Black Friday Black Out

Today is Black Friday, the American non-holiday, the busiest Christmas shopping day of the season. Now a feature in the UK run-up-to-Christmas calendar, if the hype is to be believed I have decided to celebrate this day, not by frantically typing my debit card details into the online ether but by furthering my research on PVD/DLC* plating on watches.

PVD/DLC plating is the process which bonds a micron thick layer of metal compounds  to metal or other materials. An example of PVD use outside the watch industry is in clothing where quality brands, Barbour for one, use it to coat their jacket zips to offer a better quality and finish. On watches, this process creates deep, rich black finish that is impervious to scratches and incredibly hard wearing. An ideal application for an item that suffers daily wear. It’s also pretty nifty too.

My favourite watch to use this finish is Raymond Weil’s Freelancer Lady Urban Black, a 38mm automatic model with a striking aperture at 12 o’clock and 86 black diamonds set within the bezel and lugs.

I particularly love the matte black dial and numerals which set the perfect backdrop for the polished gold and silver mechanics of the movement. Heavy duty glamour. Lush. Check it out on the brand's site here.

Next up is the Perrelet Turbine XXs, also a 38mm case automatic, this time set with 326 diamonds seton the bezel, lugs and dial. The diamonds and white hour markers contrast superbly with the matt black case. The black rubber strap adds a sporty feel to the otherwise luxe feel of the piece

Sadly, for women’s PVD/DLC watches that’s pretty much the best on offer. I could blog all day about gent’s versions but, frankly, I find the type of gent’s watch that has this plating type is always the same: huge, bolshie, boring.  Citizen have made a good effort with their Eco-Drive Satellite Wave-Air which is almost as handsome as it is functional. 

Seriously it’s got Satellite Timekeeping Technology with Worldwide Reception, Time Adjustment Available in 26 Time Zones displayed as cities, Perpetual Calendar, Power Reserve Indicator, 3-Hand with Date and a Day-Date Band. All singing all dancing indeed.

So I hope I've managed to distract you from the Black Friday madness with these lovely black watches. Much better than spending the day screaming at error messages on Amazon, I'm sure you'll agree.

*PVD: Physical Vapor Deposition

  DLC: Diamond Like Carbon