The World’s Hardest DIY Automotive Paint Coating?

Back when I ran my detail shop, we paid big money for the best products to solve what, in those days (the late ’80s into the ’90s), were major challenges: oxidized paint, acid rain damage, and the much more difficult challenge of etched or peeling clear-coat. Of course, since then, automobile paint has come a very long way and is much more durable. But there are still plenty of challenges, particularly around common defects like swirls, scratches, etching, and spotting.

With those new challenges comes a new breed of detailing tools and products, including GYEON Quartz Q²—the hardest consumer-grade paint coating available today, according to GYEON.

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In fact, given that the average automotive paint hardness measures around 3H-4H on the pencil hardness scale, GYEON claims Mohs Q² results in a hardness level of 9H when applied properly and to properly prepared paint, causing the vehicle’s finish to become extremely resistant to scratches, swirls, and other paint defects.

Developed in Japan, GYEON Mohs Q² is a silicon dioxide (SiO₂)-based quartz coating system that, as it cures, forms an organic-silica nanocomposite that chemically bonds to painted surfaces at the molecular level. Unlike other liquid glass coatings on the market today, Mohs Q² actually gains molecular weight as it cures, adding about 0.19 micron to the thickness of the paint, once completely cured. Conversely, traditional waxes do not add any level of measurable additional paint thickness once applied or cured.

Finishes protected with Mohs Q² also become superhydrophobic—essentially, waterproof. And as all good DIY detailers know, beading water that rolls off of the vehicle quickly also carries contaminants away with it, thereby protecting the paint from defects as it dries.

GYEON Mohs Q² is easy to apply and can last up to five years when maintained properly. Regular washings with an appropriate product or even high-pressure water from a pressure washer will not strip Mohs Q²—it requires machine polishing with compound abrasives to remove and is considered to be a permanent protective coating.

There are some specific instructions to consider when applying the product. For its molecular bond to work, the finish must be completely clean and dry. GYEON actually offers over 50 products, including others in the Q² line, designed for prepping and maintaining both interiors and exteriors of vehicles.

This stuff isn’t cheap, but for what it does, it’s may just be worth the money. Again, there are also other GYEON products available, including those in the Q² line. You can learn more on the GYEON USA website at GYEONQuartzUSA.com.

BONUS VIDEO

Just because it’s so damn mesmerizing (at least to me), check out this video from 3ThousandG Car Detailing using GYEON products to detail this sweet ride.

Note: This article has been updated to remove certain unique claims after a few pro-detailers reached out to enlighten us to similar products making similar claims. Our commitment is to put cool things in front of our audience, not necessarily test one product against another and, at the time of this writing, we have no connection to the manufacturer of this product. GYEON Q² is a seemingly strong product; there are others, too