[Angelis]

I was just wondering if any of you fine people knew just exactly how thickly Seiko layers in their PVD/IP process.

I bought my first PVD/IP Seiko auto, and I love it. Can the PVD fade over time, say from acidity from sweat? What about resistance to scratches/nicks? Is Seiko consistent in microns of IP plating/PVD coating across a wide variety of watches of various levels and price levels? I had heard many, many, many times that "Swiss Gold" and "Swiss Gold" plating technology actually uses 15 microns of plating to get the watches to actually look as if they were really made from gold. In comparison then (that's to say that 15 microns is accurate), how many microns of plating does Seiko use as a standard? Lastly, a gunmetal finish is a gunmetal finish, NOT black IP/PVD, is that correct?

Angelis

 

[minidriver]

Angelo, it seems to me that if the PVD is not treated/coated with a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) or Duractect, the PVD coating will simply scratch easier and will show the SS underneath overtime.

 

[aladin_sane]

My example is actually the Alba Black Manta, and I don't know if it represents the rest of Seiko's PVD applications, but I have found it to be very durable. I think I have only a single desk diving swirly on the clasp of my watch, and it is not through to the stainless. There are no other marks anywhere on the bracelet, case or bezel of the watch. If the watch where uncoated stainless, it would have picked up a few more marks along the way by now.

 

[Angelis]

Truth be told, I love my PVD/IP beauty! I never ever wanted one, in fact, I purposely shyed away from them for the reasons I listed in my original post. Then, I saw this Superior, and I jumped on it. I received it, and was SHOCKED! I was shocked at how beautiful it was, and that the metal actually looked like natural black steel...NOT anything with a coating. I know that true gunmetal is a bronze, with an alloy of copper, tin, and a small amount of zinc. As I looked between the links of this Seiko Superior, I noticed that there is a distinguishable line between the noticeable steel and noticeable end of the coating...it's really beautiful. The coating goes down about half the length of the link... I just really love it...and as my first PVD/IP piece, I'm impressed with Seiko even more. Angelis