How durable are PVD coatings on watches?

[Daniel L]

I've always been a satin finish guy on my knives since the scratches don't show as bad - and the same finish for watches.

Some of the "tactical" watches I've been looking at (Chase Durer, Luminox, Kobold at the other end of the price range!) use black PVD (plasma vapor deposit) coatings.

How well do these hold up to daily use? I have a Seiko Black Monster and while I don't treat it roughly, it has the usual scuffs on the clasp and band. Will shiny metal show through the black coating or is this stuff diamond hard like DLC coatings?

 

[XD45]

PVD and DLC are very different. DLC will last quite a bit longer than the PVD. PVD is okay depending on how much you plan on wearing that watch. If it's your daily watch that takes some abuse on a regular basis the PVD coating will wear off fairly quick. If it's not a beater watch than it should last you for a while.

 

[BlackHills]

PVD = Physical Vapor Deposition
DLC= Diamond Like Coating

PVD is the process by which something is coated, DLC is a type of coating. Think of painting; a brush (PVD) applies the paint (DLC).

It all depends on the type of coating and the person(s) doing the application, just as the quality of a paint job on a car does. I've seen old PVD watches that were worn daily and have little wear.

I have a Seiko 007 with a PVD coated bezel on it. I've worn it a fair amount (not daily though) and I don't baby it, there are no scratches through the coating.

 

[SIFU1A]

i dont care what they call it the diamond like coating will scuff just like any other coating will, maybe a little harder to do but believe me it will scuff i have a coupke of knives with that coating.

 

[Jazzman]

I own a Luminox and a Bathys with PVD and since I baby my watches, they both look good. However, I have no doubt that if they came into contact with something heavily abrasive that they would scuff or scratch. The instruction manual that came with the Bathys even warns of this.
Matt