Ceralume is the result of a multi-year development effort by IWC’s engineering division XPL (Experimental), which was supported by experts from RC Tritec. While conventional white ceramic is created by mixing zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides, luminous ceramic required a blend of ceramic powders and Super-Luminova pigments. According to IWC, the main challenge was “to achieve a completely homogeneous mixture of these raw materials, which have different particle sizes.” To do this, IWC came up with a dedicated ball-milling process: Ceramic powders and Super-Luminova pigments are placed in a rotating cylindrical drum partially filled with small balls. As the drum spins, the balls are lifted and then dropped in a cascading motion, using both impact and attrition to break down the mixture into a finer, more homogeneous powder.