-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RSxMnpi4qh75aft/BCvuON9LiXenHcODX3H9C2e7rfJBTMKmBqBkWqc86Yak7MEI
 AwJIoug+5ML1aNpUrJmGPg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001182489-04-000785.txt : 20041123
<SEC-HEADER>0001182489-04-000785.hdr.sgml : 20041123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041123203014
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001182489-04-000785
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hartl Peter
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001309397

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13059
		FILM NUMBER:		041165073

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(49) 831 5618 496

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAX-SCHAIDHAUF-STRASSE 25
		CITY:			KEMPTEN
		STATE:			2M
		ZIP:			87437

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
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7145490421

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		3169 RED HILL
		CITY:			COSTA MESA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92626
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001309397</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hartl Peter</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MAX-SCHAIDHAUF-STRASSE 25</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KEMPTEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>87437</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jerrold J. Pellizzon, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----