Platinum vs 18k Gold

[Tape]

Why is it that Platinum Rolex's cost more than Gold Rolex's when Gold is valued higher? I ask because I wanted a Platinum Rolex but ended up getting the 228235. I wanted a Platinum to lower the "attention" gold attracts.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by Tape

Why is it that Platinum Rolex's cost more than Gold Rolex's when Gold is valued higher? I ask because I wanted a Platinum Rolex but ended up getting the 228235. I wanted a Platinum to lower the "attention" gold attracts.

Get Rolex White Gold, it is amazing and never needs rhodium plating.....here is a value comparison I did recently:



Value of WG v Pt Daytona



£30.64 x 75% = £22.98/gram

£21.14 x 95% = £20.08/gram



Assuming movements weigh 50grams:



WG - 172g x £22.98 = £3938*

Pt - 235g x £20.08 = £4718



*Not taking into account platinum, palladium etc making up the remaining 25%.

[Brew]

Harder to work with?

[Token74]

Marketing! My wife wanted a platinum wedding ring and platinum engagement ring - why? Because most people assume it is superior because jewellers charge more for it!


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[kauffee]

From 2000 until the end of 2008 platinum was significantly more expensive than gold. Then it flipped. Commodity prices fluctuate. Traditionally, platinum jewelry is more expensive than gold jewelry and considered the "fancier" option. Don't read too much into materials costs for these things. It doesn't translate to the prices.

[jeffnnj]

When you polish platinum there's no material loss. For me that would be a no brainer. That said, I'm not a fan of that or white gold for watches. To me and 99.9% of the public they both look like stainless steel.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by jeffnnj

When you polish platinum there's no material loss. For me that would be a no brainer. That said, I'm not a fan of that or white gold for watches. To me and 99.9% of the public they both look like stainless steel.

They are all different in reality and if you’ve never owned white gold or platinum it’s very easy to assume that they all look the same.

To the outsider glancing yes I’d agree and that is one of the many beauties of white gold...it’s understated, but I KNOW it’s gold and that’s all that matters to me

[Jace]

Sometimes there’s just not a lot of logic to stuff. Gold is not as heavy as platinum nor is it as dense. Platinum also is at 95% purity as opposed to 18 karat gold which is 75% pure. Platinum is much more difficult to work with and as such the material cost has to be added to the additional labor cost.

Most white gold requires rhodium plating in order to look white because, let’s face it, gold is yellow. Rolex White gold is not rhodium plated but it is also not white. It has a definite gray tint to it and is actually referred to as gray gold.

I Purchased my day date 40 white gold but ended up switching it to platinum because:

1) I really wanted the metal to be white

2) It bothered me that gold is not white and I wanted a white metal

3) I am an idiot

I have come to grips with that.


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[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by Jace

Sometimes there’s just not a lot of logic to stuff. Gold is not as heavy as platinum nor is it as dense. Platinum also is at 95% purity as opposed to 18 karat gold which is 75% pure. Platinum is much more difficult to work with and as such the material cost has to be added to the additional labor cost.

Most white gold requires rhodium plating in order to look white because, let’s face it, gold is yellow. Rolex White gold is not rhodium plated but it is also not white. It has a definite gray tint to it and is actually referred to as gray gold.

I Purchased my day date 40 white gold but ended up switching it to platinum because:

1) I really wanted the metal to be white

2) It bothered me that gold is not white and I wanted a white metal

3) I am an idiot

I have come to grips with that.


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The purity and weight is fully covered in my post (#2) above

[Jace]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

The purity and weight is fully covered in my post (#2) above

Think of it as independent confirmation.


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[swils8610]

Platinum is more difficult to mine and work with. It’s also in shorter supply.

[ltmgeller]

Once you handle one you’ll know why. The touch of it is intoxicating. I never even considered a platinum piece until I tried 1 on. I was blown away. I have a lot of saving to do now before I can get one but it is definitely on the list.

[MoosicPa]

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

Once you handle one you’ll know why. The touch of it is intoxicating. I never even considered a platinum piece until I tried 1 on. I was blown away. I have a lot of saving to do now before I can get one but it is definitely on the list.

Platinum is just sooooo much nicer than WG. If you can afford it, go for it.

[jsausley]

Originally Posted by Tape

Why is it that Platinum Rolex's cost more than Gold Rolex's when Gold is valued higher? I ask because I wanted a Platinum Rolex but ended up getting the 228235. I wanted a Platinum to lower the "attention" gold attracts.

Platinum is significantly harder to machine and polish. It will require different equipment and specialized efforts over gold, which is malleable and easy to work with.

I'm not sure if they can use the same equipment to manufacture platinum watches as they do steel though (that's probably your next question).

[LuminousMaximus]

Let’s see a pic of that beauty..

[Tape]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

Let’s see a pic of that beauty..

message received

An error has occurred Tape! You must have 10 posts in order to post images. Your current post count is 2

[Tape]

it's my avatar

[Rolex addict]

Lovely. Another platinum vs gold price thread. If you can afford platinum, buy it. If not, don’t. Or save up. I saved for a Platona and don’t regret it one bit.

[brandrea]

Platinum is the ultimate precious meta. Rolex and every other high end watch maker, market and sell it for more than gold.

[Roger Lococco]

How does the durability compare across gold, platinum and stainless steel?


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[Mystro]

My wife has platinum diamond rings and white gold diamond rings. There is a slight hue difference but nothing dramatic. Not all white gold is made the same.

[Likestheshiny]

Why is it that Platinum Rolex's cost more than Gold Rolex's when Gold is valued higher? I ask because I wanted a Platinum Rolex but ended up getting the 228235. I wanted a Platinum to lower the "attention" gold attracts.

As noted, platinum is harder to work with (can't be put into a fluted bezel on the DD, for example), and also was historically more valuable than gold.

More importantly, though, precious metal watch prices have never made sense based on material costs. Gold has never had enough of a markup over steel to justify the price of gold watches. Even if you aggressively factor in materials research for innovations like white gold that's actually white, there's no meaningful correlation between material cost and price. These are luxury goods, and they cost what the market will pay for them.

[mmmmp]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

As noted, platinum is harder to work with (can't be put into a fluted bezel on the DD, for example), and also was historically more valuable than gold.

More importantly, though, precious metal watch prices have never made sense based on material costs. Gold has never had enough of a markup over steel to justify the price of gold watches. Even if you aggressively factor in materials research for innovations like white gold that's actually white, there's no meaningful correlation between material cost and price. These are luxury goods, and they cost what the market will pay for them.

Thanks for the info! I've always wondered why I've never seen a fluted bez on, say a Glacier DD for example.

Good thread here,
Mark

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[returntorolex]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

As noted, platinum is harder to work with (can't be put into a fluted bezel on the DD, for example).

If Rolex can machine the winding crown out of platinum, what leads you to believe they couldn’t machine a fluted bezel?

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by returntorolex

If Rolex can machine the winding crown out of platinum, what leads you to believe they couldn’t machine a fluted bezel?

great question, I've seen all sorts of complex, finer shapes executed in platinum than a DD bezel....

[Mizur9999]

Platinum without a doubt.

Many reasons for Platinum to be more expensive in a final product ie; it is much, much more difficult to machine, special tools required, melting temperature much higher, special equipment needed, platinum is 950 pure content versus gold is 750, much higher density meaning it is way heavier, meaning the same watch case is much heavier, of course bracelet as well. These are just a few reasons.
Cheers,
Tom.


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[Grandcrew]

Rolex seems to have subtle ways of distinguishing the ultra luxury products from the luxury products.

[powerfunk]

Density and purity has already been mentioned but just to provide a clear mental number, there's about 1.5x more platinum in a platinum watch than a gold watch. (1.26̅x more pure and about 1.2x more dense)

[HogwldFLTR]

Why? Because it's platinum... Look at Visa and Master Cards as well.. All the same...