Cerakote Ceramic Coating

I read about this treatment sometime back but have never seen it. That all changed today when I met up with a good friend who had three of his watches treated with the Cerakote Ceramic coating. I have to say that I am rather impressed with the coating. 

It is different from the PVD coating we usually see. The coating itself feels very different. It is textured. It feel like that there are thousands of little bumps on the surface of the coating. I like it. 

The Black monster has had the bezel and case Cerakote. I am not sure of the colour and my friend can't remember. It looks like OD Green or Coyote Tan. 

The coating looks 'thicker' as compared to PVD coating. However it does not seem to have an effect on the functionality of the bezel or the crown, which is also coated.

The work looks good as the coating looks even. It is well done and oozes quality. 

Look at the crown and even the spring bar hole. The coating is well applied. Quality work.

The case back. I tried the watch and the feel is different. Instead of getting the cold feel of the stainless steel case, you have a 'warm' feeling.

Again the application of the coating is good. 

The gap between the bezel and case is consistent throughout. 

I like that the application of the black paint in the markers is also well done. It does look darker than the original. Perhaps it is an illusion as the original bezel is polished. The case on the Orange Monster is not Cerakote but is Bead Blasted. 

If you notice, the minute markers have been removed. You can see the four holes that holds the minute marker to the dial.

A closer view of the bezel and the black paint in the minute markers.

As stated earlier the case is Bead Blasted. The case is Bead Blasted to Flat. This means there is minimal light reflecting properties. I like as it matches the Cerakote bezel.

The case back, also Bead Blasted Flat.

The crown, Bead Blasted Flat.

Another view of the Cerakote bezel and Bead Blasted Flat case.

The Seiko below has another finish of Bead Blast. This time it is Bead Blasted Low Light. This type of Bead Blast has medium light reflecting properties. The bezel is Cerakote Graphic Black. The dial and hands have been changed as well. 

Even the crown is Bead Blasted Low Light.

The case back. 

Another view of the case and case back. The finish is very nice and very even. Quality workmanship.

If you are interested to get you watch done the same way, check out: 

Motor City Watch Works

Hands....

I got these watch hands courtesy of the people at Motor City Watch Works. It is a set of hands that can be fitted on to the ETA 28XX movement. The hands are based on the popular Snow Flake Hands design found on the Tudor Submariner.

I have to say that the overall finish of the hands is pretty good. It is polished and the polish is even throughout the hands. The edges are nicely finished as well. The mount holes are just as well finished.

The hands are sized 150/90/25 and measures 8 mm for the hour hand, 12 mm for the minute and 12 mm for the second hand. This is measured from the center of the hole to the tip of the hands.

The luminous material used is the C1 Super Luminova. The application is even throughout the hands and looks good from the top. However, if you look at the hour hand, there is a portion missing. This does not have an impact on the overall lume of the hands and it is just a little bit along one of the edges. The application of the luminous material is nicely rounded off at the mount hole.

The lume is good. Just look at the photographs below.

The hands are well packed within 2 pieces of clear plastic set inside 2 pieces of hard backing paper cards. I believe this is sufficient protection for the hands.

Overall I think the hands are well made and finish. Now only if I have a watch with square hour markers on the dial.....

For more information:

http://www.motorcitywatchworks.com/index.html

Motor City Watch Works

We are back and now ad free. Well it was an interesting break for me. I got a couple of watches, straps, visited some watch shop and did a host of other things. I am also getting closer and closer to buying one of my dream watch. Anyway, lets start the new month with a new player in the industry.

I am talking about Motor City Watch Works. This is a new outfit based in America. The people there are a great bunch as I have spoken with them. They are very enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. Basically they work on watches. They offer the following services: modding, repair, movement servicing, refinishing, pressure testing, crystal replacement and a host of other services. If you visit their website, you can see the list of services provided by them.

The great thing about the people at Motor City Watch Works are they are WIS just like us. That is great as they will understand what we want and what the watches means to us. So I expect they will be more receptive to the demands of their customers as it would be what they themselves would expect.

One of the interesting services that they provide is the Cerakote Ceramic Coating. This is a baked on coating. It is different from PVD or ion-plating your watch. This coating is very durable. It is available in a number of colour; Graphite Black, Titanium, Sniper Grey are some of the colours available.

Cerakote Ceramic Coating - Armour Black.

Cerakote Ceramic Coating - Dark Earth.

They also sell parts (and install them). Most of the parts are for Seiko watches and ETA 28XX. The parts include hands, chapter rings and watch dials. More parts and services will be offered as they grow.

Sample of the hands.

Sample of the watch dials.

Blank dial.

Chapter rings.

The detail to which they go to produce their parts is just awesome. Below are some of their drawings for the parts they produce.

Photographs: Motor City Watch Works

For more information:

http://motorcitywatchworks.com/index.html

I wish them all the best.