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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RWA9XLMkWrIAH7qQH3tPx7BLxhbmZZH7upq6rCrDz3qLf5aPzqqmSkFPT+RCDePy
 wAALDgs6KooZtZNPjfdWiA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-07-001145.txt : 20070320
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-07-001145.hdr.sgml : 20070320
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070320191847
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-07-001145
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070319
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070320
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070320

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CERADYNE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018937
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES [3990]
		IRS NUMBER:				330055414
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3169 RED HILL AVENUE
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7145490421

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3169 RED HILL AVENUE
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WALDAL JEFFREY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001268643

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13059
		FILM NUMBER:		07707603

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		695 LACO DRIVE
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40510
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8592553664

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3108 HEMINGWAY LANE
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40513

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WALDAL JEFF
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20031030
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-03-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018937</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CERADYNE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRDN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001268643</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WALDAL JEFFREY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3169 RED HILL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COSTA MESA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92626</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-03-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-03-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This Award vests as to 20% on each of 03/19/2008, 03/19/2009, 03/19/2010, 03/19/2011 and 03/19/2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jerrold J. Pellizzon, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Waldal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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