PVD watches- thoughts?

[Mellons]

Hi all just wondering what experiences any owners of PVD finished watches have been? I’m thinking of pulling the trigger on river’s pvd millemetri, and was interested in finishes, mods repair and wear etc

If anyone has one, and has wear or been refinished, would be very interested to see

At one stage I had an anodised alu mm but was too worried to wear it!

Link-
Vintage Mille Metri OP text dial version in PVD coating ! | eBay

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/135123455654
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/135123455654?it ... BMtOnzmpFk

[Fizzzz]

Hi,
I can’t tell about River’s cases,
but PVD coating is extremely resistant.
I’ve tried on a Aliexpress Seiko case and it took a lot of tough sanding / refinishing to get rid of PVD.
PVD is not like a paint, it’s inside the steel, and some treatments can harden the surface.
You can see that the parts still PVD coated won’t peel off or wear:
viewtopic.php?t=8382

[Mellons]

Giod to know- wear pattern accentuates edges naturally, looks food

[Belkin12]

In my experience, PVD can vary in durability/wearability, perhaps due to layer thickness or surface finish before coating.
In any case, PVD ages beautifully. The more you wear it, the more natural it looks.
-

IMG_0982.jpg

IMG_1014.jpg

IMG_1039.jpg

[NortON]

In my experience, PVD can vary in durability/wearability, perhaps due to layer thickness or surface finish before coating.
In any case, PVD ages beautifully. The more you wear it, the more natural it looks.
-

IMG_0982.jpgIMG_1014.jpgIMG_1039.jpg

D, what is this case?

[Mellons]

In my experience, PVD can vary in durability/wearability, perhaps due to layer thickness or surface finish before coating.
In any case, PVD ages beautifully. The more you wear it, the more natural it looks.
-

IMG_0982.jpgIMG_1014.jpgIMG_1039.jpg

This looks great- natural ageing ir did u accelerate?

[Belkin12]

This looks great- natural ageing ir did u accelerate?

Delicately accelerated

D, what is this case?

ali 5218, first batches + microblasting + ageing

[NortON]

This looks great- natural ageing ir did u accelerate?

Delicately accelerated

D, what is this case?

ali 5218, first batches + microblasting + ageing

Thx, great work!

[Philip1944]

The vintage-look new (2023) Radiomir California PAM01349 has patinated-like finish that Panerai calls 'Brunito' (burnished in Italian). It appears they first PVD coat the steel case, then use a polishing brush on the black PVD just enough to achieve the required burnished look. At 12,500 euros it doesn't come cheap, but I like the fact that Panerai are now producing a homage watch that guys on this forum have been achieving for years!

I am similarly experimenting, but using throw-away cases first! Next month I am acquiring a desk-top vibratory tumbler (no jokes please) and putting the PVDd cases with various abrasive materials such as tiny steel tacks, glass beads, walnut shells, and slowly agitating the contents to obtain the desired level of burnishing. If it goes well I will coat and burnish a River or NW 3646 and a Raffles 1016.

I see back in 2019 on this forum PVD cases were being aged with a green ScotchBrite pad. I will give that a try too.

PVD can be traced back to 1838 when English scientist Micheal Faraday first used it during his electricity experiments, but has only been used on watch cases since 1972 with the launch of Porsche Design Chronograph 1.

I concur with D that the finish of the initial steel surface and the quality of the PVD process is most important.

PAM1349.Radiomir.California.Brunito.JPG

[Mellons]

The vintage-look new (2023) Radiomir California PAM01349 has patinated-like finish that Panerai calls 'Brunito' (burnished in Italian). It appears they first PVD coat the steel case, then use a polishing brush on the black PVD just enough to achieve the required burnished look. At 12,500 euros it doesn't come cheap, but I like the fact that Panerai are now producing a homage watch that guys on this forum have been achieving for years!

I am similarly experimenting, but using throw-away cases first! Next month I am acquiring a desk-top vibratory tumbler (no jokes please) and putting the PVDd cases with various abrasive materials such as tiny steel tacks, glass beads, walnut shells, and slowly agitating the contents to obtain the desired level of burnishing. If it goes well I will coat and burnish a River or NW 3646 and a Raffles 1016.

I see back in 2019 on this forum PVD cases were being aged with a green ScotchBrite pad. I will give that a try too.

PVD can be traced back to 1838 when English scientist Micheal Faraday first used it during his electricity experiments, but has only been used on watch cases since 1972 with the launch of Porsche Design Chronograph 1.

I concur with D that the finish of the initial steel surface and the quality of the PVD process is most important.

PAM1349.Radiomir.California.Brunito.JPG

1349 very homageforumesque!