20 POSITIVE YEARS
HISTORY
2004
CREATION OF POSITIVE COATING SA
POSITIVE COATING, a spin-off of HE-Arc (University of Applied Sciences of the Jura Arc), was founded in 2004. This was the beginning of a family business. Pierre-Albert asked his brother Jean-Michel for financial support in the venture. The company designed a coating to replace the blued steel used at the time on components such as hands and on other metals such as brass. POSITIVE COATING contributed to the democratization of vacuum technology in the watchmaking sector.
2005
EPHJ
POSITIVE COATING participated in one of the first editions of the EPHJ trade fair in Lausanne.
2006
INITIAL INVESTMENTS
POSITIVE COATING moved to the Neode science and technology park (now Microcity). The company purchased its first PVD industrial equipment and organized itself around a few employees. POSITIVE COATING introduced its 3DeCo decorative coatings for parts with flat geometry.
2008
POSITIVE COATING TAKES ON AN INDUSTRIAL DIMENSION
POSITIVE COATING has established its reputation with the development of innovative solutions in the field of surface treatments based on PVD technology. Its main activity is the production of decorative coatings for luxury goods. POSITIVE COATING introduced its HarDeCo decorative coatings for watch exterior components.
2010
DIVERSIFICATION INTO LEATHER GOODS
AND WRITING IMPLEMENTS
The metallic elements of leather goods, buckles, clasps and coated chains contributed to a unique design. POSITIVE COATING treatments have a variety of applications in writing implements, and can be applied to the body, clip, cap, nib and other ornamental features for a unique signature.
2011
DEVELOPMENT OF ALD SOLUTIONS
In order to provide ever more innovative solutions to its customers, and also to address certain issues limiting the use of PVD, POSITIVE COATING took an interest in ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) solutions. ALD technology made it possible to significantly expand the number of colors offered.
2014
SELECTIVE COLORING OF COMPONENTS
Patent CH 709669
Three-dimensional coloring of movement components, using a combination of PVD and ALD technologies, enabled selective treatment without the need for resist application.
It was this patent that allowed POSITIVE COATING to introduce HybriDeCo coatings.
2014
INTRODUCTION OF ALD IN WATCHMAKING
POSITIVE COATING then became a pioneer of ALD technology in the watch industry. The company was able to industrially produce coatings using ALD technology. Thanks to its expertise with this new technology, POSITIVE COATING introduced two new families of colored coatings: NanoDeCo for movement components with complex geometries (3D) and DialDeCo, coatings specially developed to be compatible with the Zapon finish applied to the dials.
2016
RELOCATION OF POSITIVE COATING
In 2016, POSITIVE COATING moved from the Neode business incubator (now Microcity) to its current home, in line with its desire to remain in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the cradle of Swiss watchmaking.
2017
PROAG AND PROAU FUNCTIONAL COATINGS
The company’s ProAg and ProAu treatments are thin coating deposits, which are well defined, transparent, dense and waterproof, and which provide excellent protection against tarnishing of silver and 4N and 5N gold alloys. They can also be used to protect solid gold or silver parts.
2018
DIVERSIFICATION INTO THE MEDTECH SECTOR
Delivery of the first coatings designed for the medical sector. POSITIVE COATING is renowned for its expertise in PVD and ALD surface treatments, which have enabled it to develop advanced solutions for the Medtech sector. These technologies offer biocompatible and hermetic nanoscale coatings that meet the requirements of implantable devices, surgical instruments and biomedical applications.
2019
SPECIFIC MEDTECH SOLUTIONS
The first edition of the “Watch Medtech Innovation” challenge, co-founded by the EPHJ-EPMT-SMT trade fair and the Inartis Foundation, ended with an iconic nomination, with the jury opting for the project conducted by POSITIVE COATING.
TAILORED SOLUTIONS
ULTRA-THIN PVD AND ALD FILMS
AIMED AT MEDICAL DEVICES
ENCAPSULATION
CODING
CONDUCTION
2021
RAINBOW DECORATIVE COATING
POSITIVE COATING offers a world first with coatings that allow the application of color gradients on watch components.
2021
POSITIVE COATING PASSES THE BATON ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION
At the end of 2021, Pierre-Albert Steinmann, founder and CEO, and Isabelle Droz, director, transferred control of the company to Pierre-Albert’s children. The company was taken over by brothers Lucien and Benoit and their sister Ophélie, all of whom have had a lifelong passion for the family business.
2022
ULTRA-BLACK DLC DECORATIVE COATING
This HarDeCo coating is of a very dense, deep black. Its high hardness reduces wear and abrasion.
2022
ALTERNATIVE TO VARNISH AND CHROMIUM VI
POSITIVE COATING developed an innovative and gentle alternative to traditional black etching techniques, eliminating the use of UV-sensitive varnishes and hexavalent chromium which has been banned by REACH regulations since 2025. Our hybrid solution combines unparalleled precision, safety for human health and chromatic diversity thanks to PVD and ALD technologies, offering sophisticated, attractive designs suited to watchmaking.
2022
OMBRÉ DECORATIVE COATING
POSITIVE COATING introduced an “ombré” color featuring a tone-on-tone treatment in blue and gray for a unique patina effect.
2023
IRIDESCENT DECORATIVE COATING
The rainbow is rendered in pastels, playing with light to produce an almost ethereal effect. This new dichroic trend draws on the diversity of pastel tones and changing colors.
2023
DLC|FO-LUB FUNCTIONAL COATING
This coating offers increased hardness and lubrication, which improves the wear resistance of mechanical parts. It has a low friction coefficient, is chemically inert and offers excellent resistance to corrosion.
2024
SKY GRADIENT DECORATIVE COATING
A color gradient developing into the metal. A sophisticated, fluid artistic blurring technique allows a color to evolve seamlessly into a metallic shade: from blue to chrome gray, from brown to pink gold, from green to titanium gray, from pink gold to yellow gold… a revisited two-tone effect.
2024
NANODIAMOND COLOR DECORATIVE COATING
For its 20th anniversary, POSITIVE COATING further expanded its horizons by opening up new avenues in the use of precious materials. This success enabled coatings to be applied to components of minuscule size: nanodiamonds, which gave rise to a powder of colored diamonds.