Jump to content
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
  • Current Donation Goals

DLC Coated Gen Sub and Bracelet


Guest avitt

Recommended Posts

Guest avitt

Been doing some DLC coating work for a professional refinishing house, and I just had the opportunity to coat this Sub. It was my first Rolex, and I was really happy with the outcome. :D

No changes were made to the factory finish, so you can see the difference between the brushed lugs, and polished case sides.

img5705c.jpg

img5707w.jpg

img5713i.jpg

img5719x.jpg

img5720l.jpg

"Avitt - DLC Coating the World...One Watch at a Time!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest avitt
why do you tease us :p

i hope you update with awesome finished pics!!!!!!! can't wait avitt :)

Sorry, but I don't even get to see this piece completed. As mentioned, this was a "wholesale" job for a watch refinishing company...Parts in, parts out...

Looks great! About how much is coating an entire watch like that?

I've PM'd you the details...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest avitt
Looks great! Finished product assembled with the bracelet would be interesting to see...

...Sorry about that, Ubi. I'm sure that I'll have the opportunity to show another soon!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! That is definitely some pretty slick stuff, T.

It's interesting to note that the case tube was removed. Did you coat the caseback, or leave it ss? Also, what about the bezel, that would also need to be coated?

I noticed that MKII watches also does this DLC coating. I'm assuming it's a step above PVD in terms of durability.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest avitt
Hi T,

Tried to PM you but your inbox is full.

Sorry about that...Lots of positive feedback on the DLC :D

I just cleaned out my inbox, and sent you some general info. If you have a more specific question, please let me know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest avitt
I've done a lot of modding with tons of different modders and I have to say out of everything, I'm most pleased with my dlc coated PAM. Avitt's coating is top notch!

Thanks so much, Milesd! :thumbsupsmileyanim: That means a lot to me!

Are you giving your piece much wear? How's the finish holding up?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest avitt
Wow! That is definitely some pretty slick stuff, T.

It's interesting to note that the case tube was removed. Did you coat the caseback, or leave it ss? Also, what about the bezel, that would also need to be coated?

I noticed that MKII watches also does this DLC coating. I'm assuming it's a step above PVD in terms of durability.

Thanks M!

It's interesting that the tube wasn't included...I think that it may have been because I told the shop to remove all rubber or plastic parts, and there is a gasket beneath the tube on these models. They probably just left it out. The bezel was done as well, but is just a thin, scalloped ring. The caseback was not done (although I think it would have been better to coat it).

Yeah, I noticed that Bill has a started to offer DLC. He's not using my service, but it's probably just because he hasn't seen what I can do with a Seiko ;)

img5738.jpg

You'll find that most high-end watch manufacturers have abandoned PVD in favor of DLC. The reasons are not limited to the superior hardness and durability, but also include the look and feel of DLC. It's a smooth finish, which can vary from a matte with a slight sheen (over bead-blasted substrates), to a shiny, ceramic-like appearance (over polished metal). The color ranges from pencil-lead gray when matte, to nearly black when polished.

DLC typically applies more evenly, which helps to avoid some of the unevenness found in PVD coatings, particularly in the shadows around the lugs and bezels.

Compare this typical aftermarket PVD finish with my DLC below:

PVD

1708159711.jpg

DLC

img4074uo0.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks so much, Milesd! :thumbsupsmileyanim: That means a lot to me!

Are you giving your piece much wear? How's the finish holding up?

I wear the watch daily, since the DLC can hold up. I work in IT and I got the watch caught on a server rack a few weeks back and it scratched the watch, but then upon closer inspection, I actually scratched the rack!! The scratch rubbed out with my finger! It wasn't actually the watch that scratched, but it was the rack and that's what was on the watch! I was stoked! I think I might actually make a video and post it on here. I reproduced it when I got home (on the back just to be sure) and it did the same thing, it rubbed right off.

I'm actually going to send you a Ted Su dive buckle and CG once I can find a good replacement Pre-A series CG. I was going to get the ceramic Ted Su buckle, but I figure why not just get SS and have you coat it for a perfect match.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great work :tu:

If you could colour-match the PVD coating of the PAM028, I'm sure a lot of people would prefer this more durable DLC coating as long as it "looks" the same, especially as the only good source we had (Rolli) is not happening for the time being.

Edited by Chronus
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest avitt
I wear the watch daily, since the DLC can hold up. I work in IT and I got the watch caught on a server rack a few weeks back and it scratched the watch, but then upon closer inspection, I actually scratched the rack!! The scratch rubbed out with my finger! It wasn't actually the watch that scratched, but it was the rack and that's what was on the watch! I was stoked! I think I might actually make a video and post it on here. I reproduced it when I got home (on the back just to be sure) and it did the same thing, it rubbed right off.

I'm actually going to send you a Ted Su dive buckle and CG once I can find a good replacement Pre-A series CG. I was going to get the ceramic Ted Su buckle, but I figure why not just get SS and have you coat it for a perfect match.

That's a fantastic testimonial! I can see how reaching around servers provides a pretty good torture test ;)

Having done this for about a year and a half now, I'm starting to get some pretty good feedback on the real-world durability...

Just let me know when you have those parts ready :good:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...
Please Sign In or Sign Up