Tweet
Some of us really admire/adore/love black-looking watches, either from the case to the dial or the crystal.
But most of us worry that the black PVD or Ion-plating coat will peel off after a while ( a common complaint and experience we all share).
I am sure most of you have also heard of DLC coated watches.. It is an extremely hard coating and with a Vickers hardness of about 4000+, though it really depends on to thelevel of coating.
Magrette had a good summary write up and comparison of DLC technology.
If applied well, DLC coated watches really is virtually scratch-proof except by diamond - being the world's known hardest material. DLC also has a low coefficient of friction, which means it is very slick like our Teflon non-stick pans.
Some of the more famous brands with DLC coated watches :
Rolex Milgauss DLC
Rolex Sea Dweller Deep Sea
Magrette Regattare, Oris BC4 and of course, Linde Werdelin Hard Black / Oktopus
okay you get where I am coming from..
More and more brands are employing DLC coating on their watches, but most of these DLC coated watches with Swiss movement cost a bomb!
Watchwerkz is now proud to work with a group of WOSTEP-highly trained watchmakers from different companies in Le Locle, Switzerland- who wants to bring the joy of the independent watch making experience to the man on the street while at the same time preserving the traditional watch making techniques.
These watchmakers are frustrated with developments in the watch making industry, especially its obsession with mass produced luxury and are truly dedicated passionate highly skilled watchmakers. These guys are collectively known as EHF Horlogére.
NOTE : we would like to reiterate that watch assemblers ARE NOT watchmakers.
With them, I also hope to share with everyone here more about the art of watchmaking and what goes into completing a watch, whether it be quartz, mechanical or automatic.
So back to "blackened" watches.
With DLC coated watches, it is a gift to most of us black watch lovers as we now worry less about scratches made on our black watches. Yet prices remain high for watches with good movement.
For a special pre-launch, EHF has painstakingly, with almost no budget left for any marketing (as all profits made really goes back into production), managed to release 3 models.
MK 0 , MK 1 and Classic.
MK1 as shown above -- is the first to be made. We use a polished DLC black version for this case. But the true workmanship comes in the hand-touched finish of the manual movement.
Specs of movement:
Fully mechanical Swiss Made ETA 6498-1 ::
Individual HAND-bevelling added to barrel, gear train and balance bridges;
Black rhodium plating for barrel, gear train and balance bridges;
Côtes de Genève finishing on bridges; perlage on main plate;
Snail décor by hand on ratchet and crown wheel,
Polished bezel;
Blue screws;
Hairspring re-regulated and re-timed. (this is a skill that not all watch manufacturs and micro brands will do as it is just too time consuming, not to mention how difficult it is)
We also have a couple of demonstrator pieces with a movement with straight-grain finish by hand. Only 2 pieces are ever available. Apparently, to my surprise, straight grain finish takes a lot more effort and time! And I thought the cotes de geneve finish was nicer to look at ! :P
Because EHF and myself really value timepieces handmade with the heart and passion, and not looking to earn quick bucks, we also have a couple of very good rubber straps in various colors to choose from. These rubber straps are made in Italy, and only by seeing / feeling it, one can tell the significant difference.
We plan to release this in Q3 of this year with matte black DLC coated watches, though I must say that polished DLC really grows on me as time passes by.
Feel free to share your thoughts and comments as "EHF elves", as we call them, are more than happy to hear!
For more information, you may read this link.
But most of us worry that the black PVD or Ion-plating coat will peel off after a while ( a common complaint and experience we all share).
I am sure most of you have also heard of DLC coated watches.. It is an extremely hard coating and with a Vickers hardness of about 4000+, though it really depends on to thelevel of coating.
Magrette had a good summary write up and comparison of DLC technology.
If applied well, DLC coated watches really is virtually scratch-proof except by diamond - being the world's known hardest material. DLC also has a low coefficient of friction, which means it is very slick like our Teflon non-stick pans.
Some of the more famous brands with DLC coated watches :
Rolex Milgauss DLC
Rolex Sea Dweller Deep Sea
Magrette Regattare, Oris BC4 and of course, Linde Werdelin Hard Black / Oktopus
okay you get where I am coming from..
More and more brands are employing DLC coating on their watches, but most of these DLC coated watches with Swiss movement cost a bomb!
Watchwerkz is now proud to work with a group of WOSTEP-highly trained watchmakers from different companies in Le Locle, Switzerland- who wants to bring the joy of the independent watch making experience to the man on the street while at the same time preserving the traditional watch making techniques.
These watchmakers are frustrated with developments in the watch making industry, especially its obsession with mass produced luxury and are truly dedicated passionate highly skilled watchmakers. These guys are collectively known as EHF Horlogére.
NOTE : we would like to reiterate that watch assemblers ARE NOT watchmakers.
With them, I also hope to share with everyone here more about the art of watchmaking and what goes into completing a watch, whether it be quartz, mechanical or automatic.
So back to "blackened" watches.
With DLC coated watches, it is a gift to most of us black watch lovers as we now worry less about scratches made on our black watches. Yet prices remain high for watches with good movement.
For a special pre-launch, EHF has painstakingly, with almost no budget left for any marketing (as all profits made really goes back into production), managed to release 3 models.
MK 0 , MK 1 and Classic.
MK1 as shown above -- is the first to be made. We use a polished DLC black version for this case. But the true workmanship comes in the hand-touched finish of the manual movement.
Specs of movement:
Fully mechanical Swiss Made ETA 6498-1 ::
Individual HAND-bevelling added to barrel, gear train and balance bridges;
Black rhodium plating for barrel, gear train and balance bridges;
Côtes de Genève finishing on bridges; perlage on main plate;
Snail décor by hand on ratchet and crown wheel,
Polished bezel;
Blue screws;
Hairspring re-regulated and re-timed. (this is a skill that not all watch manufacturs and micro brands will do as it is just too time consuming, not to mention how difficult it is)
We also have a couple of demonstrator pieces with a movement with straight-grain finish by hand. Only 2 pieces are ever available. Apparently, to my surprise, straight grain finish takes a lot more effort and time! And I thought the cotes de geneve finish was nicer to look at ! :P
Because EHF and myself really value timepieces handmade with the heart and passion, and not looking to earn quick bucks, we also have a couple of very good rubber straps in various colors to choose from. These rubber straps are made in Italy, and only by seeing / feeling it, one can tell the significant difference.
We plan to release this in Q3 of this year with matte black DLC coated watches, though I must say that polished DLC really grows on me as time passes by.
Feel free to share your thoughts and comments as "EHF elves", as we call them, are more than happy to hear!
For more information, you may read this link.
Comment