While chrome wheels are the 2nd most popular finish for aftermarket wheels produced in Japan, Diamond Machine Cut (DMC), or polished wheels, are the most popular. Not only does the term “Diamond Machine Cut” sound more fashionable, Enkei actually employs a diamond to cut the wheel. A record player with a diamond needle tip at the end would be a good mental analogy. The DMC process begins with an undercoat. After the undercoat, a metallic silver paint is applied. Finally, the diamond machine cut process is executed with a final clear coating to finish off the process.
The DMC process is an almost impossible process to successfully achieve without using a high quality wheel. You will see very few wheel companies attempt to apply this method as it shows the imperfections of the wheel. Here’s a close-up. Notice the edges of the spokes are painted for aesthetic and subtle contrast.
A machined center can both accent the face nicely as well as show off the quality of the aluminum material used. Notice there are no imperfections.