Why arent Rolex watches made from hardended steel?

[Txr]

Hi Guys,

First post here :)

I have always wondered why Rolex watches are not made from haredened steel or at least surface hardened. It would prevent getting them scratched.

Of course it would add manufacturing cost but with a 10000% profit span that shouldnt be a problem. Especially since they claim perfection.

Any ideas why this is the case?

cheers

Tx

[Mosco]

Then why would there be a need for Rolex service's refinishing?

[B. Doggy]

Cuz

[TSts]

Hardened steel can still scratch. I heat treat the stainless steel to H900 in the products my company produces, and that's after a full anneal process - they still scratch. Heat treating is great for increasing the strength of steel used in load bearing situations -those of which Rolexes are not subjected to in their intended situations.

[KirkWilfred]

thanks for the explanation TSts

[Txr]

Originally Posted by TSts

Hardened steel can still scratch. I heat treat the stainless steel to H900 in the products my company produces, and that's after a full anneal process - they still scratch. Heat treating is great for increasing the strength of steel used in load bearing situations -those of which Rolexes are not subjected to in their intended situations.

yes but its much harder to scratch. I have worked with molds that were through hardened and nitrited and you could hardly get a mark in them with a file. Now if a watch had that surface hardness you wouldnt have to worry about getting little scuffs in there :)

[StarSovereign]

What, you want them to be even more expensive? Plus rolex would lose out on charging people for a polish at service time, or at least lose out on throwing it in the included price - making it seem like a better value in the process...

[GradyPhilpott]

Every Rolex product is the pinnacle of perfection at the time it is introduces, with some cosmetic features sometimes being arguable.

904L has a lot of fine qualities for watchmaking, not the least of which is it's ability to take an impressive shine.

But, who knows there may be better alloys to come.

[rolexsubdate]

well why stop at scratches .... why not make the watch bomb proof.... or even nuclear blastproof.... also lets make the watch meltproof so it won't melt when thrown into a furnace or taken to the surface of the sun ....

scratches have nothing to do with function .... For Rolex, waterproofness is more important than preventing scratches ..... all they wanna do is make a watch that goes lets say 1000ft and keeps on ticking ... whether it gets scratched easily or whether the buyer eats it ,they do not care....the priority is functionality not looks or cosmetics...

[Joey_V]

Maybe scratchproofiness will be next. That'd be cool.

[Singslinger]

The German brand Sinn offers a line of watches made from submarine steel which is supposed to be several times harder and more resistant to saltwater corrosion than stainless steel.

I'm sure it adds to Sinn's appeal, especially for its diving watches.

[azkri]

RADO - with its 'scratch proof' case.

Maybe JJ could further enlightened us since he's the resident RADO expert.

[Bullyterrier]

Originally Posted by rolexsubdate

well why stop at scratches .... why not make the watch bomb proof.... or even nuclear blastproof.... also lets make the watch meltproof so it won't melt when thrown into a furnace or taken to the surface of the sun ....

scratches have nothing to do with function .... For Rolex, waterproofness is more important than preventing scratches ..... all they wanna do is make a watch that goes lets say 1000ft and keeps on ticking ... whether it gets scratched easily or whether the buyer eats it ,they do not care....the priority is functionality not looks or cosmetics...

If this is the case why have Rolex gone with ceramic bezels?

[padi56]

Well reading the many many posts on TRF quite a lot of Rolex watches today get a very pampered life.Many so pampered just don't know why they bother to make them from S.steel.Yes no matter what the material some time in a watches life they will get scratched.Myself cannot see what all the fuss is over a few normal wearing scratches.Now when service time is due those very nice people at the RSC will polish watch as good as new.If you don't want to acquire normal every day scratches then its simple just keep your Rolex in its box.But then why buy a watch just to look at in its box,a Rolex is for wearing and with very little care from the owner will last a life time and beyond to why worry about a few scratches.

[chris russell]

I have a couple of Sinn watches with the hardened surface. One has the Tegimented steel and the other has a hard black coating. Both are advertised to be as hard as sapphire, and in my experience that stands up. The one with the steel surface I wore for about a year, the black one for three years straight. Both of them look completely pristine, BNIB, unmarked. As far as Rolex doing this, they would have to accept a different surface look on the steel. It takes on a duller, grayer look, not really amenable to polishing. I doubt Rolex would think this was acceptable, so I don't see it happening in the foreseeable future.

[bmrisko]

Originally Posted by Txr

yes but its much harder to scratch. I have worked with molds that were through hardened and nitrited and you could hardly get a mark in them with a file. Now if a watch had that surface hardness you wouldnt have to worry about getting little scuffs in there :)

What grade of stainless?

[TSts]

Do you really want Rolex to produce a hardened steel case so you can throw a 'Blue Steel' pose?

[songxu]

hardened steel would be made of carbon steal, not nickel-blended-904L. Carbon steel is very hard, but will corrode by salt water.

And if scratch and corrosion is the one thing you pursue, then Tungston is much harder and corrision resistant. If you wear a tungston ring, and you hurt your finger, and it swells, you will lose your finger, because there is no tools can cut that ring off.

[bmrisko]

Originally Posted by songxu

If you wear a tungston ring, and you hurt your finger, and it swells, you will lose your finger, because there is no tools can cut that ring off.

Not true, hospitals now stock small diamond wheels that can cut tungsten rings off...it is best to keep one in your wallet though just in case.

[Mockingbird]

Originally Posted by songxu

hardened steel would be made of carbon steal, not nickel-blended-904L. Carbon steel is very hard, but will corrode by salt water.

And if scratch and corrosion is the one thing you pursue, then Tungston is much harder and corrision resistant. If you wear a tungston ring, and you hurt your finger, and it swells, you will lose your finger, because there is no tools can cut that ring off.

I was going to say 'Because there's no such thing as "hardended" steel' but that answers was better!