Ceramic Watchmaking: What’s New and What’s Next

The Rise of Ceramic

In recent years, ceramic has become a prominent material in the watchmaking industry. Its popularity is largely due to its incredible scratch resistance, corrosion-resistant properties, and ability to maintain its appearance over time. With ceramic, watch enthusiasts can enjoy a low-maintenance timepiece that looks brand new, scratch-free, and unfaded – almost forever.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ceramic

While ceramic has its advantages, it’s not without its flaws. Its brittleness makes it more susceptible to cracking or shattering, especially when dropped. Despite this, many watch enthusiasts are drawn to the allure of ceramic watches, but they must be aware of the potential risks.

The Pioneer of Ceramic Watchmaking: Urwerk

Urwerk, an avant-garde Swiss luxury brand, is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with ceramic watches. The brand’s newest creation, the UR-230 Polaris, is a masterclass in material innovation. By combining layers of woven ceramic with fiberglass and a polymer base, Urwerk has created a proprietary material that’s both shatter-resistant and retains the advantages of ceramic.

Ceramic, But Better

Urwerk’s proprietary material is the culmination of the brand’s innovation and expertise. The layered structure provides the necessary resistance to shattering without sacrificing the material’s natural strengths. This breakthrough material holds immense potential for the watchmaking industry, and its impact is likely to be felt in the years to come.

“The usual ceramics are hard, but it’s also what makes them a liability,” says Urwerk cofounder Felix Baumgartner. “So we decided to develop a ceramic, by and for ourselves. Thanks to the glass fibers it contains, it doesn’t break.”

• High scratch resistance: Ceramic watches show wear less than any other material.
• Resistance to corrosion: Ceramic maintains its appearance over time and is unfaded.
• Avoiding shattering: Urwerk’s proprietary material combines fiberglass and polymer with ceramic.
• Innovative watchmaking: Urwerk’s new material is setting a new standard for ceramic watchmaking.