How Can You Prove a Ceramic Coating Will Last Five Years?
When a brand says a ceramic coating lasts up to five years, the obvious question is:
How do you actually know?
At Hermosa, that answer isn’t theoretical. It’s based on years of real-world testing, across extreme conditions, long before the product was ever released to customers.
Where It Started - Testing Began in 2018
Back in 2018, we began evaluating ceramic coatings from suppliers around the world. Over time, we tested more than 60 different coatings, sourced from countries including:
▪︎ Israel
▪︎ United Kingdom
▪︎ United States
▪︎ Korea
▪︎ Japan
▪︎ China
▪︎ Australia
▪︎ New Zealand
Our goal wasn’t to find the most aggressive or temperamental coating on paper. It was to find one that would actually work in the real world.
What We Were Looking For (and What We Rejected)
Many high-performance coatings look impressive in controlled environments, but fall apart when conditions aren’t ideal.
We deliberately filtered out coatings that:
▪︎ Required narrow temperature windows
▪︎ Were slow or unpredictable to flash
▪︎ Were prone to high spots
▪︎ Demanded controlled workshops to apply correctly
Instead, we focused on a formulation that was:
▪︎ Stable and forgiving
▪︎ Easy to apply
▪︎ Quick and consistent to flash
▪︎ Suitable for both DIY users and professional detailers
This was especially important in New Zealand, where many users:
▪︎ Don’t have enclosed garages
▪︎ Apply coatings outdoors or under gazebos
▪︎ Work in variable temperatures and humidity
We also worked closely with mobile detailers, many of whom operate from customer driveways or temporary setups. They needed confidence that the coating would behave consistently without controlled air or temperature environments.
Real-World Testing Before Market Release
Before Hermosa Graphene Ceramic Coating was ever sold, it spent two full years in pre-market testing.
One of our primary test vehicles was a black VW Transporter based in Wānaka, chosen deliberately for its environmental extremes.
Why Wānaka Was the Perfect Test Environment
Wānaka offers conditions that few places in New Zealand can match:
▪︎ Winter temperatures well below freezing
▪︎ Snow, ice, rain, and road grime
▪︎ High-altitude UV exposure
▪︎ Very hot summers, often approaching 40°C
▪︎ Dusty, unsealed gravel roads
Because our family is involved in ski racing, the test vehicle was driven daily to and from Cardrona throughout winter. That meant:
▪︎ Sub-zero starts
▪︎ Snow and ice exposure
▪︎ Constant contamination
▪︎ Regular abrasion from gravel roads
In summer, the same vehicle — finished in black paint — sat in intense heat and UV, conditions that are notoriously hard on coatings.
Five Years Later: What We See Today
That same vehicle is now five years on, and the coating is still performing.
It has been:
▪︎ Maintained correctly
▪︎ Washed using Hermosa Ceramic Shampoo
▪︎ Exposed to genuine daily use, not stored or protected
Today, it still exhibits:
▪︎ Strong hydrophobic behaviour
▪︎ Consistent water beading
▪︎ No coating failure or breakdown
▪︎ Exactly the performance we expected when it was applied
This is not a single lab test or accelerated simulation. It’s five years of real exposure, in some of the harshest conditions we could reasonably expect.
Why We Can Stand Behind “Up to Five Years”
When we say up to five years, it isn’t based on a theoretical lifespan or a formula on paper.
It’s based on:
▪︎ Multi-year real-world testing
▪︎ Extreme environmental exposure
▪︎ Vehicles still performing years later
▪︎ Correct maintenance, not special treatment
That’s why we’re comfortable standing behind the claim — not because the chemistry should last five years, but because we’ve watched it do exactly that.
The Takeaway
Longevity claims only matter if they’re proven outside controlled conditions.
For us, five years isn’t a marketing number. It’s the result of:
▪︎ Extensive global testing
▪︎ Careful product selection
▪︎ Harsh real-world use
▪︎ Time
If you have questions about durability, application conditions, or whether ceramic coating is right for your situation, we’re always happy to talk it through.
