904L Steel used in Submariners...

[Jedi]

Something just tweaked in my mind and I'm too lazy to search, and thought I'd post instead...

My SubDate was bought in 1993, and this was confirmed as a 1993 production when the watch was serviced recently.

Question is, when did Rolex start using the 904 steel?

[Overkill]

I believe 904L was first used in the Sub ref. 168000 back in 1987, so yours would be made out of 904L.

[f16570]

Why did they change to 904L steel?

[mickeydainish]

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthr...ear#post532769

Sorri for the link... an interesting read on the Watchuseek forum..

[f16570]

Originally Posted by mickeydainish

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthr...ear#post532769

Sorri for the link... an interesting read on the Watchuseek forum..

Thanks mickeyd

[mickeydainish]

.....aint no thang, brutha! :-)

[Trurolexer]

Nice link...

[Jedi]

Cheers Mickey me mate... GO CATS!!

[Fordex]

I found out my watch was a 168000 when I got it back from RSC Monday. Nice surprise.

[frostie]

Originally Posted by mickeydainish

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthr...ear#post532769

Sorri for the link... an interesting read on the Watchuseek forum..

Nice link Mickey thanks for sharing

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by frostie

Nice link Mickey thanks for sharing

Seconded!

I had to check out some of those elements, as I stopped taking chemistry some thirty years ago.

[kelly56]

nice link. thanks for sharing.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by f16570

Why did they change to 904L steel?

Plain and simple IMO just plain marketing hype and a Quote from Rolex employee in 2002.
At the moment, we have several companies all over the world, serving our needs for stainless steel. The watch case backs and bracelets are all made of X2CrNiMo17-12-2 which bu the way is the code for 316L and is the best compromise between the attributes of the variant materials. As usual, the steel is melted under vacuum, so we get an very pure base, which is easy to handle and allows almost perfect polishing. I think, the same procedure as in every good gold smelting company.Well as we all know 904L has a quite high nickel content, and nickel can be quite irritant to skin.And as far as I am aware only certain parts of Rolex are 904L the rest according to a Rolex employee the more common 316L.But would doubt if Rolex would say that because 904L,is approx 3 times more expensive than the more common 316L.And we all know more expensive or bigger,deeper rated etc is always better.But 904L has no magical properties and in reality nothing special more hype than anything.And many industries use 904L in Processing plant for sulphuric, phosphoric and acetic acids Pulp and paper processing,Components in gas scrubbing plants,Seawater cooling equipment,Oil refinery components,plus many others.Myself was in the steel making industry for almost 30 years in every way 316L is as good 904L in some ways better.
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