Introducing the Next, Best Thing in coatings - ADLC

[Guest avitt]

I just received my sample parts back, after being ADLC (Amorphous Diamond-Like Carbon) coated. This was done by a shop which did not have experience with watches...Needless to say, we are thrilled by the results, and possibilities.

ALDC is applied using Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (PACVD), and has several advantages over PVD coatings, including the following:

[*]It harder, at about 3500-4000 HV (Compared to 2000-3000 HV for PVD coatings, and 3000 HV for DLC)

[*]It applies more evenly. Unlike PVD, ALDC is not a line-of-site process. This means that items don't have to be rotated in the chamber. It also allows better coverage of inner radiuses, lettering and engraving, etc.

[*]It goes on at a lower temperature of under 200

[lanikai]

looks fantastic avitt.. i like the finish.. how hard is the surface? does it hold up to scratches ?

Edit: sorry .. as you stated it is harder than PVD

[HauteHippie]

Looks gorgeous, T! The application looks very even, unlike some of the PVD jobs that can look a tad grainy somehow... Very nice!

[rocket754]

That looks like quality. I like that.

Is this a service you will be offering in the future?

[ahchard]

looks very good!

[mikellem]

I love it..

Thanks Avitt..

-Merry Christmas to all..

-MM

[Guest avitt]

Thanks very much for the positive feedback!!!

Is this a service you will be offering in the future?

TBD right now...I'm looking into it.

I forgot the mention that this case was fully polished (to remove some scratches and dings), and then glass bead-blasted prior to being coated.

This is a picture of a link that shows what the coating looks like on brushed, and polished surfaces:

[italiano17771]

that looks amazing. the rep guys should use this to make the breitling blacksteel. looks much better than pvd....thanks for sharing.

[ratchpot]

This is interesting. Can the ADLC coating process yield the same colours that can be produced under PVD?

[Shundi]

Beautiful

[Guest avitt]

This is interesting. Can the ADLC coating process yield the same colours that can be produced under PVD?

I don't think that there is as much of a range of colors available. With PVD, the color is determined by the compound which is applied (examples are TiN, AlTiN, TiAlN, CrN, CrCN, TiCN, etc.) ALDC coating are typically charcoal grey / anthracite in color (similar to the darkest of PVD coatings).

[grappa]

hey,

wats the difference between ADLC n DLC?? im currently lookin at a few places to dlc a watch. if this is a lot better i might hold out for a tad longer n go for this. and how much r we lookin at under 1k? or above? ^_^

[Watchmeister]

The "A". :laugh: Actually I was kind of wondering what the A stands for as well. Is there an A in the periodic table or does it stand for a particular process?

[rek001]

Wow, that looks great.

Some of the PVD finishes I've seen look like a thin see-through coating.

[HauteHippie]

A = Amorphous. I'm under the impression that DLC and ADLC are equivalent and interchangeable.

[HauteHippie]

Wow, that looks great.

Some of the PVD finishes I've seen look like a thin see-through coating.

Yes, all the thin film coatings are sort of "see-through" which is why the surface prep (bead blasting) is so important.

[Guest avitt]

There are a few difference between ADLC and DLC:

• They are applied using different processes: DLC is applied using PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition), while ADLC is applied using PACVD (Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition). The two process are completely different, and require different equipment.
  
• ADLC creates a harder coating than DLC.
  
• ADLC applies a bit more evenly (on average).
  

The "A" in ADLC stands for amorphous. Amorphous describes a solid which does not have order to the position of its atoms (it is not crystalline in structure). Glass is an example of an amorphous solid.

[Guest avitt]

im currently lookin at a few places to dlc a watch. if this is a lot better i might hold out for a tad longer n go for this. and how much r we lookin at under 1k? or above? ^_^

Under $1000....well under $1000.

[grappa]

sounds good!! :D keep us updated and let me know when u start to provide the service. Thanks n have a very good christmas.

Antonio

[KB]

It all looks and sounds great to me I only have one question; I note the sample watch is a Hamilton, these people who do the process wont have a problem with doing our rep watches will they?

ok two questions.....Will the inferior grade of steel in our watches present any kind of problem?

Ken

[ajoesmith]

Avitt

Looks very good, a good all over even coating

Just to let you know the PVD coating I get done on the B&R watches is a special in house PVD coating by the company and has a surface hardness of 5000HVN, yes 5000!. It is a special PVD with a mix of TiAlN and DLC, and it also takes place at very low temperatures so ok for rep parts

[HauteHippie]

It all looks and sounds great to me I only have one question; I note the sample watch is a Hamilton, these people who do the process wont have a problem with doing our rep watches will they?

ok two questions.....Will the inferior grade of steel in our watches present any kind of problem?

Ken

DLC coaters will have no clue what kind of watch cases they're coating... replica, gen, from outer space, etc... They deal in engine components, tooling, etc.

[Guest avitt]

A = Amorphous. I'm under the impression that DLC and ADLC are equivalent and interchangeable.

I've learned that some companies, like Bekaert, do use DLC and ADLC interchangeably...But in those cases, it does refer to an amorphous DLC applied using PACVD.

Edited December 26, 2007 by avitt

[Blackwind]

So where EXACTLY can one send off parts to acquire this kind of work? And what are the cost?

[SubFrog]

DLC coaters will have no clue what kind of watch cases they're coating... replica, gen, from outer space, etc... They deal in engine components, tooling, etc.

Good to know.

Great looking. Clean!