily as aluminium, but also won’t lose its color over time. Also, it looks more shiny, which, in our caveman software brains, means good.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

There have been a handful, but far more sapphire crystals shattering. It's funny that people obsess about the ceramic bezel's durability, yet are completely fine with the ceramic sapphire crystal that covers almost the entire front of the watch. I don't read many posts wishing we could go back to acrylic crystals.

That's one of the reasons why I have a DSSD.
At 5mm thick it would be hard to break.

I've had a broken Saphire crystal and it's not pretty