The latter would be white perhaps pearly (depending on the sinter). You fill a mould with zirconia powder, press it to shape then sinter it (cook it), finally finish it (polish). You mention this in quote from the patent (mentioning preferming … not performing, cooling, dopants).

The case will be white (unless they add a dopant).

Go get a hard ceramic bowl from the kitchen (like a mortar and pestle) to get a feel for what it will be like.

It could be finish to have a matt or a glossy surface (depending on polish).

Are you sure they haven’t used zirconia in the Ti Books. What is the wireless antenna aperture covered with? It’s not a plastic. It feels like a ceramic — it’s cold and hard. Unlike say the antenna cover on this Albook which is plastic.