Will Apple make another Ceramic Apple Watch?
Apple Watch Series 5, released in September 2019, was the last time Apple made a Ceramic Edition watch, and it will probably be their last as they push towards Apple 2030. Most of the minerals used in ceramics need to be mined, which goes against Apple’s environmental goals:
Recycled and renewable materials often have a lower carbon footprint than mined materials. By sourcing more recycled and renewable content, we aim to one day end our reliance on mining.
It also requires a lot of energy to make the casing for the Ceramic Apple Watch as stated in their booklet when you purchased one in the past. Details straight out of the Series 3 Ceramic Edition booklet:
Apple's advanced material development team created a custom ceramic powder made from zirconia, yttrium oxide, and alumina. This combination gives the ceramic its unique color and ensures that it maintains its beauty and strength.
To create the blank from which the case will be machined, the ceramic powder blend is mixed with a binder and formed in a precision-engineered compression mold.
After the blank is machined into the case form, it is sintered at 1500 degrees Celsius for 35 hours. This isotropically reduces its size by 20 percent.
More than 70 diamond-grit CNC cutters machine every Apple Watch Edition case—a process that takes up to six hours. Each case then undergoes two hours of polishing to increase strength and achieve its characteristic depth and lustre.
Image source: BasicAppleGuy
If you were to ask me, the sintering process, where the powder is transformed into a hard, durable, solid, is the deal-breaking process that put the kibosh on Ceramic Apple Watches, at least from an environmental perspective. I’m sure it also had something to do with sales numbers since $1,299 for an Apple Watch that has the same software and performance as the $399 watch is ludicrous. At least with Apple Watch Hermès, you are buying a reputable brand that demands a high price tag.
Aluminum is very recyclable and Apple has increased the efficiency of making Titanium Apple Watches with 3D printing, so I wouldn’t hope for a Ceramic comeback. In the meantime, see for yourself if you think getting a used Series 5 Ceramic Edition is worth it.