Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) is a process where an exceptionally pure, solid coating material is used to generate an ionized metal vapour which forms a coating mixture with inert gases.

Through condensation, a thin layer is deposited onto the surface of the watch. The PVD process is carried out under a forced vacuum in a coating chamber. This procedure is one of the most modern and ecologically sustainable coating technologies. PVD coatings are highly adhesive, hard and abrasion-resistant. They are extremely smooth and particularly suited to coating watch parts. These coatings can be single-layer, multi-layer or can be applied in graduated layers. The layer thickness ranges from 1 to 5 microns, although in some cases, just 0.5 microns or 15 microns and more can be applied.

Depending on the initial material and the inert gas employed, a wide range of PVD coatings can be applied. Essentially, these fall into four main groups: nitrides, carbides, oxides and carbons (Diamond like carbon).