Materials

Diamonds

The diamonds on the dial have a diameter of approximately 1mm and a weight of approximately 0.005 carats per stone.

The diamonds are provided with a single cut. The single cut is a special type of cut where diamonds, as the name suggests, are processed to create eight edges.

Diamonds with single cut are also referred to as 8/8 cut. These are diamonds with a "Simplified Brilliant Cut" in a rounded form. This cut is called "simplified" because a brilliant normally must have at least 56 facets. In contrast, single-cut diamonds have eight facets on the top and eight facets on the bottom, as well as a table, totaling 17 facets if you do not count the culet and girdle. They are excellent as accent stones. Due to their small size, they are often used in the production of watches on the dial. If the single-cut diamond is carefully cut, it achieves a higher brilliance compared to a full-cut brilliant. This is because, in the size range up to a maximum of 0.02 carats, larger facets have an optimal effect.

Stainless steel 316L

All watches by LOUIS XVI are made from 316L stainless steel, which is also used in the production of surgical instruments, making it extremely durable and never rusts.

But what exactly is 316L stainless steel and why is such a material used in wristwatches? By definition, stainless steel 316L is an alloy with molybdenum and the low-carbon variant of the 316 alloy (standard steel). This chemical composition makes the 316L stainless steel alloy particularly resistant and durable against corrosion, which is typically caused by acids found in seawater and sweat.

316L stainless steel is therefore used in watches to make them more resistant to water and sweat. This is particularly advantageous for watch enthusiasts who lead an active lifestyle. They can be assured that their wristwatch will withstand all challenges effortlessly.

PVD - Physical Vapour Deposition

PVD stands for "Physical Vapour Deposition." The PVD coating is used to make watches more durable, increase their resistance, and enhance their appearance.

During the vacuum coating process, very fine layers of hard materials in vapor form are applied to the base material, forming a comprehensive coating layer. The complete powder coating must take place in a vacuum chamber to prevent a reaction between vapor and air. Layer thicknesses can start in the nanometer range. However, by repeatedly performing the process, layers up to several micrometers can be built up.

The great advantage of the vacuum coating process is that the sputtered material does not undergo any chemical reactions with the surface. The adhesion occurs exclusively through the process.

The conventional PVD process results in a strong black surface. Black watches are therefore usually treated with the PVD process and can be directly recognized. In addition to the conventional coating with the black material, there is also PVD gilding. Here, a very thin layer of metal is vaporized and applied to the watch. This results in not a black surface, but a golden or rose gold coating.

In PVD gilding, identical processes are used as in conventional PVD coating. However, instead of spraying lead or graphite, gold particles are used.

Sapphire crystal

All LOUIS XVI watches have a scratch-resistant, double-sided anti-reflective sapphire crystal. A quality feature of which we are very proud. Sapphire crystal is much harder and more scratch-resistant than the mineral glass often used in conventional watches. Sapphire crystal cannot be scratched through everyday use. If it were solely about technical advantages, probably every manufacturer today would equip their watches with sapphire crystal. However, not every manufacturer does this - because the high quality comes at a price. The production of sapphire crystal is very time-consuming and expensive.