Bezel Battle - Ceramic Vs. Aluminum Vs. Steel
What's your preference, ceramic or aluminum bezel insert? I'll throw in a wildcard third option - steel bezels! As an owner of all three varieties, I see the merits and downsides of each.
Aluminum is shock-resistant and develops a beautiful patina over time. But it also scratches and dents rather easily, and some may not like that it fades over time. And although it can be anodized, that too will wear off eventually.
Ceramic is scratch-resistant and won't fade over time, and can be polished or matte finish. But it can shatter if hit hard enough (expensive repair), the polished ones can be a fingerprint magnet, and some may not like that it doesn't fade over time.
Steel just looks really freaking cool in my opinion. It won't fade, it can't shatter, and although it can pick up scratches, it can also be treated with anti-scratch coating (i.e. Seiko diashield, Sinn tegiment, etc.).
So - what's your pick? Cast your vote and weigh in below in the comments!
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Pete
Dial Lover. Bracelet Fanatic. Seikoholic.
Member since
Last active: 5 hrs ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
Purists will probably say aluminum, since a lot of vintage dive watches used aluminum. There’s a romantic quality to it as well, as it scratches and gathers a patina. But modern technology and materials like ceramic keep the watch looking good longer, as it doesn’t scratch. My vote is for ceramic because it keeps the watch looking like it is intended to look. You’ll still get nicks and scratches on the case and that’s enough for me.
As for steel, it can be nice. But I prefer the added colour that a ceramic or aluminum bezel can bring. Steel bezels blend in to the rest of the watch and make it one monolithic piece.
Purists will probably say aluminum, since a lot of vintage dive watches used aluminum. There’s a romantic quality to it as well, as it scratches and gathers a patina. But modern technology and materials like ceramic keep the watch looking good longer, as it doesn’t scratch. My vote is for ceramic because it keeps the watch looking like it is intended to look. You’ll still get nicks and scratches on the case and that’s enough for me.
As for steel, it can be nice. But I prefer the added colour that a ceramic or aluminum bezel can bring. Steel bezels blend in to the rest of the watch and make it one monolithic piece.
Good point about steel, it does make for a rather austere looking watch - would be a pro for some and a con for others.
The type of bezel depends on the watch. I like them all on the right watch. 🧐🤩🤷🏽♂️