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desertcop204 · 14 August 2013, 05:59 AM

We all know how rumors are and their reliability, but my work partner (who is also a Rolex guy) was talking to an AD one day recently while window shopping. The AD said that his rolex rep had been by a while back and told him that Rolex has recently tweaked their gold alloy slightly to harden it up a little but, conceivably to help with scratch resistance, as opposed to the older softer alloy.

So, anyone notice any difference between a newer gold piece and how it holds up versus say a watch from five or six years ago? My first watch with gold on it was a TT GMT back in 2001 and it was so prone to scratches I was paranoid to wear it, but the Day Date I have now hardly has any wear on it at all. Granted, I am way more cautious with this one than my first, but I just wonder if they did change the formula to harden it a touch?

azguy · 14 August 2013, 06:10 AM

sounds like "tweaked" would mean less gold content in their watches in order to make them harder, $mart....

desertcop204 · 14 August 2013, 06:57 AM

Possibly. What my partner said exactly, was that the AD claimed that Titanium was now added to the alloy. Not sure what that would do, as I'm a pilot, not a metallurgist, but I'm assuming the rumor falls into the category that most do, i.e., BS.

kilyung · 14 August 2013, 06:57 AM

The only brand that I've heard to do this was Hublot and their Magic Gold. It's still 18k but mixed with ceramics to improved scratch-resistance. Only thing is it no longer looks like YG.

As for Rolex, I only know that they went from 14k to 18k decades ago... thus worsening scratch-resistance. Although I don't know if any of the alloys used in the modern gold help.

kieselguhr · 14 August 2013, 07:14 AM

All this fancy gold concoctions.
Just get a platinum Rolex, problem solved.

Reu · 14 August 2013, 07:38 AM

Sounds like typical AD twaddle to me.

The GMT Master · 14 August 2013, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azguy

sounds like "tweaked" would mean less gold content in their watches in order to make them harder, $mart....

18ct will always have to have 75% gold content, regardless of the other metals in the alloy

rmfnla · 14 August 2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

18ct will always have to have 75% gold content, regardless of the other metals in the alloy

Exactly.

If they wanted to make the alloy harder they might sub out something in the remaining 25%.

Cc1966 · 14 August 2013, 08:21 AM

I remember a jeweller once telling me that titanium was added/used to make gold "harder".

novan3 · 14 August 2013, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cc1966

I remember a jeweller once telling me that titanium was added/used to make gold "harder".

That's funny because nothing scratches faster than a titanium watch.

Dr.Brian · 14 August 2013, 09:37 AM

http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/gold-alloys.htm
Enjoy.
I'm a little surprised that someone hasn't marketed their own proprietary super hard 14k gold for watches.
If the color was good, I'd buy it.

Dr.Brian · 14 August 2013, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novan3

That's funny because nothing scratches faster than a titanium watch.

IWC hardens it's titanium. It has held up great with heavy use.
Like gold alloys, not all titanium is the same.

SUBversive · 14 August 2013, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reu

Sounds like typical AD twaddle to me.

A trip to the AD can be like a trip to the car dealer sometimes. No offense car salesmen out there....

Rolexpilot · 14 August 2013, 11:32 AM

If Rolex made some gold alloy with titanium they would have some fantastic name for it.

richard371 · 14 August 2013, 12:11 PM

The grade 5 Ti omega now uses is much tougher. Scratches less then any SS rolex or other SS/Ti watches I have owned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

IWC hardens it's titanium. It has held up great with heavy use.
Like gold alloys, not all titanium is the same.

porschejeff · 14 August 2013, 12:13 PM

I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder

kilyung · 14 August 2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschejeff

I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder

I just spit up my soda!

Hairdude1 · 14 August 2013, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschejeff

I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder

Cc1966 · 14 August 2013, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hairdude1

novan3 · 14 August 2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

IWC hardens it's titanium. It has held up great with heavy use.
Like gold alloys, not all titanium is the same.

You're absolutely right, good point. Sinn also Tegiments (kolsterizes) Ti.

busytimmy · 14 August 2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschejeff

I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder

padi56 · 14 August 2013, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertcop204

We all know how rumors are and their reliability, but my work partner (who is also a Rolex guy) was talking to an AD one day recently while window shopping. The AD said that his rolex rep had been by a while back and told him that Rolex has recently tweaked their gold alloy slightly to harden it up a little but, conceivably to help with scratch resistance, as opposed to the older softer alloy.

So, anyone notice any difference between a newer gold piece and how it holds up versus say a watch from five or six years ago? My first watch with gold on it was a TT GMT back in 2001 and it was so prone to scratches I was paranoid to wear it, but the Day Date I have now hardly has any wear on it at all. Granted, I am way more cautious with this one than my first, but I just wonder if they did change the formula to harden it a touch?

Many ADs have been known to talk through where the sun don't shine Rolex 18 Ct gold is just that no matter who makes it 75% pure gold the other 25% of the alloy added is mostly copper/nickel in the yellow now they add a bit of silver.And for white gold the gold alloy is mixed with a small amount of Platinum or Palladium plus copper or other alloys to turn yellow gold into white and its not Rhodium plated. And with there so called Everose gold a tiny amount of Platinum is added to the copper gold alloy mix.And with watches like the ceramic LV at one time Rolex called it a green gold dial even on the web site,but it was soon removed as the dial was not solid gold.But a aliminum disc coated very similar to a PVD coating with a mixture of gold power and aliminum oxide in a unknown process to to turn it green gold effect. But as always 18Ct gold is just that, and when scrapped you get the same price no matter the maker.

Vincent65 · 14 August 2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolexpilot

If Rolex made some gold alloy with titanium they would have some fantastic name for it.

Titlex... Roletit, maybe !?

Trouble15 · 14 August 2013, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschejeff

I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder

Billywiz · 14 August 2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent65

Titlex... Roletit, maybe !?

...blurted my morning coffee...thanks!

gpfps · 14 August 2013, 09:45 PM

If Rolex wanted to make their 18k harder they simply would go back to 14k which is less soft ! But I love 18k because of the weight. Collage ring is 10k to make stand up to more abuse.

stockjock1975 · 14 August 2013, 09:46 PM

Lange did something similar recently when it introduced watches made in "honey gold". I never looked into the composition, but they claim it was significantly harder and more scratch resistant than regular gold.

rmfnla · 15 August 2013, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschejeff

I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder

Good one, Jeff!

14 August 2013, 05:59 AM	#1
desertcop204 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chandler, Arizona Posts: 119	Heard a rumor about Rolex gold alloys We all know how rumors are and their reliability, but my work partner (who is also a Rolex guy) was talking to an AD one day recently while window shopping. The AD said that his rolex rep had been by a while back and told him that Rolex has recently tweaked their gold alloy slightly to harden it up a little but, conceivably to help with scratch resistance, as opposed to the older softer alloy. So, anyone notice any difference between a newer gold piece and how it holds up versus say a watch from five or six years ago? My first watch with gold on it was a TT GMT back in 2001 and it was so prone to scratches I was paranoid to wear it, but the Day Date I have now hardly has any wear on it at all. Granted, I am way more cautious with this one than my first, but I just wonder if they did change the formula to harden it a touch?

14 August 2013, 09:37 AM	#11
Dr.Brian 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Brian Location: CA dreamin' Watch: ing the market. Posts: 5,906	http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/gold-alloys.htm Enjoy. I'm a little surprised that someone hasn't marketed their own proprietary super hard 14k gold for watches. If the color was good, I'd buy it. __________________ -Brian AUDENTES FORTUNA IUVAT 十人十色

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14 August 2013, 06:10 AM	#2
azguy Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: ------- Location: ------- Watch: --------- Posts: 12,609	sounds like "tweaked" would mean less gold content in their watches in order to make them harder, $mart....

14 August 2013, 06:57 AM	#3
desertcop204 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chandler, Arizona Posts: 119	Possibly. What my partner said exactly, was that the AD claimed that Titanium was now added to the alloy. Not sure what that would do, as I'm a pilot, not a metallurgist, but I'm assuming the rumor falls into the category that most do, i.e., BS.

14 August 2013, 06:57 AM	#4
kilyung 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cave Watch: Sundial Posts: 33,940	The only brand that I've heard to do this was Hublot and their Magic Gold. It's still 18k but mixed with ceramics to improved scratch-resistance. Only thing is it no longer looks like YG. As for Rolex, I only know that they went from 14k to 18k decades ago... thus worsening scratch-resistance. Although I don't know if any of the alloys used in the modern gold help.

14 August 2013, 07:14 AM	#5
kieselguhr "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2013 Real Name: Nick Location: Las Vegas Watch: 1601 Posts: 10,623	All this fancy gold concoctions. Just get a platinum Rolex, problem solved.

14 August 2013, 07:38 AM	#6
Reu Banned Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London Posts: 1,152	Sounds like typical AD twaddle to me.

14 August 2013, 08:21 AM	#9
Cc1966 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Real Name: Christopher Location: Georgia, USA Watch: ing the Sea... Posts: 6,713	I remember a jeweller once telling me that titanium was added/used to make gold "harder".

14 August 2013, 11:32 AM	#14
Rolexpilot Banned Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Posts: 157	If Rolex made some gold alloy with titanium they would have some fantastic name for it.

14 August 2013, 12:13 PM	#16
porschejeff "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Real Name: Jeff Location: Michigan Watch: DD 228238 Posts: 2,460	I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder

14 August 2013, 09:45 PM	#26
gpfps Banned Join Date: Aug 2008 Real Name: George Location: Detroit Michigan Watch: 18078 Posts: 1,142	If Rolex wanted to make their 18k harder they simply would go back to 14k which is less soft ! But I love 18k because of the weight. Collage ring is 10k to make stand up to more abuse.

14 August 2013, 09:46 PM	#27
stockjock1975 Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: Brian Location: Cleveland, OH Watch: Platona Posts: 1,569	Lange did something similar recently when it introduced watches made in "honey gold". I never looked into the composition, but they claim it was significantly harder and more scratch resistant than regular gold.

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