Will Rolex White gold turn yellow?

[dgt1031]

After years of wear, will the white gold president bracelet need to be rhodium plated or will it maintain it's white color?

[WatchSmith]

Rhodium plated? Good lord don't do that!
I've never owned a WG watch so I can't tell you, but rhodium plating would be a huge mistake on a fine Rolex.

[generic0]

I hear that Rolex watches aren't rhodium plated to begin with, which should mean they won't behave badly and turn yellow...any experts around?

[gold4u2]

I am not sure if Rolex rhodium plates their watches but, I would have to guess yes. I have been in the jewelry business for over 28 years. I would say most if not ALL white gold items are rhodium plated. This is just a standard pratice for a bright white finish. Keep in mind gold is yellow. 24k is 24 parts pure gold. 18k is 3/4 parts pure gold. White gold is 'white" because of the alloy mixture. Only 1/4 of the alloy mix in 18k white gold is white metal. White gold items do sometimes appear yellowish after wear and the rhodium finish is worn off.

Just a side note. A lot of yellow gold items are "gold washed" or plated in 18k or 21k gold too. Sometimes when you look at gold chains in a showcase some items are more yellow than others, some of them are gold washed.

[Tri-National-Man]

"white gold" can be rhodium plated yellow gold which does tend to yellow after lots of wear but in watchmaking the norm is a mixture of 24K fine gold and a variable proportion of copper and silver which makes it possible to increase its hardness and vary its colour. So white gold will have proportionately more silver in than rose gold (more copper) and yellow gold. Hope this helps..

[rajurama]

Good question. White gold is made of 75% pure gold and 25% special alloy which gives a warm white color. Usually the bezels or white gold jewellery is rhodium plated to give out a bright white color. However rolex watches and bracelets are not rhodium plated and the secret to the color is their special alloy, which will never lose its color! :)

[kingel]

Actually, Rolex touts their white gold as not being rhodium plated and never turning... My Ad let me read the Rolex training manual that is given to AD's a while back, and in there was an extensive section on Rolex having a unique alloy to their white gold that makes it more pure and doesn't turn. It specifically says unlike other watch companies, Rolex does not have to rhodium plate their gold. They use Platinum and other more expensive alloys vs. silver and other that most white gold is made with...

I believe they do the same thing with the rose gold and it's talked about on their website.. My Ad told me that's one of the reason's white and rose are priced a little higher

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by kingel

Actually, Rolex touts their white gold as not being rhodium plated and never turning... My Ad let me read the Rolex training manual that is given to AD's a while back, and in there was an extensive section on Rolex having a unique alloy to their white gold that makes it more pure and doesn't turn. It specifically says unlike other watch companies, Rolex does not have to rhodium plate their gold. They use Platinum and other more expensive alloys vs. silver and other that most white gold is made with...

I believe they do the same thing with the rose gold and it's talked about on their website.. My Ad told me that's one of the reason's white and rose are priced a little higher

This sounds correct. I read that Rolex uses their own proprietary mixture to obtain such a beautiful finish on all their metals, which is why they preface the name of each metal with the name Rolesor, when describing each metal.

Kat


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[drrd]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

This sounds correct. I read that Rolex uses their own proprietary mixture to obtain such a beautiful finish on all their metals, which is why they preface the name of each metal with the name Rolesor, when describing each metal.

Kat


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Rolesor is their name for bi-metal watches, steel and gold, or Rolesium for steel and platinum in the case of the Yacht Master 40.


I think Everose is the only Rolex precious metal alloy that has a name.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by drrd

Rolesor is their name for bi-metal watches, steel and gold, or Rolesium for steel and platinum in the case of the Yacht Master 40.


I think Everose is the only Rolex precious metal alloy that has a name.

Yes, sorry about that. This is what I read:

“The source of the shine
The radiance of the gold used for Rolex watches can be ascribed to the absolute purity of
the exclusive alloys that the brand creates
in its own foundry by melting noble metals at over 1,000 °C.
Here, 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold are created, cast and formed
in accordance with the strictest quality criteria, ensuring a peerless,
handsome lustre for Rolex watch cases and bracelets.”

Also, the Everose is also included under the Rolesor umbrella. Rolex has patented the name Rolesor.


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[padi56]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

This sounds correct. I read that Rolex uses their own proprietary mixture to obtain such a beautiful finish on all their metals, which is why they preface the name of each metal with the name Rolesor, when describing each metal.

Kat


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Kat the word Rolesor is a made up word used by Rolex in TT watches mixed metal say SS and gold,as they cannot state it's gold unless it's all 100% 18Ct gold.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by padi56

Kat the word Rolesor is a made up word used by Rolex in TT watches mixed metal say SS and gold,as they cannot state it's gold unless it's all 100% 18Ct gold.

Thanks, Peter, for clearing that up. My mistake. I got that wrong. I thought it was a made up word for their proprietary formulas they use to make their own gold mixtures, in their foundry. I guess they just call those white, yellow, and Everose gold. I do wonder why they thought they even needed a special name for the bimetal watches. Notice none of us on here refers to them as Rolesor.

Kat


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[goldfixer21]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

This sounds correct. I read that Rolex uses their own proprietary mixture to obtain such a beautiful finish on all their metals, which is why they preface the name of each metal with the name Rolesor, when describing each metal.

Kat


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There are a number of companies that make a white gold alloy that doesn't require rhodium plating. Rolex does not have a "magic gold formula" that no one else knows about. I use X1 white gold alloys, pretty much the same thing Rolex uses. Any company with a XRF can duplicate any alloy.

[worktolivelife]

Rolex solid white gold watches are made from a gold alloy mix 75% gold 25% mix of palladium / silver /copper combination no plating whatsoever it will remain the colour/hue the same the date you bought it brand new. wear or polishing will not effect it its a solid alloy

[Jocke]

Yes it will be yellow, here is one of my bezel's.



Jocke

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Yes it will be yellow, here is one of my bezel's.



Jocke

Yes as i mentioned earlier fluted bezels were rhodium plated. But i suppose the the newer models would not turn yellow for sure.

[GeoGio Greece]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Yes it will be yellow, here is one of my bezel's.




Jocke

Oh Lord ! I have seen EXACTLY the same colour back in 1987 in a WG DayDate my uncle had. Thank you Jocke for posting.

On the other hand, my wifes' bezel is still shinny but also unworn and is cleaned every month by me !!

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by GeoGio Greece

On the other hand, my wifes' bezel is still shinny but also unworn and is cleaned every month by me !!

Are you sure you don't mean belly?



Jocke

[Erson]

Originally Posted by worktolivelife

Rolex solid white gold watches are made from a gold alloy mix 75% gold 25% mix of palladium / silver /copper combination no plating whatsoever it will remain the colour/hue the same the date you bought it brand new. wear or polishing will not effect it its a solid alloy

Are u sure?

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Erson

Are u sure?

Rolex is.

Rolex exclusively uses 18 ct gold, a princely alloy composed of 750‰ (thousandths) of pure gold, plus exactly the right mixture of elements including silver and copper necessary to produce the different types of 18 ct gold: yellow, white and Everose, Rolex's exclusive pink gold alloy. Jealously-guarded formulas ensure exceptional durability, polishability – and an extraordinary sheen that lasts for generations.

https://www.rolex.com/about-rolex-wa...materials.html

[HK_Expat]

My WG Sub is 16 years old, purchased new by me and looks the same as the day I bought it

[77T]

Originally Posted by Erson

Are u sure?

You dragged up a 10 year old thread post to ask that question?


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[2th Dr]

Hey Jocke, would that be your "banger"?

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by 2th DR

Hey Jocke, would that be your "banger"?

That is my beater.

Jocke

[Andad]

Hey Jocke,

Is that brass showing through on your beater?

[Dalton]

Rolesor is white and should never turn yellow. If it does then it's not Rolesor. Rolesor is Rolex WG, which differs from everyone else. No Rhodium plating needed.

[Dalton]

Originally Posted by Dalton

Rolesor is white and should never turn yellow. If it does then it's not Rolesor. Rolesor is Rolex WG, which differs from everyone else. No Rhodium plating needed.

I retract my Rolesor comment. What am I? High?

[WatchSmith]

I have also been in the jewelry industry for nearly 30 years and IMHO rhodium plating a white gold Rolex would be a huge mistake. But I would advise getting an opinion from the folks at Rolex.

[rijowysock]

but over time.. all gold variations will turn yellow... as the bonds with the other elements break up and the true gold shows thru.. everose they say was stabilized with platinum and therefore the copper bonds cannot be broken by chlorine as they usually are in rose gold.. but maybe not by chlorine but i bet over long enough time it will yellow.. good thing is only the outermost layer yellows and once polished you bring out a new layer that has not seen the chemical in question that broke the bonds..

rolex's white gold might be stabilized with platinum as well, but regardless of what they say.. over enough time it will yellow... just takes time and certain elements that will break down the bond.. nothing in life is 'permanent"

other brands that dont have the "magical" combination of metals rolex foundry uses will yellow quicker.. but again a polish will alleviate this.. personally i love when white gold yellows and when rose gold yellows... and some rose golds actually darken depending on what they have been mixed with... it gives it character

as far as "rhodium" plating.. that was done to make sure the gold wouldnt yellow because they had not yet perfected a good enough mixture to make it deter yellowing... most watches are not rhodium plated now because they have come up with better mixtures that deter it better, but of course none are permanent......

rhodium plating sucked anyways because it inhibited refinishing.. which to me is 1000x more important than yellowing.


as far as rolex's gold watches being more expensive.. i guess they could be given they go thru more trouble to hinder yellowing.. but rolex also i think is the only watch company with their own foundry for precious metals... so this would cause a great deal of savings... gold watches are more because of the metal, because of the tooling needed (bits get gunked up quicker than steel).. most lower end watch companies such as rolex charge a huge premium for precious metal watches because they can, theirs really no justification for it on metal costs and tooling alone given the amount of pieces they make... most expensive watch companies openly say "we are in the business of selling fine movements and not cases.. the cases are only there to house our movements" and for that reason their gold models are only a tiny bit more to cover the metal and tooling needs... white gold being more than rose always because of the process to whiten is harder than the process to make gold rosey.

gotta always do your own research because if you believe all the hype some brands throw at you you'll never know what is correct.

ill put 5 million dollars down on everose yellowing over time and rolex white also yellowing over time... just depends on how much time... nothing is permanent unless its an element... even then it can decay/age... but will remain pure...

white gold, rose gold, blue gold, black gold, purple gold, green gold, pink gold, kings gold, etc... are all mixtures with the base of gold.. which in time the gold will last longer and show thru.

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by rijowysock

white gold, rose gold, blue gold, black gold, purple gold, green gold, pink gold, kings gold, etc... are all mixtures with the base of gold.. which in time the gold will last longer and show thru.

So what is your estimate as to how long before Rolex WG begins to yellow? 5 years, 15 years, 100 years? Just curious. This is the first I have ever read that this happens.