My Way To You dog tags have a 2.5 mm-thick stainless steel body and a black PVD finish. The 2.5 mm measurement describes the tag body, not the thickness of its coating. Choose a 25, 30 or 35 mm diameter in the designer.
What does PVD mean?
PVD stands for physical vapour deposition: a process used to apply a thin surface coating. The black finish gives our tags their understated appearance. PVD is a process, rather than a single material grade or a guarantee that a surface cannot scratch.
Coating specialist Oerlikon Balzers describes decorative PVD coatings as thin, hard finishes. That explains the technology; it is not a test result or supplier certification for our tags.
Why pay attention to thickness?
Body thickness is one useful specification when comparing tags. Our 2.5 mm body has a substantial feel, but thickness alone does not tell you how comfortable a tag will be on your dog's collar or how its finish will wear. Diameter, weight, edges, attachment hardware and contact with other tags matter too.
Compare the three available diameters before choosing. For a very small dog, ask us about the physical tag and fit rather than choosing solely by appearance.
PVD, plain stainless steel, painted steel or anodized aluminium?
A black finish does not tell you how a tag was made. PVD is applied in a vacuum; paint and powder coatings use different processes. Compare the specified finish and the finished tag, rather than judging quality from colour or price alone.
| Finish | What it offers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PVD on stainless steel | A thin deposited finish that can provide a hard, wear-resistant surface. | Coating composition, adhesion and wear testing. Performance varies; PVD is not scratch-proof. |
| Plain stainless steel | An uncoated metal surface, with no applied colour layer to wear through. | Steel grade, thickness, surface finish and how the engraving holds up. |
| Painted or powder-coated steel | An applied colour coating, with performance depending on the coating system. | Surface preparation, curing and adhesion. Do not assume every painted finish will peel. |
| Anodized aluminium | An oxide surface formed on aluminium. Decorative and hard-anodized finishes serve different needs. | Anodizing type, thickness, sealing and abrasion results. Hard anodizing can be highly wear-resistant. |
Does a harder surface mean a stronger tag?
Surface hardness, resistance to scratching, resistance to wear and resistance to bending describe different properties. A hard coating does not make the whole tag unbendable. Compare the body material and dimensions separately from the surface finish.
The Aluminum Anodizers Council's hardcoat guidance explicitly distinguishes hardness measurements from wear-resistance testing. Its finish guide also describes abrasion-resistant hard anodizing. Anodized aluminium should not be treated as one uniformly soft finish.
What about hardness numbers and coating adhesion?
A hardness figure needs the exact coating, test method and conditions to make a useful comparison. We do not currently publish a tested Vickers hardness value or a “five times harder” claim for our tags.
Oerlikon's coating documentation describes strong adhesion for its specified coating systems. That does not establish identical bonding or wear performance for every PVD product. Ask for product-specific evidence before treating a general PVD comparison as a durability guarantee.
Can the black finish scratch?
Yes. Repeated contact with metal rings, other tags or abrasive surfaces can mark a coated surface. We do not describe the finish as scratch-proof. Check the attachment and scan the QR code regularly, especially after visible wear.
Water and everyday care
The tag contains no battery or electronic component. Normal rain and splashes are covered by our existing care guidance, but we do not claim a tested waterproof rating. Rinse and dry the tag after salt water or chlorinated water. Check that dirt has not obscured the QR mark and keep the linked information current.
What we specify
- Body
- Stainless steel, 2.5 mm thick
- Finish
- Black PVD
- Diameters
- 25, 30 and 35 mm
- Personalization
- Pet name and selected artwork, with the unique QR code on the back
Need the steel grade, measured weight or a particular use case checked before ordering? Contact us for product details.