Ceramic

• Ceramics are often though of as glass-like and prone to breakage. However, today's ceramics, especially those used in modern watches, can be up to five times harder than 316L stainless steel. Although it is true that where steel might bend, ceramic may chip, overall the material is every bit as durable. Additionally, modern hard ceramics display great resistance to scratches, allowing the piece to maintain a new appearance for a long time.
  
  

How Ceramic is Made

• Zirconium oxide ceramics tend to be pressed under extreme pressure. This is the main contributor to its enhanced hardness. Conventional ceramics are cast, and in some cheaper watches this remains the case. However, these watches exhibit lighter weight than their steel cousins despite their enhanced hardness.
  
  

Resin

• Resin is a form of plastic. Found on sport and digital watches, resin tends to have a higher quality hand than conventional molded plastics. Additionally, resin tends to be slightly more resilient, displaying a high degree of resistance to cracking. Resins are found on steel and gold watches, forming details on winding crowns and bezels.
  
  

Why Resin?

• Resin, being fully synthetic, is waterproof in watch form. Additionally, its ruggedness and enhanced ultraviolet resistance makes it a superior choice over plastic--especially for high-activity watches. Resins are composed of polyester, vinylester, or epoxy. These materials when used in watches are resistant to temperature extremes, and resist cracking from repeated flexing. For resin watchbands, the latter is very important for long-term durability.