Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/198792
TIME HONORED continued from page 106 process that utilizes positively charged ions in a vacuum chamber to form a strong bond between the coating materials and the base substance (such as steel or titanium). The DLC process is different and yields a better hardness and scratch resistance factor. DLC coatings are formed when ionized and decomposed carbon or hydrocarbon elements hit the surface of the base metal. To achieve the proper color, sheen, and hardness, DLC film typically consists of a mixture of graphite and diamond. Meanwhile, some watch brands are developing their own processes. Rado, for instance, has developed plasma high-tech ceramic, which uses a patented plasma carburizing process to make its timepieces black. Exclusive to Rado, the process alters the composition of high-tech ceramic when exposed to gases at 20,000 degrees Celsius, creating a scratch-resistant and shimmering finish. Additionally, some brands are turning to new black materials for their watches. Often those materials, such as ceramic and carbon fiber, are borrowed from the aviation or automotive worlds. Jaeger-LeCoultre goes a step further than ceramic for its newest dive watch, the Deep Sea Chronograph, as it utilizes Cermet—a revolutionary composite borrowed from aviation technology and consisting of ceramic and metal particles and reinforced by a 40-micron thick protective ceramic coating. This reinforced Cermet is more resistant to shocks and pressure than pure ceramic, making it less sensitive to extreme temperatures and scratches. In this quest for innovation, other brands are making forays into the use of new materials, with those owned by large conglomerates with deep pockets utilizing advanced research and development teams to create new proprietary alloys for their watches or their own processes. These coating processes and materials all yield a sleek look and a sound product. "Timepieces made of new high-tech materials have become very popular," affirms Evan Bern, general manager at the Loop's Marshall Pierce & Company, praising the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet's "lightweight and extremely durable" composition. He adds, "They offer a new, refreshing style that is adventurous but clean, and they are also very functional." For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to michiganavemag.com/watches. MA From Piaget, this Polo FortyFive automatic watch ($15,000) features a black ADLC titanium and stainless-steel case. Trabert & Hoeffer Jewels , 111 E. Oak St., 312-787-1654; piaget.com. This Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet ($18,000) is inspired by the 1959 Memovox Deep Sea model, but features a high-tech reinforced Cermet case. Marshall Pierce & Company, 29 E. Madison St., 312-372-2415; jaeger-lecoultre.com FROM LEFT: 108 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 106-108_MA_SS_TimeHonored_Nov13.indd 108 10/21/13 9:49 AM