[tom_hanx]

As you see, this is my second post here. I followed a friend and decided to try and find a good topic to kick it off.

It started with the nice review on the front page of the Lum-Tec Tungsten... What is tungsten? According to WikiPedia it is one of the toughest materials and often used in superalloys... Ahaaaaa...

So, good thing to chew on. We've seen and know of 316L, 904L, titanium, all shades of gold and platinum, but what about the special creations with exotic characteristics?

Let's kick it off - LumTec use Tungsten Carbide. The material is approximately three times stiffer than steel and is much denser than steel or titanium. (copy+paste from Wikipedia). Almost impossible to scratch (unlike titanium, which scratches easy).

Who else uses super alloys? What's special about them? Wanna play? :wink:

 

[Time King]

Can't say I know much of super alloys,
but I know I've some some of the finest stainless steel in my hips.....:wink:

 

[ulackfocus]

Hey Kal, what's up? Great to see you here. Now that tungsten is becoming such a popular watch case material it may be time for a little research so it can be added to the Horology 101 articles.

There are hardened steels used by Sinn and Damasko.

 

[omega564]

Rado was the first to use tungston carbide .The Diastar was marketed as scratch proof . When it was released in 1960 ( I think ? ) they secured the watch to a block surrounded by all kinds of impliments ; chisels ,hacksaws screwdrivers ,ect and they let the press in attendance have at it . They could not scratch the watch . It was a great marketing idea and helped relaunch the brand ...........

 

[Valtyr]

I'll agree with Dennis. Sinn uses a very hard steel that is almost impossible to scratch.

 

[tom_hanx]

Thanks, Dennis - good to be here.

And thank you guys for pitching in. Another one that comes to mind in the line of special steels is the 6steel of Dievas: Dievas 6Steel Technology - Dievas Watch Company

Quote from their website: Dievas 6Steel is a propriety case hardening process developed by Dievas Watch Company in collaboration with our specialized high tech metallurgy partner. Firstly, our premium 316L CNC watch case is heated in a mixture of carbon gases at precised low temperature to allow diffusion of atoms. This intricate process is duplicated repeatedly over long hours to superimpose supersaturation and concentration of carbon.

The sudden immense energy from carbon atoms accumulation results in 30µm layered hardening of the case to 1300 Hv on the Vickers scale(6 times the orignal hardness of normal stainless steel). The toughened case is then put through a vacuum chamber for plasma coating to elevate the corrosion resistance, particularly sea water and sweat immunity. This multi layering process makes the 6Steel case an ideal candidate for use in sports and diving watches.

Dievas 6Steel Diagram

HOW TOUGH IS A DIEVAS 6STEEL WATCH?

:cool1: