Let's see pic of your favourite PVD watches.

[danny]

I'm starting this thread to learn more about the PVD watches that Malaysia Watch Forum members' have in their collection. So if you're a proud owner of one please share with us pictures and stories of your favourite PVD timepiece.

Here's mine:

In the past I stayed away from PVD watches because I was concerned about the longevity of the PVD layer.
Later on I learnt that not all PVD watches are equal. Damasko utilizes "ice-hardening" technology to harden their watch cases to 4 times the hardness of regular SS316L used widely in the industry. On top of that hardened case they apply a special PVD layer measuring 5~6 microns thick. The combination of ice hardened watch case (60HRC) with the super hard PVD coat of 3300HV results in a PVD watch which is a tough nut to crack, and one which I consider worth collecting.

So when I bumped into a Damasko DC66 Black in Singapore I bought it without hesitation.

 

[kinson]

Urm, newbie question... What is PVD :/

[SHL]

This is my 1st swiss made watch for my own birthday gift this year.....I buy this watch with the following reasons:-
1) PVD watch
2) Pilot watch with a small aeroplane in the watch.
3) Swiss made
4) Big size 46mm
5) Affordable price
6) Limited Edition

[kenixck]

from google -

Physical Vapour Deposition, PVD a group of vacuum coating techniques that are used to deposit thin film coatings that enhance the properties and performance of tools and machine components. PVD coatings deposited using vacuum coating machines are used in a vast array of industries and hundreds if not thousands of applications as diverse as "self-cleaning" windows, medical implants, cutting tools, decorative fittings and Formula 1 racing parts.
hope i'm on the right track, hehe 

[danny]

Urm, newbie question... What is PVD :/

Hi kinson,
Kenixck has answered your question below.

from google -

Physical Vapour Deposition, PVD a group of vacuum coating techniques that are used to deposit thin film coatings that enhance the properties and performance of tools and machine components. PVD coatings deposited using vacuum coating machines are used in a vast array of industries and hundreds if not thousands of applications as diverse as "self-cleaning" windows, medical implants, cutting tools, decorative fittings and Formula 1 racing parts.
hope i'm on the right track, hehe 

Kenixck,
You're on the right track. 
I just want to add that PVD has been used in the tools industry to reduce wear and tear of the metal parts. In the watch industry I believe it's first used in military watches to reduce reflective glare of metal watches. Now PVD is applied to watches for the "cool" factor.

This is my 1st swiss made watch for my own birthday gift this year.....I buy this watch with the following reasons:-
1) PVD watch
2) Pilot watch with a small aeroplane in the watch.
3) Swiss made
4) Big size 46mm
5) Affordable price
6) Limited Edition

Hi Jeff,
The Oris Swiss Hunter Aviator watch looks great on your wrist. 
The mini aeroplane used as the date pointer is a very nice touch.

 

[takashi78]

So sad Danny...all these topics you put up i dun have any in my collection yet haha.
I think if i get a PVD watch Damasko would be very high on my list as well.

[danny]

So sad Danny...all these topics you put up i dun have any in my collection yet haha.
I think if i get a PVD watch Damasko would be very high on my list as well.

Hi Peter,
The topic says your favourite PVD watch. It does not necessarily have to be one currently in your collection.
You are welcome to share with us any PVD watch that is on your target list.

 

[ck77]

ok i'll play 

[takashi78]

hehe i saw up there you mentioned "in your collection" so i thought that.
Hard to suddenly come up with one but since i mentioned Damasko before...i like the white dial.

[danny]

ok i'll play 

Hi CK,
Good choice but my aging eyes cannot make out the model. Is it a Fortis?

hehe i saw up there you mentioned "in your collection" so i thought that.
Hard to suddenly come up with one but since i mentioned Damasko before...i like the white dial.

The DC67 Black is the white twin brother of the DC66 Black. Another good choice. 

 

[ck77]

Hi CK,
Good choice but my aging eyes cannot make out the model. Is it a Fortis?

Yes Danny, it's Fortis B-42 Black on Black.

[besview]

Belle




ball night train

[kltime]

Nice PVDs.

I m torn between that Ball Fireman Night Train and Damasko in terms of looks,but have always like the tritium tubes offered by Ball..

[danny]

Besview,
Those are a couple of great looking PVD watches that you have.
I'm wondering what's the Universal Military Time Indicator on the Ball Night Train. Is it UTC or an AM/PM indicator?

 

[besview]

Besview,
Those are a couple of great looking PVD watches that you have.
I'm wondering what's the Universal Military Time Indicator on the Ball Night Train. Is it UTC or an AM/PM indicator?

 

Dan,

Its not UTS.Its 24 time indication which is non adjustable so its kinda redundant if you do not use 24 hr time



KL,

The NT has the brightest lume I've ever seen in a Ball watch and I've gone thru about 8 ball watches.However could lose out to newer releases

[terrenceterrence]

i only have one and initially there were alot of reservations about the durability of my watch and the constant fear of scratching it grips me.

little did i realise that the lines of "scratches" that i thought were on my watch were actually "things" getting scratched by my watch and leaving traces of it on the watch!   

the only thing that can scratch it is itself..e.g. the double locking clasp on the buckle or if you get into a total wipeout on a motorbike!

if it's durable enough for military use it is sure durable enough for desk divers 

my one and only and i love how the pencil lead PVD feels 

btw so far i've seen 2 Bamford PVD GMT IIc's and it looks "gloss-ily-dark" good 

[chrisyen]

maybe we should talk about black watch than pvd watch...

the ball night train mention earlier is dlc coated black watch, not pvd

maybe there r more blackening technologies out there

breitling has it black steel

[terrenceterrence]

PVD = DLC it's just the term used for the process and the end result.

Physical Vapour Disposition is the process of coating the watch and Diamond Like Carbon is the outcome.

[terrenceterrence]

maybe someone with in depth knowledge about metallurgy could explain more ..btw is there different levels of PVD process to get different levels of hardness?

[danny]

Dan,

Its not UTS.Its 24 time indication which is non adjustable so its kinda redundant if you do not use 24 hr time

Thanks for the clarification Besview.

[danny]

maybe someone with in depth knowledge about metallurgy could explain more ..btw is there different levels of PVD process to get different levels of hardness?

Well I'm no expert but I did come across this table (nicholastime.com).

Table 1 – Comparison of Similar Metal Coating Processes

Process	Properties	Color	Longevity	Cost	Common uses
PVD	Hard, extremely thin layer ,friction & heat resistant	Semi matte black. Often has a bluish tint.	Excellent	High	Gun bolts, cutting tools, watch cases & watch bands. Gears & engine components,
Anodization	Thin, moderately hard. Very thin.	Many colors. Black has a flat black appearance.	Adequate-not appropriate in high friction apps.	Low to moderate	Mainly aesthetic, favorite of aluminum parts made for the home & electronics.
Black Oxide	Thin, generally soft, non penetrating	Dull black	Fair- cant tolerate metal on metal contact	Low	Stove burners, gun barrels & parts,
Powder Coat	Hard, thick layer like paint, smooth finish, heat resistant	Many colors. Black can achieve excellent anti reflective properties,	Good- prone to chipping	Moderate	Home appliances, car wheels, marine applications,

 

[besview]

No worries Dan

[Alvin-8880]

My only PVD (or tegimented PVD?) is this U1 Tempus. What coating process is this?



The excerpt of its review when first launched :

The black Tegimentation on the Tempus U1 is used on the bezel, case, crown and back of the casing. There were some concerns about whether the metal was still the highly prized submarine steel and Herr Lothar Schmidt (CEO of Sinn) assured (in an soon to be published  interview by Harry Tan) that they were very pleased and surprised to discover that submarine steel was able to take to Tegimentation process very well. So unlike the original U1 where the Tegimentation is only on the bezel, the whole watch is Tegimented which explains why the model cost so much more from its original model.

http://www.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost.classic/fi-17/pi-2305041/ti-382281/s-0/

[danny]

Hi Alvin,
That's a great looking U1.
I believe Sinn applied black PVD coating over the tegimented steel. The regular production U1 has tegimented bezel with the watch case made of non-tegimented submarine steel. The black PVD edition, like yours, have had the whole case hardened using the tegiment process. That's one tough watch that you have there. 

 

[G.MAC]

This is mine...