DD40 Platinum or WG?

[Ace2Rolex]

Hello fellow TRFers!

I've decided to take the collection up a notch and I've decided on the DD40 WG. Before taking the plunge I was hoping a few of you could shed some on light a few points. Been scouring the wwws and coming up short. I know this topic has probably been covered to death, but I was hoping for some more scientific answers. I'm definitely set on the WG, just trying to get as much info as I can before taking the plunge.

1. Several AD's have mentioned that Rolex mixes their yellow gold with Platinum to ensure the color doesn't fade. Can anyone confirm this to be true? I can't seem to find it document anywhere.

2. Does anyone know the mixture in Rolex WG? Do they in fact use platinum, are they mixing nickel in? (have a slight nickel allergy which isn't too bad with the 904L but if they use more nickel in the WG then I may be in trouble.. expensive trouble ;)

3. For those of you who have experience with both WG/SS/Platinum. Will the WG scratch considerably more than Platinum? I have an SS with PCLs that scratch up pretty easy and a TT with which scratches significantly more. Should I expect WG to be a scratch magnet like the yellow or will it be closer to the SS PCLs?

4. Does anyone have any knowledge of the actual weight in ounces of precious metal in the DD40?


As always, thanks for the help.

[Hkexpat183]

I have no scientific answers for you but I know many people on TRF will have the knowledge.

I have both platinum DD2 and WG skydweller. My view is platinum. Obviously a price difference but the platinum is so "white" and crisp. Where the WG can be a little duller and hint of yellow.

Just my view. You won't be disappointed with the WG...well at least until you have a platinum DD right next to it to compare the color and weight.

Good luck.

[kunlun]

Yeah, it turns out they scratch about the same. Rolex does add a bit of platinum in their wg alloy. Just look at both at an AD and see what you like. It's a little silly to make blanket statements about how one is better than the other. The platinum will be a bit heavier.

I have a pt. watch. I like it a lot, but it would be no less special to me if I had gotten it in wg.

[Ace2Rolex]

Thank you both. I did try the platinum DD. I'm a sucker for the fluted bezel and I actually prefer the yellow tint in the WG. I'm a YG fan deep down but need something a bit more subtle on the wrist for daily wear. The WG hits that spot on for me. Also a fan of the weight, I found the platinum just a bit too heavy and about double what I'd like to spend 😉


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[peterskinner]

I wear a white gold DD40. It looks lovely but also sufficiently like stainless steel for people not to notice. Which is important to me; I don't want people remarking on my watch.
WG does scratch more easily, but it can also be polished out quite easily.
I assume a service and repolishing every six or seven years.
BTW: was the reference to the percentage of nickel because of a problem with skin allergies? If so, ask Rolex directly.

[Wing-Co]

I tried DD 40mm WG on last week and it was very nice. Not too heavy and compared to when I tried on the YG much more subtle (in my opinion).

[iim7v7im7]

The answer is simple:

Which one do you like better on your wrist?

- The hue is different,
- the weight is different,
- the bezel is different and
- the dial is different.

Platinum is about 40% more expensive than a white gold. If you prefer it after trying it, you have to decide if your preference is commensurate with the price difference.

Myself, the answer was white gold.

[robbonds]

can't you polish plat as much as you want? since the metal just redistributes instead of polishing away...my platona doesnt scratch like my smurf did

[cmcm3]

I'd go white gold because I just like the look of it way better than the platinum one - because of the bezel.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by kunlun

Yeah, it turns out they scratch about the same. Rolex does add a bit of platinum in their wg alloy.

A bit? More like nearly £2Ks worth I love the ice blue dial the most so if you can take the weight and price the Plat one.

[Wing-Co]

I was back in the AD today and an amendment to the previous post of mine - it is quite heavy, not DSSD, but it has some weight. Also don't know how big guys get on with the standard size bracelet as I only had 3 small links out and I'm a 6.75 flat wrist. Interesting seeing the new ceramic inserts that go inside the bracelet, like little sleeves. Should pick-up next Saturday after all the painful payment stuff goes through!

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Originally Posted by robbonds

can't you polish plat as much as you want? since the metal just redistributes instead of polishing away...my platona doesnt scratch like my smurf did

I had a jeweler tell me the same thing once.

[tomchicago]

Platinum is the cheaper metal, but you get more of it (95%). Gold is the more expensive metal (gold is worth about 28% more than platinum), but you get less of it in the watch (75%). Live prices here: http://www.kitco.com/market/

Note a lot of platty folks have their egos tied up in their watch and will probably unleash invective about this. But, fact is, platinum is the cheaper metal.

[Dove37]

Fluted bezel so WG.

[madmax21]

I think you should look at both watches thoroughly and get a feel for how comfortable they are, I know platinum is fairly heavy in weight more them wg. My personal view is to avoid either platinum or white gold and gold stainless steel. But if you do like the feel of the watch go for it.

[elcompa]

WG for me. It simply has a warmer feel.

[tkerrmd]

if you can swing the platinum I would go for that

much brighter metal, significantly heavier, and the feel is second to nothing!

[RHIII]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

if you can swing the platinum I would go for that

much brighter metal, significantly heavier, and the feel is second to nothing!

I completely agree with Tom on this one. Also - for me the glacier blue dial is second to none!!!

I say Platinum DD40 with the glacier blue diagonal motif dial!!!!



Good luck!!

[Danny83]

Platinum

[Roll the Lex]

WG all the way- I love the yg tone that's subtle- sometimes it looks like SS, sometimes it looks duller than SS, sometimes it looks almost like YG depending on the angle and light.

Don't get me wrong- platinum's weight is amazing- have a TT wedding band made of platinum and gold and the first thing I noticed was the weight. But for me it's not worth the massive price premium to have the watch made of it. But I will say the ice blue dials are gorgeous...

I've been wearing a WG Rolex now for about 7 months daily now.
Does it scratch? Yes. Basically anywhere that's polished will have scratches- it's worst on the PCLs. On the brushed surfaces, I have some scratches.

I've owned an Explorer I for 2yrs , a TT sub-c for 1 yr and both were part of a collection for the year I owned the TT sub-c. Now I only have the Pepsi. The Pepsi scratches easier but nothing where I regret the purchase. But then again I'm not too concerned with scratches. And I don't plan on getting it polished. If I were that concerned about scratches, I probably would not have gotten the pepsi as the only watch.

[Ace2Rolex]

WG is definitely my preference - the tint makes it warmer, could be seen as SS by those less savvy, which I like. The last decision is rhodium stripe vs silver stripe.. I'm leaning toward silver but not having seen the rhodium in person is making me second guess..

I've got an SS Sub, love the black dial contrast / SS DJ with silver face, love the solid look / TT ToG with white dial, love the look as well. Makes th DD choice a tough one. The consensus on TRF seems to lean toward rhodium but since this group tends to lean toward sport models I see the appeal of the contrast.

[hoanghung45]

Platinum for me. Not a big fan of WG hue. Looks dull in some conditions. But in the end it's all about your budget. Choose the one you are comfortable to go with as you can totally buy 2 WG Rolex with 1 Platinum price tag

[peterskinner]

If I could afford it, I would probably have the platinum. But I can't and I am very happy with the white gold. We all have our limits,well, most of us do. As for the silver stripes or rhodium, I wanted rhodium until I saw it against the silver. Nice but a bit dark for me; but this is very personal, and over a period most of us may fancy a change anyway.
Does anyone know how much a new dial costs? I know it has to be fitted during a service. And can you keep your original hands?

[Ace2Rolex]

Last I checked for a DJ the dial price was $550 including the labor from RSC.

[iim7v7im7]

Originally Posted by peterskinner

If I could afford it, I would probably have the platinum. But I can't and I am very happy with the white gold. We all have our limits,well, most of us do. As for the silver stripes or rhodium, I wanted rhodium until I saw it against the silver. Nice but a bit dark for me; but this is very personal, and over a period most of us may fancy a change anyway.
Does anyone know how much a new dial costs? I know it has to be fitted during a service. And can you keep your original hands?

Same here...you need to see them in person before deciding. To me, the WG hands disappeared a bit against the dark rhodium stripe dial. This surprised me...

[beer]

Originally Posted by tomchicago

Platinum is the cheaper metal, but you get more of it (95%). Gold is the more expensive metal (gold is worth about 28% more than platinum), but you get less of it in the watch (75%). Live prices here: http://www.kitco.com/market/

Note a lot of platty folks have their egos tied up in their watch and will probably unleash invective about this. But, fact is, platinum is the cheaper metal.

platinum is also denser than gold so on top of the higher platinum count in the alloy used, more weight is required to fill the same space

i think i remember reading here that in total there is about 40% more platinum in a platinum watch than gold in a gold watch

[1William]

I have owned a PT. DD II and while it was a beautiful watch I moved it based on the fit, weight and how much I had tied up in it. I have never owned a WG watch but the DD II in WG interests me with the black dial with diamonds. Fit and weight should be a factor but also the cost.

[Jcy90]

I would say platinum all the way. Love the domed bezel. Love the glacier dial. Love the blue hands.

[RichM]

If it were me, I'd save some money and go with WG.

Except for a WIS, at 10ft. no one would know the difference.