Apple Planned Black Ceramic Apple Watch Edition Series 5

Apple considered offering a black version of the ceramic Apple Watch Edition Series 5, according to newly-shared images of the prototype casing.

apple watch edition series 5 ceramic black prototype
The images, shared on Twitter by the prototype collector and leaker known as "Mr. White," show a prototype black ceramic Apple Watch casing, alongside the white ceramic version.

The ceramic Apple Watch Edition Series 5 was never available in a black color option, only being available in a striking gloss white finish. Apple marketed the ceramic white Apple Watch Edition as a high-end option starting at $1,249, owing to its extremely unique finish.

applewatchceramic
At the time, Apple lauded the ceramic casing as strong, light, and scratch-resistant, being four times as hard as the stainless steel finish, while also featuring a "pearly, lustrous finish" that is extremely resistant to scratches and tarnishing.

The process of creating the Apple Watch Edition case begins with a high-strength zirconia powder that's combined with alumina to achieve its rich, white color. Each case is then compression molded, sintered, and polished using a diamond slurry, which results in a remarkably smooth surface and an exquisite shine. With this precise level of workmanship, every Apple Watch Edition case takes days to make.

The black ceramic finish shown in the images looks very similar to the Space Black stainless steel Apple Watch, and while it is slightly lighter in color, it is not unreasonable to speculate that the similarity of the finishes could be the reason why Apple never took the black ceramic case forward.

Apple introduced a ceramic Apple Watch Edition with the Series 2, which went on to offer a gray ceramic option with the Series 3. While there was no ceramic Apple Watch Edition for Series 4 models, Apple revived the high-end white ceramic Edition model for the Series 5. With the latest Apple Watch Series 6, there is again no ceramic version, with the Edition models featuring a cheaper titanium casing only.

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Top Rated Comments

MrLoL Avatar
48 months ago

The ceramic Apple Watch Edition was never available in a black color option, only being available in a striking gloss white finish.
Article makes it sound as if the gray ceramic Apple Watch Series 3 Edition never existed, might wanna rephrase that. It also looks pretty much the same hue as the previous one.



Attachment Image
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
48 months ago
I’m holding out for transparent aluminum. :p
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H.E. Pennypacker Avatar
48 months ago
For myself I still cannot understand why one would spend that much on an Apple Watch Edition. I could see spending that kind of coin on say an Omega, Rolex etc because those watches are timeless. But a watch that will be effectively obsolete and unusable in the next 5 years, ?.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
48 months ago
Looks much better than titanium watch. I would have purchased it.

Being back the white ceramic watch back please
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Benjamin Nabulsi Avatar
48 months ago
I would totally buy it, I love my S4 stainless space black (jet black) which they stopped offering unless you go with 1200$ Hermes

Ceramic would be lighter than stainless steel and almost the same shine.
wish they make ceramic iPhone since it also as good for transmitting signals and good with wireless charging
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zubikov Avatar
48 months ago
IMO the best finish on an Apple Watch ever so far has been the Series 4 "stainless steel" in black. Only for that generation, Apple applied a DLC, aka Diamond-like Coating, to the stainless black body; rendering the watch body indestructible. The black body finish flowed continuously and seamlessly into the sapphire face.

I have a feeling that Apple knew that it would have a hard time upselling after the DLC introduction, and removed it with Series 5. DLC returned with the more expensive Titanium finish in series 6, but the space black is slightly lighter than the watch face.

I still wear that same Series 4 daily and it's still without a scratch.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)