I've never owned a bead blasted PVD watch so I was just wondering how scratch resistant these were as on other forums I've heard that they can be easily scratched which can't be polished out like steel etc. Is this correct or have I made all that up?

Cheers

Andrew

PVD watches can't be polished period.

PVD is a thin film applied to the steel underneath. It's not necessarily more scratch prone than brushed or polished steel, but the scratches are going to be much more visible, since the PVD layer is of a contrasting color to the metal below.

It's a harder surface than bare steel. We use titanium carbide. That said, if you do manage to scratch it, it will show through. It is a super tough coating though, and not easy to damage.

The whole purpose of PVD [Physical Vapour Deposition] is to create a tougher more scratch resistant surface than bare metal.

PVD uses a vapour depositation of a plasma gas under vacuum with high temperature inert gas conditions, that deposits the material usually a mixture of titanium and carbon/carbide, molecule by molecule, the greyer more Ti, the blacker more C8, carbon based PVD is harder AND more scratch resistant.

PVD is NOT a coating, PVD actually becomes a physical part of the bare metal's surface, they ARE ONE.

This is NOT a "chemical" reaction but a complete "physical" molecular transformation of the metal base.

PVD is NOT new it's been around for about 175 years.

Do NOT confuse PVD with IP.

It's still thin and it's still a film.
And, as i wrote, it can be softer - as well as harder than the original surface.

And the fact remains that, if the colors are contrasting, you'll end up with a very visible scratch if you do manage to get it scratched.

I can attest to the fact that I've accidentally scratched my M5 and yes you can see the steel underneath. Luckily it's in a spot that's not easy to see.

PVD coatings are NEVER "softer" than the original surface --- the ENTIRE reason for PVD is to create a HARDER surface than b4, NOT a weaker/"softer" surface.

PVD coatings are NOT simply cosmetic.


Further, if you have damaged the PVD thin film it is NOT a "scratch" it IS a Gouge; you have Gouged the soft metal surface and Destroyed the the hard PVD film.

You can take a ten penny nail to the surface of PVD, and NOT leave a mark, let alone a "scratch", let alone a Gouge.

Without the PVD coating I can only imagine how damaged the watch would be.

It took a *significant* amount of force to Gouge such a hard surface [and the metal below] that is created for the sole purpose to be a scratch and Gouge resistant thin film, I bet you wiped out on your ten-speed.

Thanks for all the replies guyz, it seems to have turned into an interesting debate! I didn't realise that the PVD was not a coating applied to the metal I just assumed that. Anyway hopefully when not 'if' I get my new piece I shall try not to take a gauge out of it.

Thanks again for the info.

Andrew

@DGBaker - The sole purpose of PVD is to apply a thin film of material to another material. That is all. What you're talking about is a specialized application of PVD.

Are you aware there are PVD processes tailored for applying metallic films to plastic masses? Or silicon wafers? Or even to the same metal (for purposes of surface modelling)?

So, like i said, CAN be harder, but does not have to be.

That said, in general, PVD'd watches really are harder to scratch than non-PVD'd counterparts. And watches PVD'd with titanium carbide most definitely are. But it's not as impossible as you're making it sound, as there are very hard particles all around you, all the time (as any owner of a pair of glasses can atest).

Bottom point: if you want a beater you're planning on polishing up in a few years - buy bare SS. If you want a watch that will look better, won't scratch as easily in every day use, but that you wont be able to patch up that easy in, say, 5 years - buy PVD. There is no "right" choice. It's a matter of preference and usage patterns.

What I have found on my M5, at the top of the case above the 12 o'clock position are scratches NOT gouges and certainly not the result of any sport activity. They are very small but if you look closely enough you can see the metal underneath. I've only used the watch casually and the only thing I can think that may have caused them is perhaps while I open the gate to my house. I have on occasion bumped my watch against the gate as I stick my hand in to grab the lock. Nothing major and when it's happened I never thought twice about because of all the that I've read about the resistance of PVD before buying the watch. It wasn't until I started noticing the tiny scratches that I began to wonder where they came from.

I can say that I've beaten the * out of my m4 and B1 and both still look brand new. Recently bought a bunch of g-shocks just for something fun/new while waiting for the new lum-tecs to come out.

Chris I don't know if you will read this but I may be in Afghanistan starting in August for several months are you going to be emailing us when our pre-ordered watches are ready??? I will pay for them immediately but other than email I won't likely have much time to be checking your site to know if they are ready.

Yes, we will email you directly when they are ready. I can ship to you in Afghanistan if you want as well!