Yeah, I was replying to someone that said it’s “paint”. Wish it automatically quotes replies.
Oh I’m well aware, I was just reaffirming your comment 
The only hardcoated yoyo I’ve ever owned was a Viszilla. I regret trading it away.
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No it’s still an anodizing process but the difference is the chemical that’s in the bath. I wanna say that it’s almost like an oxide of some sort. But yeah “hardcoat” color is really just a a form-follows-function deal. It was originally a military product so aesthetics weren’t a primary consideration
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Exactly this.
The hardcoat yoyo I have is the: 2488 AMS Hardcoat Tundra
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5QYPnD_iG/?taken-by=invaderdust
The color isnt exactly chosen as it “grows” from the material. Usually grey-dark grey. It is also usually used on titanium parts that, for instance, need lube, but cannot have lube. Aerospace, medical, military all use this AMS Hardcoat that is like a teflon. It acts as a dry lube for reducing friction and increasing durability and longevity. It is also labor intensive to create and prep as a white powder/residue happens after the process that needs to be prepped and cleaned. And from what i hear, its not a simple wipe off.
I do not know if the Hardcoat on aluminum is the same, so I cannot say, but Ive always had a thing for Titanium, and i remember looking into this question a few years back.
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You can choose the color of hardcoat anodizing. I have yoyos that are hardcoat and they are green, blue, black, pink. Have seen red also. There are different specs of Hardcoat, at least 20-30. AMS2488 is the spec of hardcoat that Jeff used, which is one of the specs used for titanium hardcoat.
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In its undyed form, that statement holds true for hardcoat, but no it doesn’t work as a blanket statement. If you leave it “plain” the color (more or a tint in a lot of cases) will vary, but dye can be added
I stand corrected. 
Full ceramic bearings, I almost got a Tundra…almost…
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Only the AMS Hardcoat version of the Tubdras came equipped with that bearing. Full Ceramic centering bearings an be a really tough thing to find! The ano’d and raws all came with steel and they felt alot different in comparison.
Is there a noticble increase in durability with a hard coat?
Maybe in a Hard coat rubbing up against another hardcoat, (vs ano on ano) than yes, Id think so. But against a rock, or concrete? I broke the hardcoat on mine pretty easily when trying to film that video of mine i posted a few posts up.
So long story short, ( TOO LATE! ) yes, it is stronger, but it can still ding and knick. also different hardcoats will likely have different hardness too, but im guessing here.
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Thanks for starting this topic, and all the detailed replies. It helped me understand and appreciate the hardcoat process … so I jumped on one when I saw it come up in the BST.
Here it is
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is it heavier?
Good idea sir noodles! I’ll post that in a more relevant topic, keep your 
peeled!