I have seen and been involved in discussions regarding this subject on a few forums, the most recent concerning the PAM 26K vs the 28L. So with that talk about the early PVD vs the later PVD, I was discussing the issue with a recent acquaintance about it and this guy owns some Grails (201/A non matching dial, 202/A and a 203/A + some at least a Pre 9A but with the t swiss t dial) so he has obviously asked a few questions and researched about it and had a few answers about it.
That, there is no doubt.
Indeed the pre-V PVD coating is far different from today's DLC as they call it. Literature in fact states that the treatment on the cases of the pre-V PVDs is "antiscratch titanium nitride" and I presume that is a type of PVD treatment. Today's recipe at Richemont is DLC (and they are turning to ceramic) which gives a much darker and solid tone of black, and the surface is much smoother under the loupe. With the titanium nitride treatment the hue is pencil lead grey. The pre-As and As/ Bs each has a different PVD colour as Panerai continue to change/ refine their antiscratch coating technology. I had a friend who sent in his 195 for recoating last year and it came back solid black. It's hideous in my opinion and completely destroyed the watch despite being pristine. I have owned pre-A, A, and B PVD Panerais and believe me, once you go pre-V, there's no turning back.
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