Carbon-case watches
References in the Grail Atlas catalog with a carbon case.
Carbon-composite cases appear at opposite ends of the catalog's price spectrum. The Casio G-Shock GA-2100-1A uses a carbon fiber-reinforced bezel and resin construction that gives the watch its rigid feel and low weight at an accessible price. The Richard Mille RM 055 Bubba Watson and RM 27-03 Rafael Nadal Tourbillon use NTPT Carbon (North Thin Ply Technology): a forged carbon composite derived from Formula 1 chassis materials where the weave pattern is directional and every case is visually unique. The RM 27-03 is specified to withstand the g-forces of a tennis serve while housing a tourbillon movement, which makes the material choice engineering necessity rather than aesthetics. Carbon composites are lighter than titanium at equivalent stiffness, scratch-resistant in ways steel is not, and structurally radically different from the resin or ceramic often confused with them.
