Officine Panerai

J-Mac
10

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Hmmmm.....

I wholeheartedly agree that the ceramic coating will resist any contact with alcohol (and a lot of other more corrosive things).

However, we need to stop and think about all the possibilities (and I believe Panerai is also).

--------------------------------

The hard ceramic coating is applied in a special process to provide a synergistic coating (unlike a painted surface).

During the process, the ceramic is penetrated a few microns into the aluminum base (actual specifications from Panerai are not publicly available).

The coating is extremely hard and resistant to scratches and abrasions.

However, the "soft" aluminum remains as the main underlying material.

Think about an M&M candy.

Hard on the outside, but soft inside.

Imagine an innocent drop onto a floor.

The tough outer layer will resist any scratches, but the soft inner core will yield and bend to the impact (after all - it is aluminum).

None of the ceramic coating will break off or chip away, because it is bonded to the base aluminum.

You would have to physically remove the surface of the aluminum to remove the protective ceramic coating.

But, under a microscope, the ceramic layer may develop micro-fractures.

Ceramics are designed for maximum compressive strength, but have poor tensile strength.

Parts of the aluminum deformation will undergo compressive loads, but other areas will witness tensile loads.

The tensile zones may develop micro-fractures in the ceramic layer.

It is here, that any chemical (read - alcohol) may begin to interact with the unprotected aluminum.

One should be more concerned with the high levels of chlorine in a pool/hot tub or sea water than a glass of beer or flute of champagne.

Plus, imagine the salts in your summer sweat or work-out sweat coming in contact with your exposed aluminum.

Now what can happen, is the aluminum may begin to oxidize under the coating and the coating may begin to flake.

If the coating flakes, then you'll be needing a new case or bezel.

---------------------------------

Now, the above is base on about ten years of experience with aluminum components with synergistic (protective) coatings in the dairy industry.

Caustic washdown of the processing equipment  is a daily occurrence.

Coated aluminum parts will resist anything you could throw at them.

However, if the coated surface was compromised, one would begin to see the aluminum swell from oxidation.

This swelling puts the surface in tension and creates more cracks.

More cracks increase the surface area for reactions and the whole process becomes a death spiral.

Please keep in mind, that the dairy environment is an aggressive and accelerated process and probably will not represent day-to-day wrist wear.

------------------------------------

Now, I believe that Panerai is trying to provide information for the proper care and feeding of their time pieces.

If you are so blessed to get one of these special pieces, then I would follow their guidelines to maximize the enjoyment of ownership.

Why push your luck when there is no need?

Blessings,
Johnny Mac

Site Info.