Platinum, W/Gold...looks just like Stainless Steel

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by MonBK

You need to take another look.

[mvmbles]

Another pic for reference. My now sold stainless steel 116264 with white gold bezel. That wg really looks different than ss to me.

[Chaching]

I couldn't justify a White Gold Rolex ....now Platinum is another story....but went Yellow Gold...the weight of a 18K Solid Yellow Gold Watch is just amazingly heavy. It feels right.

[gwozhog]

Originally Posted by PMiddy

For some reason I can't justify spending thousands of dollars more on a platinum or white gold Rolex when it looks like stainless steel to the naked eye...if I'm gonna spend that kind of $$$ I'm getting Yellow Gold all day.

Btw I'm not hating on TRF members or people who own these precious metal watches, just an opinion.

If it looks like chicken but taste like steak, I couldn't tell from a distance

I take it you have never slipped a platinum day date on your wrist. Even a blind man would know the difference. I also have more news for you. People do not notice watches so make sure you buy it for yourself not some stranger while your in line for a bagel.

[PMiddy]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

I take it you have never slipped a platinum day date on your wrist. Even a blind man would know the difference. I also have more news for you. People do not notice watches so make sure you buy it for yourself not some stranger while your in line for a bagel.

Point taken I've never held a platinum watch for comparison, and I'm not concerned about what people think I have on...I'm referring more to the LOOK, I know they're are subtle differences, but I prefer YG or possibly RG not for more attention, I like the LOOk of it instead of WG or Platinum

[wjgoretsky]

I had to try this on just to see how lovely it would be. Platinum DOES have a wonderful feel on the wrist, even if it's just me that knows.

[paijo]

Originally Posted by JJL

Your point is valid and completely makes sense. However, I then pose this question for you:


On the flip side to what you posted, part of the beauty of getting a platinum or white gold Rolex is that nobody knows it's a precious metal. (with exception to WIS of course)

Totally agrees with this.
Nobody notice when I wear this as a precious one.
But really like the weight in my wrist.
I may flip it to YG once I retired from office.

[caryyee]

Here's a WG GMT I tried on at my AD ... although I don't have a comparison pic, when I placed a brand new SS GMT beside it, the difference is extremely subtle. If the AD had switched bracelets and I could only see the watches separately and not side by side, I honestly could not 100% be able to visually tell the difference ...

[mcavana]

Originally Posted by caryyee

Here's a WG GMT I tried on at my AD ... although I don't have a comparison pic, when I placed a brand new SS GMT beside it, the difference is extremely subtle. If the AD had switched bracelets and I could only see the watches separately and not side by side, I honestly could not 100% be able to visually tell the difference ...

Thank you for sharing this!

[PMiddy]

Originally Posted by Alex_NYC

The OP is clearly buying watches for their public perception.

Nothing wrong with that.

A platinum piece or WG reference is for the owner's personal satisfaction.

To each their own. But I do understand his point about spending a lot more money for a minimal difference.

I actually like Yellow Gold, regardless of price...I don't care about public perception...The Rolex brand itself carry enough perception for most.

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by Chaching

I couldn't justify a White Gold Rolex ....now Platinum is another story....but went Yellow Gold...the weight of a 18K Solid Yellow Gold Watch is just amazingly heavy. It feels right.

Attachment 372180

Looks great!

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Docar

Imagine owning a Grand Seiko......talk about flying under the radar...

For me, it's not about how it may appear to others; it is how I perceive it.
My reaction to my watch is the only thing that counts.

Very true. The real allure of white gold would be this. A few weeks ago in the chow hall in a distant and dangerous country I spotted an older gentleman down the other end of our table wearing a Smurf. I couldn't believe it and and passed by on my way to get another drink and sure enough it was...I told my buddies, see that there watch, It's $30K, all jaws were agape.

Originally Posted by chicfarmer1

^That's what connoisseurship can do for someone. Discrimination and appreciation are refined skills, not crude ones.

For that matter, the general public can't tell a Sub from an Invicta...the deficit is in the untrained eye of the beholder.

Excellent comment and very true. It's the reason I can walk around Argentina with my DSSD and no one even notices.

Originally Posted by caryyee

Here's a WG GMT I tried on at my AD ... although I don't have a comparison pic, when I placed a brand new SS GMT beside it, the difference is extremely subtle. If the AD had switched bracelets and I could only see the watches separately and not side by side, I honestly could not 100% be able to visually tell the difference ...

This has happened to me over a dozen times at authorized dealers. There lighting and seeing a model I'm unfamiliar with has always surprised me when I look at the sticker or ask the price. Now that I'm a little more "trained" it happens a lot less. One model that always gets me is the Daytona, I still see nice models and assume they're stainless but end up being white gold.

Originally Posted by bluecollar

I'm sorry but that is just not true. I deal with precious metals on a daily basis. I can promise you that it is quite simple to pick out the wg, ss, and plat. If you can not tell the difference just by looking, then you need some more practice. Platinum will never have the same sheen that white gold does, and stainless, well, looks like stainless.

I disagree. What mcavana is saying is that if the finish is done equal on these three different metals on the exact same product that it will be difficult to discern which is precious. This is a very true statement, one that I believe is also one that Rolex recognizes to some extent as they offer the precious metals in unique configurations(dials, sizes, etc), specific to that metal.
However, I do think that there is a slight different luster to each metal and in most cases the metal type is apparent. Such is the case with the white gold sub.
But to the average person which as you say apparently isn't "practiced" enough than it really goes a long way in saying that these metals can blend into each other very easily as it relates to the masses. Again though, why does one buy something, solely selfish or for some kind of public perception.

Personally, If I wanted to make a statement it would depend on my audience. Yellow gold is universal and everyone will know even in the ghetto but having a titanium Richard Mille or stainless Aquanuat calendar watch says a lot more to whole other audience, one that I prefer more, if that were part of the reason I own something.

[Le Chef]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

However, I do think that there is a slight different luster to each metal and in most cases the metal type is apparent.

You can tell with to much difficulty if you are prepared to look.

[69mach351]

The average person is just impressed when they see a rolex. I am more impressed when someone really knows what they are looking at. Either way, get what you like. I would love a WG blue sub, and would buy it if they made it in SS, but they don't, so if I notice one, I know what it is.

[jlc123]

White gold and platinum have a different look and feel to them. They shine and feel much more substantial than steel.

[Chaching]

Originally Posted by jhcam8

Looks great!

Thanks! If you don't like attention don't get a Gold Rolex!

[Boopie]

I don't think the issue is whether one can tell the difference on the wrist, or side-by-side. If someone on the other side of the table had on a white gold watch, I wouldn't be able to distinguish it from SS (I have made that mistake before, with the Daytona). If someone handed it to me, I could tell the difference in heft.

I don't think Rolex makes any identical watch in SS vs. WG or Platinum, correct? That is, the only blue Submariner is the WG, there are no black WG Submariners, none of the Day-Dates are SS, etc.. The face that is on the WG Daytona is available only on WG, not on SS, etc.? Maybe only overlap in the DateJust?

[Chpdesign]

You can tell the difference.

[caryyee]

Comparing the brushed WG case of teh Smurf with the brushed SS case of the Hulk, nope, I can't tell the difference!

[DrNoi]

I like the WG Sub .. especially when wearing it.

Learning from TRF so much about watches as well as people who passion about it.

Some buy it to himself .. and Some buy it for other reasons.
"Buy what make you happy" :)
Anyway... wear it in good healthy
Cheers :)

[oneillba]

When and if I'm ever able to afford a president -- it will be YG.

[zhiunit]

PT/WG rolexes...those who dont know what it is wont rob u and those who do u what it is will probably start a conversation with u =P

[DrNoi]

Originally Posted by zhiunit

PT/WG rolexes...those who dont know what it is wont rob u and those who do u what it is will probably start a conversation with u =P

Absolutely .. true WIS will know just glancing at it.

Cheers :)

[zhiunit]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Very true. The real allure of white gold would be this. A few weeks ago in the chow hall in a distant and dangerous country I spotted an older gentleman down the other end of our table wearing a Smurf. I couldn't believe it and and passed by on my way to get another drink and sure enough it was...I told my buddies, see that there watch, It's $30K, all jaws were agape.



Excellent comment and very true. It's the reason I can walk around Argentina with my DSSD and no one even notices.




This has happened to me over a dozen times at authorized dealers. There lighting and seeing a model I'm unfamiliar with has always surprised me when I look at the sticker or ask the price. Now that I'm a little more "trained" it happens a lot less. One model that always gets me is the Daytona, I still see nice models and assume they're stainless but end up being white gold.




I disagree. What mcavana is saying is that if the finish is done equal on these three different metals on the exact same product that it will be difficult to discern which is precious. This is a very true statement, one that I believe is also one that Rolex recognizes to some extent as they offer the precious metals in unique configurations(dials, sizes, etc), specific to that metal.
However, I do think that there is a slight different luster to each metal and in most cases the metal type is apparent. Such is the case with the white gold sub.
But to the average person which as you say apparently isn't "practiced" enough than it really goes a long way in saying that these metals can blend into each other very easily as it relates to the masses. Again though, why does one buy something, solely selfish or for some kind of public perception.

Personally, If I wanted to make a statement it would depend on my audience. Yellow gold is universal and everyone will know even in the ghetto but having a titanium Richard Mille or stainless Aquanuat calendar watch says a lot more to whole other audience, one that I prefer more, if that were part of the reason I own something.

good points made haha, i used to make the same mistakes about the daytona/subs when i first got into rolex, then i realized that the SS daytona only comes in 2 dial choices and have a different bezel on the WG peices and the SS sub has only 2 color choices as well so anything NOT pertaining to those two are gonna cost me haha =P......(only when im at an AD, this excludes those who have a SS peice and swap in outside dial/bezel)

[jenniferjanef]

IMHO, to me, PT *look* very cold to me if you know what I mean. WG is warmer and the SS is more blunt.

[ronbo710]

... is it's ability to "hide" . I know what it is and I LOVE it. That, to me, is everything. Cheers -Ron

[Chris B]

Originally Posted by ronbo710

... is it's ability to "hide" . I know what it is and I LOVE it. That, to me, is everything. Cheers -Ron

Nail on head there Ron

[crowncollection]

Hmmm you can tell platinum IMHO quite easily. White gold is harder but I believe you can tell in the right light. You can certainly feel it.


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[thewatchbabe]

Rolex uses 904L steel, which is supposedly better than surgical steel and is hypoallergenic.

If you are familiar with Rolex, you can still tell from the bracelet and the dials whether the watch is in white gold/platinium.

Only solid gold for the President bracelet...

I don't think they make the Oyster bracelet in white gold for the DateJust, only in Rose and Yellow Gold. Just the professional models have white gold bracelets but you can tell the difference with the dials.

Platinum comes with ice blue dials.

Originally Posted by jeffjcc

I do not own a Rolex. Yet. I've read that the SS bands contain a small portion of Nickel. Because of an allergy I have to Nickel - Platinum/White Gold may be my only option.

[Watcheroo]

That's the beauty of differing opinions. If everyone had the same opinion, Rolex would only be producing one reference - how boring would that be?

Cheers!