Localized　cartilage　defects　are　increasingly　treated　by　metallic　resurfacing.　However,　few　preclinical　reports　exist　to　identify　the　optimal　materials　for　metallic　resurfacing　implants.　The　study　aimed　for　addressing　whether　an　oxidized　zirconium　ceramic　surface　coating　on　a　Ti6Al4V　(C-TAV)　implant　would　hold　an　advantage　over　the　Ti6Al4V　(TAV)　implant　regarding　the　cartilage　resurfacing.　Accordingly,　standardized　defects　were　generated　in　the　lateral　femoral　condyles　for　both　knees　of　nine　sheep.　The　defects　were　treated　with　the　TAV　or　C-TAV　implants　or　left　untreated.　Three　un-operated　sheep　served　as　controls.　The　animals　were　sacrificed　at　12　months.　The　mechanical　tests　of　implants　were　measured　before　the　implantation　and　12　months　later.　The　damage　to　opposing　cartilage　was　analyzed　macroscopically　and　microscopically.　As　a　result,　the　friction　coefficient　of　the　C-TAV　was　significantly　lower　than　that　of　the　TAV　(P　=　0.008;　95%　CI:　0.003,　0.01).　The　C-TAV　had　lower　surface　roughness　than　the　TAV　(P　=　0.04;　95%　CI:　0.009,　0.289),　at　12　months　post-surgery.　Macroscopic　and　microscopic　analyses　indicated　that　the　C-TAV　did　not　cause　obvious　damage　to　the　opposing　cartilage.　Collectively,　the　study　provides　novel　line　of　evidence　validating　the　advantages　of　C-TAV　coating　without　additional　adverse　damage.