Watch Case Materials Explained: Ceramic
Contributed by ?lker ?zcan, who is a professional Materials Engineer and owns a small R&D company (ndsgnwatches-dealer).In this article on watch case materials, we have decided to write about ceramics. Ceramics are possibly the least understood of the materials used in watches. Many watchmakers are nowadays using ceramics for their watch cases �C which gained popularity with Rado. Now Chanel, Hublot, Omega, IWC, and many others produce watches with ceramic cases in full or in part.Materials are generally classified as Metals, Polymers, Ceramics, and Composites. Sometimes foams, etcare added but these four classes are universally accepted. So ceramics are one of the three main classes, where composites are mixtures of these three.Ceramics are essentially inorganic solids (organic ones are polymers) that are also not metals. So in addition to what is usually thought as ceramics , glass, diamond and graphite are classified as ceramics. The sapphire used as watch crystals is also a cer

Speedmaster Bezel INSERT Removal...?
Can the black bezel insert be removed from the metal bezel ring...?I know Omega usually sells this as a unit -- but if the metal ring needed a minor repair, could the insert first be removed?

Hacking Panerai movements
Another silly question.......................Is it possible to hack the movement of a Panerai, specifically the P.9000 and P.2003, to stop the seconds hand at 12 o'clock?When setting my watches after a period of not wearing them, I like to set them to the exact time. Not a deal breaker but curious

Getting Service From a Different Dealer
Still waiting for my boat to come in with my first watch (BLNR) but I was curious about service and warranty work. If I end up finding a watch outside my area such as on vacation, etc and I buy it, do I simply use my local ad for service and warranty work? What if I was to buy a watch in Europe let's say and two weeks later it stops working when I'm back home?I can't see where my local ad would be happy to help me with a watch I purchased somewhere else. Is this a known issue or are they treated like car warranties where your expected to take it to any authorized dealer?Hopefully I'll end up buying locally and this won't be an issue but you never know. Thanks

Polish or not to polish
Guys,I'm getting a bit obsessed with this whole polish or not to polish hype. I never really payed attention to it but since my Sub is almost 10yo, it's getting time for its first service. I see a lot of watch cases with these typical round chamfers. Needless to say this mostly concerns watches from the 80's, 90's and early 00's.Now most likely, these have had more than 1 service and material had been removed multiple times. But what I also noticed is that a lot of 90's and 00's Subs received somewhat odd looking brushed chamfers. To illustrate, here is an example of a 2010 Random Serial 16610. This watch is still very young and yet, to my eyes, ruined at first service.(This is not my watch)Let's look closer.The edges are rounded. It's not severe, but knowing this watch is only from 2010 and had only 1 service..... I start to worry. What's more. The brushed chamfers are reflecting the light in an odd looking way compared to how it's supposed to be originally. click. The distinct crosse