Watches
Ceramic Watches: A Play by Play.
So, it’s that time of year again, isn’t it? All of a sudden, you just don’t know what time it is anymore. Everything is ultra-hectic. You find yourself missing meetings, coming to work late even. And you’re constantly looking at your wrist, staring at a blank, un-moving screen. There’s a solution here. That’s right: it just might be time for you to get a new watch.
This time around, you might want to consider something different. Something that isn’t boring. And definitely something that doesn’t stop working after, oh, only about five minutes. We’ve all had our experiences with these types of watches, haven’t we? Maybe they stopped working at the last second, or maybe you tried to replace the battery, and it wouldn’t take for some reason.
Whatever the case is, then, you still need a watch. Yes, you have your phone to fall back on for the time but there are a few niggles with phones, aren’t there?
First you have to pull the thing out of a tight jeans pocket, and then you have to consult it—all the while acting surreptitious, since you don’t want your boss to cough pointedly at you and say your name in his most disappointed voice.
No, using a phone to check the time is too much trouble. You definitely need a watch.
You might be wondering, then, what kind of watch you ought to get. Well, the answer could quite simply be that a ceramic watch is a good choice for you. And that gents, is our topic of discussion today. Ceramic watches.
Of course, that begs another question—
What are ceramic watches?
It’s a watch made out of ceramic. Bad joking aside, more specifically, ceramic watches are (thankfully) made not of the same kind of ceramic as you’d use in pottery or to eat from. On the contrary, their watch straps are made of a synthetic material known as high-tech ceramic.
In order to make high-tech ceramic, developers fire and glaze other materials, including aluminum, yttrium, zirconium and silicon carbide.
Once these substances have been fired and glazed, they are placed inside a cast, at which point extreme temperatures are added to them.
The next step is when technicians deal with this high-density substance: they sand it, mold it, and top the whole process of by polishing it.
The result is a synthetic substance—which, in case you’re still wondering, doesn’t look like pottery ceramic are all—that is not only lightweight, but also very strong and durable.
It’s also non-reactive (not that you were worried about your watch exploding or anything, but hey! You never know, right?).
High-tech ceramic is used not only to make ceramic watches. As a matter of fact, it’s also been used to create parts and tools in the engineering and aeronautics industries.
But designers have a lot of experience with this material and creating timepieces: ceramic watches were first developed in 1986, when Rado, a Swiss company, first used high-tech ceramic for this purpose.
That’s almost 30 years of experience in this field that product designers can draw from when they’re developing new timepieces. You can find Rado time pieces here if you’re looking for them.
Ceramic watches: Why buy them?
Emporio Armani Ceramica Watch
One reason to purchase a ceramic watch is that their build is of excellent quality. They are durable and strong, so you know they can last years and years without needing to be maintained (aside from changing the battery every so often, of course).
They are flexible, so they can be adjusted to fit with different wrist sizes.
They are also quite hard, on account of the high-tech ceramic, with more than double the hardness of steel, according to the Vickers hardness test.
They’re durable enough so that, when they’re dropped by accident (or on purpose—hey, no judging here), the watch strap won’t break.
Because of this durability, you can use them for both everyday activities, like going to work, but also more unusual activities like hiking, rock climbing and camping.
This wonderful build makes them quite beautiful, too: if you get a ceramic watch, don’t be surprised if your friends all stop what they’re doing to admire it.
Continuing in this same vein, ceramic watches are also very resistant to scratches. They continue to look brand new, no matter how many years you’ve been using them for.
The strap shouldn’t tarnish when you’re using it, not even if you’re taking it into the shower. (That being said, we strongly recommend that you don’t, in fact, bring your watch into the shower with you.)
Thanks to this tarnish-proof quality of theirs, they’re resistant to different types of elements, including rain and salt. You can even wear ceramic watches when you go exercising: the sweat won’t have any impact on how they look.
Ceramic watches are also quite comfortable. Although the material is durable, its lightness ensures that it’s easy to maneuver and feels comfortable on your skin. You don’t feel its weight when you lift your arm, as might be the case with other types of watches.
Moreover, ceramic watches have a smooth surface, which feels relatively pleasant on your skin; the texture is nice and even.
Furthermore, they are not affected by temperatures like heat or cold—this is because high-tech ceramic is not metallic—so you can wear them in different temperatures without fear of your wrist giving you a bad burn or chilling your skin.
6 tips to keep in mind when choosing a ceramic watch
Braun Ceramic Black Watch
1- Find one that’s made by a known producer.
Look into the biggest watch and ceramic watch makers before you set out to buy anything. If a watch you’re interested in seems a little…off (i.e seems “too good to be true” in some way, shape or form), don’t buy it.
Remember, though: just because you haven’t heard of the dealer doesn’t mean they don’t produce quality goods. Research carefully before buying anything.
A really great place to look for some watches is right here. Just be sure to read the reviews of any watches your are interested in before buying.
2- Decide what kind of watch you want.
Not all watches are made equal. Sport watches are made for (you guessed it) sports, while complex watches are for those who prefer high technology. “Design” watches are for those of you who are more focused on personal style.
3- Find one that fits with your style.
The watch must jive with your fashion sense. For example, if you’re drawn to brighter colors and fun patterns, a blue, chunky strap might be for you.
In contrast, if you prefer darker colors and a more subdued style, then you might be drawn to a dark strap that’s cool as a cucumber.
4- Get one that fits in with your price range.
You can get a great ceramic watch for any price. Look up reviews on Amazon and men’s style blogs (yup like Dapperfied :)) before you decide which one to buy.
That way, you can make an informed decision.
5- Do you want analog or digital?
You don’t want to make a wrong decision here—a bad choice could lead you to be late by accident. Analog watches are better for classy events, whereas digital watches can be better-suited to work environments.
6- Does it fit properly on your wrist?
Some men have wrists which are not compatible with conventional watches, because their wrist shape is more unusual.
Also, don’t get a watch that’s too small for you (unless you add holes later), since you’ll regret this. Similarly, a watch strap that’s too loose will be irksome.
Here are a few cool ceramic watches to consider:
3 tips to take care of ceramic watches
Have you already purchased a new ceramic watch? If so, that’s great news! If not, that’s fine too – knowing how to look after your watch when you do buy one is just as important as the buying phase.
Before you get started breaking your new watch in, there are several things you should keep in mind. Here are 3 helpful tips.
1- Clean between the cracks and sections of the watch.
This is a good tip you need for every kind of watch, actually. Because of the way these timepieces are designed, dirt can build up in between the links of the watch, as well as within its crevices. You need a cloth and dish soap to deal with this problem.
First, you need to wipe down the strap (after taking it off of course); then, you need to put either dish soap or spray cleaner on the cloth; finally, you need to wipe the cloth again. You can use toothbrushes, too.
2- Tune up every 3 to 5 years.
A watch is no good if it’s not working—in that case, it’s just an expensive bracelet. To take care of this, tune up your ceramic watches every few years: change the battery, reset the time, and adjust it if you feel that it doesn’t fit properly anymore.
This way, you can deal with any issues before they turn into full-blown problems.
3- Avoid intense environments.
Although ceramic watches can last through extreme temperatures and withstand shower water, it’s probably best that you avoid these situations entirely. This should ensure watch lasts for as long as it can in the best disposition possible.
Ceramic watches: the best watches?
There really isn’t a doubt: if you’re looking for a great watch, then a ceramic watch might just be the perfect choice for you.
Stylish and elegant, these watches are also comfortable, flexible, and built for long-term usage. Consider looking into getting a ceramic watch today—you’ll be doing yourself a favor!
