Black Rolex watches?

Paint it black. Physical Vapor Deposition, or PVD, is a coating commonly used to produce a flat or shiny black finish on wristwatches. A black finish is desired by some for aesthetic reasons, and other for functional ones. A flat black finish makes an item stealthier for use in military or police scenarios where having something shiny that reflect light could reveal a persons location. A PVD finish also makes a watch more resistant to the effects of salt water.

Modern day Milsub? A DLC coated Rolex Submariner by Time and Gems

Some watches are available with a PVD finish out of the box. The vast majority are not. The good thing about a PVD finish is available as a after market upgrade. Almost any stainless steel watch can be applied with a PVD finish. PVD results in a thin coating tightly bonded to the stainless steel surface of the watch. Unlike paint, powder coats or anodizing, the tin coating is interpenetrated steel material so it wont flake off. However, it can get scratched, and a deep enough scratch could reveal the stainless steel layer beneath. However, the process is reversible if you decide you don't like the black color anymore, or want to apply a new coat on the watch. For many, applying a new PVD coat every few years would probably be more preferable to buffing a watch to remove scratches and keep it looking new.

A DLC coated Rolex Milguass by Time and Gems

Diamond-like carbon. One type of PVD coating is called Diamond-like carbon (DLC). I was a bit confused about PVD and DLC for a bit, but a friend in the industry explained to me that PVD is the process in which the DLC coating is put on. A DLC coating results in placing a chemical barrier on the watch to protect against the elements, reduce the effects of oxidation and achieve a high degree of hardness (up to 10,000 Vickers depending on the process). To put things in perspective the 316L stainless steel used to construct most high watches has a rating of 400 Vickers, 904L a.k.a. "Rolex Steel" has a rating of 490 Vickers and sapphire crystal has a rating of 2,500 Vickers

Ultimately, some will want their watch to maintain its original look, others would prefer something more unique. For the latter, a DLC coat on a watch may be something to think about.

If you want to see more samples of Black Rolex DLC watches, follow this link.