Ceramic watches can project style and sophistication while possessing strength and endurance. The strong, light, scratch-resistant and hypoallergenic ceramic is usually created from powders like zirconium dioxide, zirconium oxide and yttrium that are pressed into shape and fired at extremely high temperatures. Add to this the elegance embodied in the material itself and these timepieces are among the most versatile in the market and are much sought after.

Take Blancpain’s new Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de Lune, which for the first time offers all-ceramic options, with a bracelet made of patented black ceramic and case also hewn from this sturdy material. Two of the iterations bring contrasting colour to the dial in splendid shades of blue or green, a quite beautiful effect magnified in the light by the striking gradient and sunburst finish of the watch face. This is a sublime marriage of the strength of ceramic and the poetic reproduction of the brand’s statement moon-phase complication at six o’clock.

The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe range – introduced in 1956 by Blancpain as a diver’s watch that could be worn daily – has long been associated with cutting-edge timekeeping. All of the high-tech material is manufactured in Switzerland for environmental reasons, and it offers comfortable durability; the ceramic is an incredible five times harder than stainless steel. Meticulous craftsmanship enhances the line’s aesthetic qualities via its satin finish, as does the workmanship involved in the alignment of the bracelet links.

Omega has long appreciated the fine qualities of ceramic watches, whose lightweight and scratch-resistant properties suit arduous sporting activities while offering an elegance ideal for the chronograph. Just last year, the brand released the Seamaster Planet Ocean Dark Grey model crafted using silicon nitride ceramic for the 45.5mm case, patented Naiad Lock screw-down caseback and bezel ring.

It represented an innovative step in the world of watchmaking, since this compound – two times lighter than zirconium ceramic – had never previously featured to such an extent on an Omega watch. An added benefit aside from its super toughness is its lightness, so it feels extremely comfortable on the wrist. Grade 5 titanium used by the aerospace industry dresses the bezel body, sand-blasted dial and folding clasp of the rubber strap, enhancing durability without loading on much additional weight.

A pioneer in black ceramic watches, Hublot has been changing the game over recent years with the introduction of a slew of brightly coloured variants. Models in vibrant red, blue and a striking yellow hue have successively been released. The latest is the Big Bang Unico Orange Ceramic, like the others a coloured transparent ceramic achieved through the incorporation of pigments. To do this, zirconium oxide is heated to 1,700°C for colouration, while intense pressure renders only the colour pigments visible. Complex in-house R&D development has mastered every colour, resulting in a patented ceramic that is durable and scratch-resistant.

This latest Unico Ceramic, like the others, has a uniform hue with a mirror polish over the exterior components, including the dial counters and hands. Limited to 250 pieces and powered by the brand’s flyback chronograph movement, the 42mm-diameter timepiece is blessed with many of the signature features of other Big Bang models, such as a column wheel at six o’clock, bicompax layout, silicon escapement and skeleton architecture.

Roger Dubuis harnesses the material’s advantages by presenting two new black ceramic watches in the Excalibur family. A highly complex manufacturing process was required to ensure that the signature shapes of these timepieces were not compromised – the final grinding of hard material took 10 times longer than usual and demanded extreme craftsmanship. As a res ult, the 45mm case, bezel and crown of the Excalibur Monobalancier Black Ceramic edition are extremely resistant to marks of any kind. Housed within the case of the Excalibur Double Tourbillon Black Ceramic is the RD108 calibre and two signature tourbillons rebuilt with lighter materials.

By employing the benefits of both titanium and ceramic, Chopard grabbed collectors’ attention this spring with a new L.U.C Full Strike watch in ceramicised titanium, a material derived from oxidising the surface layers of titanium at extreme temperatures using electro-plasma technology. Aside from coming in an attractive anthracite colour, the 42.50mm ceramicised titanium case boasts superior hardness and shock-resistance properties, as well as lightness of weight. A verdigris brass dial with a finely frosted centre offers distinctive contrast.

A limited-edition release inspired by the design of stealth aircraft, the BR 03 Cyber Ceramic watch by Bell & Ross cuts a discreet avant-garde statement on the wrist. Worn with a rubber strap, the 42mm high-tech ceramic case is characterised by sharp edges, visually creating a 3-D effect and offering water resistance to 50 metres. The Swiss-made BR-CAL.383 automatic movement comes with a 48-hour power reserve. Also measuring 42mm in diameter, the recently released BR 03 Diver Black Matte Ceramic exudes a contemporary sporty appeal. A unidirectional rotating bezel in black ceramic with 60-minute scale circles the standout square case in the same material.

The bezel of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT Master II is a gleaming 24-hour graduated monobloc of two-colour Cerachrom insert in grey and black ceramic. These special ceramic materials developed exclusively by the brand not only exhibit hues of rare intensity, they also are inert, virtually scratchproof and cannot corrode. Numerals coated with platinum applied via PVD (physical vapour deposition) serve to enhance the visibility of the moulded, recessed graduations.

Panerai embraces the modern marvels of the material in the Luminor 1950 3 Days GMT Automatic 44mm Ceramic. A Swiss-made P.9010 automatic mechanical movement with a three-day power reserve drives the timepiece, which is crafted from high-tech and exceptionally sturdy ceramic derived from a complex process in its manufacture. It has the signature features of the iconic Lumina range, including crown with protective shield for time adjustments and manual winding.