Poly(diarylsilmethylene)s with phenyl or tolyl substituents on Si atoms were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of corresponding 1,1,3,3-tetraaryl-1,3-disilacyclobutanes and were characterized by means of DSC, x-ray diffraction and melt viscosity measurements. Three preparative routes including catalytic and noncatalytic polymerization methods were examined to see differences in properties of the resulting polymers. The polymers thus obtained were crystalline and soluble in limited solvents such as diphenyl sulfone at temperatures above 250 degrees C. Poly(diphenylsilmethylene) exhibited a melting temperature of about 350 degrees C, whereas those of polymers with tolyl groups were observed in a temperature range between 310 and 330 degrees C. The melt viscosity of the poly(diarylsilmethylene)s was measured to obtain insight into the molecular weights of the polymers, and the results indicated that the molecular weights are modifiable by varying the monomer-to-catalyst ratio when solution polymerization is employed. The DSC and x-ray studies were also carried out with focusing on the melting and crystallization behavior of these polymers.