Frequently Asked Questions About Ceramic Products

Q: Why Ceramic instead of steel?
A. The blade is extremely hard – only diamonds are harder. Expect little or no wear and tear on the blade. It will cut and cut and cut again . . .like cutting butter. The blade does not rust, spot or – Heaven forbid – pit, because it isn't made of steel. Sensitive food items such as eggs or citrus fruit will not assume a strange metallic taste from the blade. It is light weight, thus well-balanced. It is also antimagnetic and well-suited for special usages.

Q. What are ceramic knives made of?
A. These knives are made of an advanced, high-tech ceramic called zirconium oxide (also called Zirconium). This material, which is second in hardness only to diamond, was originally developed for industrial applications where metal components failed. Zirconium oxide is extremely hard, wear resistant, and chemically inert. For the technically minded, zirconium oxide has a hardness of 8.2 months (vs. steel at 5-6 months and diamond at 10 months).

Q. How do I sharpen ceramic knives?
A. You can re-sharpen your ceramic knife with a powered diamond sharpening wheel.

Q. Will a ceramic knife break or shatter if I drop it?
A. No (with the possible exception of the tip). Zirconium oxide is a very strong material. Like a forged steel knife, however, you can likely break the tip if the knife lands on the tip. Fortunately, we can repair most damaged tips.

Q. How can I damage a ceramic knife?
A. Two ways. First, you can chip the edge if you cut into bones or use on a surface such as marble. Second, you can break off the tip or snap off the handle if you use it to pry. Please handle the blade carefully! Only wooden surfaces or the new plastic cutting boards are recommended. Surfaces of marble, glass, china or steel will impair the sharpness of the blade. Don't drop the blades on hard surface floors or use them as can openers. That's not included in their job description.

Q. How can I wash my ceramic knife and tools?
A. Ceramic knives and tools are very easy to clean with a quick wipe since food does not stick to them. Please do not wash them in the dishwasher. We do not recommend wash them in dishwasher since the dishwasher may be too rough and cause breakage .Violent motion against other objects, especially hard plates, could chip the objects and/or the ceramic knives and tools.

Q. Why are the main advantages of the ceramic products?
A. The superior hardness, superior corrosion resistance, superior erosion resistance and the superior thermal resistance, as well as the unique electrical and mechanical properties of JEM ceramic products are the enabling factors in these key applications.

Q. Where should I store my JEM ceramic knife and other JEM ceramic products?
A. You can store your JEM ceramic knife in a conventional knife block, in an in-drawer tray, or in the package.

Q. Where are JEM ceramic products made?
A. JEM produces ceramic knives in Shenzhen, a city in south China.

Q. How are JEM knives made?
A. First, we mold ceramic powder into blade "blanks" using special high pressure (many tons!) presses. Special binders in the powder allow the blanks to retain their shape before sintering (or firing), which takes several days at extremely high temperatures (in excess of 1000¯ C). We then grind and polish the sintered blanks to form an edge and the final shape before attaching the handle.

Q. Which Ceramic knives are sharper than they look likes?
A. It is true that they are sharper than they look likes. Because they are made of high-tech ceramic material, which is second in hardness only to diamond, ceramic knives are harder and sharper than most metal knives. Be careful when using the ceramic knives.

Q. Do you make ceramic scissors as well?
A. We offer ceramic scissors which are excellent for a variety of consumer and industrial applications.

Q. Will ceramic scissors shatter or break if I drop them? How can I damage ceramic scissors?
A. Ceramic scissors will not shatter when dropped. Like forged steel scissors, however, you can break the tip if the scissors land on the tip (very uncommon). You can also damage ceramic scissors by trying to cut very thick material or by trying to bend the blades. Ceramic blades are very strong, but not flexible.

Q. What is your warranty coverage?

A. All JEM products we have three years warranty by following our Use & Care instructions.

Please don't hesitate to inquire about our services. We will do our utmost to accommodate.

Use & Care:
With proper care, JEM ceramic knives will held its sharpness for literally years without re-sharpening
* Rinse in warm water or gently hand wash using a mild detergent in warm water.
* Do not drop the knife as this can cause the blade to break.
* Do not use the knife for plaining or grating.
* Do not use the knife as a lever.
* Do not twist the knife during the cutting process.
* Do not use to cut frozen goods, bones or fish bones.
* Do not wash the knife in a dishwasher machine.
* Store the knife in a conventional knife block or other stable environment.
* Keep the knife away from children.
* Do not try to re-sharpen the knife by yourself.
* Avoid using abrasive pads or powders.

 
Clean & Storage:
Ceramic knives will not tarnish or absorb food odors. They are easy to care for by rinsing in warm water, and they do not need to be fully dried when stored. The translucent blades are made from ceramic zirconium manufactured by JEM, the leader in fine ceramic materials. The master knife maker carefully shapes and sharpens each blade by hand. The black poly easy-to-grip durable and comfortable handle is impervious to water and will last the life of the blade. Each knife comes razor sharp in an attractive gift box. Instructions for care are included.