Jargon used by watchmakers might be hard to understand. It can make it hard to know more about watches when you’re reading a review for a watch that you like, but there are a lot of words that you don’t really understand. So, what exactly is a DLC coating in this context?
Brands can choose from a variety of coatings, each with its own set of characteristics, benefits, and disadvantages, but DLC is the most popular coating on watches today. You’ve probably seen a DLC coating on a watch before, whether you recognize it or not. Do you have one of those all-black-cased watches? To get that blacker-than-black gloss, they’re likely to apply a DLC coating.
“DLC” is the acronym for “diamond-like carbon.” DLC coatings utilise carbon to create a diamond-like layer, as the name implies. A DLC coating, like diamonds, is really tougher than bare steel. As a result, timepieces with a DLC coating benefit from greater scratch resistance and durability.
A DLC coating is quite awesome, even if it’s only a few microns thick. A human hair is 50-70 microns thick on average, as a point of comparison. DLC coatings are typically 2-4 microns thick.
A PVD method is used to apply DLC on the watch case. PVD stands for “Physical Vapor Deposition,” which is not the same as a coating. It is, instead, a method of applying a coating. The coating is made up of vaporized solid components that are attached to the watch case in layers inside a heated vacuum chamber using a PVD technique.
Different colors can be created depending on the type of material used to coat the watch case; DLC employs carbon as the coating solid, therefore it only comes in black colours.
You may have also heard about concerns regarding coatings and the fact about scratch resistance.While we’ve demonstrated that the DLC coating provides extra resistance to scuffs scratches that come with regular living,
The black coating will scratch with time, revealing the bare steel. But don’t worry, things are a little different with the DLC covering. You won’t have to worry about this occurring to your watch because of the diamond-like characteristics of a DLC coating.
The coating adheres to the surface and does not wear away as rapidly as a PVD-type coating. That’s not to suggest you won’t be able to harm it, so don’t go out of your way to try. It simply implies that a DLC coating is far more durable and protective than other coatings.
If you are looking for a watch that comes with DLC coating, visit The Time Place boutique for more information.
