What is diamond coating?
Quick answer: Usually, diamond coating is a marketing name for certain nano or ceramic coatings that form a hard, glass-like protective layer on your car’s paint, rather than a literal coating of diamonds. But some products do contain diamonds
Diamond coating is a similar product to ceramic coating, but where ceramic coatings are Silica Dioxide (SiO2), diamond coating contains synthetic nano-rods of Diamond (C) produced by means of chemical vapour deposition (CVD).
These are used not because diamonds are famed for being hard, but because of the shape of the nano-rods. This gives the coating extra strength, in much the same way that glass fibre gives fibre glass strength.
However, it should be noted that there are a number of ceramic products on the market which have 'diamond' in the name which do not contain diamonds. Diamondbrite, for example, has been around for over 30 years and has never made any claims of containing real diamonds, nor has System X Diamond Ceramic Coating.
Our Diamond coating is Diamas Professionali is made from aggregate nano-rods which gives it greater flexibility which aids in durability.
What “diamond coating” can mean in practice
The phrase is used in two different ways. Sometimes it is just a trade name for a ceramic-style coating. Other times it refers to a ceramic coating that is reinforced with synthetic diamond nano-rods (a real additive) to increase strength and durability.
Misconceptions to clear up
- “It’s a literal diamond layer” - no. Even when diamonds are involved, they are microscopic additives inside a coating, not a layer of
- “Diamond in the name means diamonds in the bottle” - not always. Some long-running brands use “diamond” as branding without claiming real diamond content.
- “It’s thicker than ceramic” - no. Diamond-reinforced or not, these coatings are still very thin. You are buying chemistry and bonding, not thickness.
- “Harder means scratch-proof” - coatings can reduce wash-marring risk when maintained properly, but they won’t stop scratches, stone chips, or car-park damage.
What the diamond nano-rods are doing (when they’re real)
When a product genuinely contains synthetic diamond nano-rods (often made via chemical vapour deposition), they are used for their shape and reinforcing effect - similar to how glass fibre strengthens fibreglass.
- Reinforcement can improve the coating’s stability and toughness in real use
- It is still a ceramic coating at its core - the “diamond” is an additive, not the whole coating
What to ask before you buy a “diamond coating”
- Is “diamond” just the product name, or does it contain diamond nano-rods?
- What is the exact product being applied (brand and version)?
- What preparation is included (wash, decontamination, machine polishing)?
- What maintenance is expected, and what products should be avoided?
- What is covered by any warranty - and what is excluded?
Best-practice takeaway
- Treat “diamond coating” as a label that needs defining - confirm whether it is genuinely diamond-reinforced
- Judge the outcome by prep standards and aftercare, not the name
- Keep expectations realistic - coatings improve protection and cleaning, but they are not impact armour
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Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 05/01/2026 17:26
Further Reading
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🔥🔥🔷 Ceramic Coating Paint Protection Service
Protect your investment with durable ceramic coating that bonds to your clearcoat, resisting traffic film, bird lime and tree sap while enhancing colour depth and mirror gloss.