DateJust 31mm Silver vs Rhodium dial for wife...

[JJL]

I've just been enlightened that there is a difference between an silver and a rhodium dial in the DateJust model. This whole time, my wife and I have been looking for a silver dialed DateJust for her - until we saw it next to the rhodium. It's been the rhodium dial this whole time that she has wanted, not silver!!

I wonder why Rolex makes 2 different colors, which are so very close. It also surprised me that the "silver" is actually more of a champagne color and the rhodium is more silver'ish.

Confusing! :)

[Tools]

Rhodium is part of the platinum family and is popular..

Personally, I do not find the rhodium dial easy to see..... it is a very bright, almost chrome color.

Mrs Tools went through the same thing a while back and decided on the silver diamond dial which has a bit warmer look and is much easier to tell the time with............

[JJL]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rhodium is part of the platinum family and is popular..

Personally, I do not find the rhodium dial easy to see..... it is a very bright, almost chrome color.

Mrs Tools went through the same thing a while back and decided on the silver diamond dial which has a bit warmer look and is much easier to tell the time with............

Interesting, thanks for the info. I'll run that info by my wife. I know she prefers the look of the rhodium, but maybe not if she knows it is going to be more difficult to tell the time.

Being in the platinum family - does the rhodium dial cost more than the silver?

Thanks again for the input!

[SaddleSC]

I have owned both Silver and Rhodium dial Datejusts and just a word of advice...the Rhodium is one of the most difficult watches to tell time on (in anything but the best lighting conditions). Silver is much easier to read.

In fact, I recently traded my Silver DJ on a White dial and I can practically read it from across the room. Make sure if you choose Rhodium that you are willing to make the trade off of style vs visibility.

Hope this helps.

[JJL]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

I have owned both Silver and Rhodium dial Datejusts and just a word of advice...the Rhodium is one of the most difficult watches to tell time on (in anything but the best lighting conditions). Silver is much easier to read.

In fact, I recently traded my Silver DJ on a White dial and I can practically read it from across the room. Make sure if you choose Rhodium that you are willing to make the trade off of style vs visibility.

Hope this helps.

Wow, this really seems to be an issue. I highly appreciate the info.

I have a few questions, and I honestly do NOT mean to offend anyone so please don't take it that way -
but do you guys/gals have sharp/good eyesight?
Also, is it just the shine of the rhodium dial that makes it difficult to read, or does it all blend in when in low lighting?

Thanks again for all this info, it might be a game changer for my wife!

[p_mcgee]

whatever you do, don't get the wrong one...you will never hear the end of it

[SaddleSC]

Originally Posted by JJL

Wow, this really seems to be an issue. I highly appreciate the info.

I have a few questions, and I honestly do NOT mean to offend anyone so please don't take it that way -
but do you guys/gals have sharp/good eyesight?
Also, is it just the shine of the rhodium dial that makes it difficult to read, or does it all blend in when in low lighting?

Thanks again for all this info, it might be a game changer for my wife!

The reason why this surprises people is that most watches look great under the high-intensity lights at the AD, and then it is an entirely different story when you live with the watch for a few weeks in the "real world."

Under less than ideal light conditions, the color of the hands combined with the slightly more reflective character of the Rhodium causes them to be almost exactly the same color. No contrast = poor visibility.

BTW, I have excellent eyesight

[m5blitzer]

Rhodium tends to be more reflective. Both dials are nice selections.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by JJL

Wow, this really seems to be an issue. I highly appreciate the info.

I have a few questions, and I honestly do NOT mean to offend anyone so please don't take it that way -
but do you guys/gals have sharp/good eyesight?
Also, is it just the shine of the rhodium dial that makes it difficult to read, or does it all blend in when in low lighting?

Thanks again for all this info, it might be a game changer for my wife!

Our eyesight is just fine.. However, there is little contrast on the rhodium dials to be able to tell where the hands are. It is also bright, so your eyes see the bright dial but can't pick up the somewhat narrow hands. The same issues occur with the Champagne dials if you don't have a very good set of hands installed........

[playingolf]

when i bought my dj last year, i spent some time comparing the rhodium with the silver dial. i ended up with the silver dial / stick markers for a couple different reasons and i'm very happy with the watch. in my opinion, the silver dial color changes a bit in different lighting conditions, viewing angles, etc and i really liked that. the rhodium appeared to be a bit more one dimensional and just looked gray most of the time. lastly, the rhodium only came with roman markers and i prefer the uniform look of the sticks. good luck...

[MortgageGuy]

My wife had the rhodium dial 31mm DJ in TT and loved it!!! I never once hear her complain about the readability or anything on the watch and she wore it for a couple of years.

The only reason we sold it was she wanted the new flower dial 36mm DJ with the diamond bezel...

Not sure if that helps but she didnt have a problem at all.

[kcmo]

I couldn't agree with Charles more regarding the legibility issue with a rhodium dial.

I owned a rhodium diamond dial DJ several years ago.....had always lusted after the rhodium. Well, within weeks I knew I'd made a mistake. Not easy to read at all, so I did a dial change for the silver diamond. While it was certainly more legible, it didn't last long in my collection and I went back to my first love...a WHITE DIAL.

Do yourself a favor and ask the AD to take the watch outside. Take a close look and really consider all of your options before deciding.

[BAM54321]

I have a rhodium dial and love the look. Visibility- with the exception of being in the dark because it has no lume- is not an issue for me. In fairness, I have nothing to compare it to, so perhaps the other dials are if fact easier to see.

[520Matt]

photos would be great.....