What does “Ceramic” mean?

Ceramic is a very hard, scratch-resistant material used for bezels and, on some watches, entire cases. Unlike the aluminium bezel inserts it replaced on many sports watches, its colour doesn't fade in sunlight. Rolex's own ceramic is called Cerachrom; it first appeared in 2005 on a GMT-Master II, and the brand later achieved two-colour ceramic bezels, blue and black in 2013 and red and blue in 2014.

For buyers, 'ceramic' marks the modern generation of many sports models, and dealers often split references into ceramic and pre-ceramic when pricing and comparing. Ceramic resists scratches far better than steel or aluminium, but it is brittle, so a sharp knock can chip or crack it. Check the edges and numerals of a ceramic bezel closely in photos. A replacement bezel fitted by the brand during service is normal; an aftermarket one lowers value.

Example: 'Ceramic bezel, no chips, numerals crisp.'