Rolex first introduced its Cerachrom bezel insert in 2005 on the GMT-Master II model. Since then they have introduced several other models that feature the ceramic bezel, including the wildly popular ceramic Daytona introduced at Baselworld 2016. In 2013 the watchmaker achieved another milestone in creating a dual colored Cerachrom bezel insert like the one shown in the photo above, an industry first.
The watchmaker manufactures the Cerachrom bezel inserts in-house, combining zirconium dioxide or aluminum oxide powder with a binding agent and pigments. It is then molded into shape and heat treated in furnaces at 1,600 ºC to harden the ceramic and remove the binding agent. In the furnace the ceramic contracts by approximately 25% and achieves its final color. To achieve the two colors, chemical compounds are inserted into half of the bezel to create a reaction that changes the color in the furnace. The final shaping is done using diamond precision tools as the ceramic becomes as hard as steel after it comes out of the furnace.
After it has its shape and its pigment, the surface of the Cerachrom bezel insert is coated with a thin layer of either yellow gold, pink gold or platinum using a PVD (Physical Vapor Disposition) process. All of the numerals and graduations receive coating before it goes for its final polish, where the coating is removed from everything but the numerals and graduations. This makes them clearly visibly against the smooth finish after polishing. The insert is then fitted onto the monobloc bezel and friction fitted onto the middle case to create a waterproof seal.
Due to its resistance to scratches and excellent finishing, the Cerachrom bezel insert has been in high demand since its debut on the market. It is the main reason that the Rolex Daytona 116500LN has become so coveted and can also be attributed to the success of the GMT-Master II in recent years. Their philosophy of vertical integration allows Rolex to constantly innovate their production processes, yielding exciting new technical advances that add value to their timepieces. For more information on Cerachrom, visit the watchmaker’s official website at rolex.com.
