Lightweight, Scratch-Resistant and Sleek — Here’s Why We’re Wearing Ceramic Watches in 2022
When it comes to men’s watches, most of the attention is directed toward materials like stainless steel, titanium, leather and in some cases, rubber or plastic. But those aren’t the only materials your timepiece can be made of. If you already have a steady rotation of stainless steel, it’s worth considering some of the best ceramic watches.
When you hear “ceramic,” you might imagine a coffee mug, but ceramic is a surprisingly solid and durable material for a timepiece. Of course, the ceramic used in timepieces is quite different from what you’d use to make, say, a cereal bowl.
What Are the Advantages of a Ceramic Watch?
Ceramic watches are very scratch-resistant and lightweight, two factors that are important if you wear watches on a daily basis. It’s worth noting that ceramic can break given hard enough impact, but it’s probably a good idea not to chuck your watch at a wall anyway.
As you scroll through the best ceramic watches, you might notice something many of them have in common; they’re black. If you’re specifically in the market for a black watch, you might want to consider ceramic. That’s because the material itself is black all the way through, so you don’t have to worry about painted steel chipping off.
Ceramic can be a challenging material to work with, so many ceramic watches can be quite expensive. That said, brands like Swatch offer innovations in the ceramic watch space for an affordable price.
We’ve rounded up some of the best, most interesting ceramic timepieces that you can buy right now.
1. Tudor Black Bay Ceramic
BEST OVERALL
Tudor is a storied watch brand, but it’s considerably less expensive than brands like Rolex. The Black Bay has an incredibly sleek and stylish design, and it comes with a unique rubber and leather strap, plus an additional fabric strap. The back of the case is transparent to show of the automatic movement.
Buy: Tudor Black Bay Ceramic Watch $4,725.00
2. RADO Ceramic Watch
SWISS-MADE
Rado is one of the innovators in the world of ceramic watches, and the Swiss brand still makes great options. If you want a simple option, this is about as minimal as they get. While many of the watches on this list have a ceramic case and leather band, this watch has a ceramic band and a ceramic case. The watch face has simple gold indices and a date window. This watch utilizes a quartz movement.
Buy: Rado Ceramic Watch $895.00
3. Swatch Bio-Ceramic
BEST BUDGET
While many Swiss watchmakers viewed the quartz revolution as a crisis, Swatch saw it as an opportunity, so it’s no surprise that they’ve continued to innovate. Bio-Ceramic is a unique material made from ceramic and bio-derived plastic. It has a large 47mm case, and is available in black, white, gray, blue and pink.
Buy: Swatch Bio-Ceramic Watch $125.00
4. IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Royal Maces Chronograph
BEST PILOT’S WATCH
IWC is best known for military-inspired timepieces, so it’s no surprise that the Royal Maces chronograph takes its cues from a pilot’s watch. But more than just being inspired by the military, the Royal Maces watch takes its name from the US Navy fighter jet squadron of the same name. The watch features the Royal Maces’ black and yellow colorway.
Buy: IWC Royal Maces Ceramic Watch $10,900.00
5. Panerai Radiomir Ceramic and Leather Watch
GREEN FACE
The Panerai Radiomir Ceramic is a good watch if you don’t mind a heftier size; it’s a whopping 48mm, but the matte black ceramic case and simple black leather strap make for a watch that won’t feel overly ostentatious. The watch has a stylish green face set in a uniquely shaped case that’s unmistakably Panerai. The Radiomir also has luminous hands for easy nighttime reading.
6. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ceramic Watch
.BEST SPLURGE
The Royal Oak is a true icon of the watch world, and its hefty case and octagonal bezel make it stand out in a sea of circles and squares. It has a substantial 44mm case with chronograph subdials on the face. The watch comes with a black rubber strap.
Buy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watch $46,273.00
Love what you’re seeing? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and be the first to hear about new product launches, the latest trends and can’t miss deals you won’t find anywhere else.
More from SPY
Best of SPY
Solve the daily Crossword
