Ceramic is back, baby. If a well-known Apple leaker is right, the Apple Watch Series 12 will offer a ceramic case option, something fans have been asking for since Apple quietly killed it off back in 2019. That’s a long time to wait for a material that, honestly, a lot of people genuinely loved.
According to 9to5Mac, leaker Kosutami posted on X with a pretty confident claim: “Hell yeah, Ceramic Watch is back. We’ll see it at Series 12.” Short, sweet, no wiggle room. And this isn’t coming out of nowhere either. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg had already reported earlier this month that Apple was planning a ceramic model for either this year or next. Two sources pointing in the same direction is about as good as it gets before an official announcement.
The last ceramic Apple Watch was the Series 5 Edition, and it built up a real fanbase. The material has a distinctly premium feel, it’s harder than aluminum, more scratch-resistant than stainless steel, and it has this smooth, almost glassy look that stands out on the wrist. When Apple stopped offering it, plenty of people were genuinely bummed. Some held onto their Series 5 ceramic models for years longer than they probably should have, just because nothing else scratched the same itch.
Apple’s September event is just weeks away, and the lineup is reportedly massive, with more than ten products expected to launch. Apple Watch Series 12 is one of the headliners. So the timing of this leak makes sense, and it fits a pattern we’ve seen from Apple before, where a beloved feature disappears for a few years and then comes back as a selling point for a new generation of hardware.
Pricing is still a mystery. The ceramic Edition models were never cheap. The Series 5 ceramic started at $1,299, which put it well above the standard and even stainless steel options. The Edition branding is gone now, so it’s not clear how Apple will position a ceramic Series 12, but expect a premium either way. Apple doesn’t bring back expensive materials and quietly eat the cost.
What makes this interesting beyond the nostalgia factor is what it says about Apple’s broader Watch strategy. The company has been pushing harder into health monitoring and positioning the Watch as a serious wellness device. Adding a premium ceramic option is a way to also keep the Watch relevant as a fashion and luxury object, not just a fitness tracker strapped to your wrist. It’s both things at once, and Apple knows that market exists.
So if you’ve been holding out for a ceramic Apple Watch, this might finally be your year. We’ll know for sure when Apple takes the stage in September.