Can you differentiate steel 914L from white gold ?

[chowkanhung]

Some Rolex models are all made of white gold. How many of you can identify white gold and steel 914L with your naked eyes ? As white gold is much expensive than steel 914L, why is white gold not replaced by steel 914L ?

What is the advantage of using white gold to make the fluted bezel but not the steel 914 ? White gold is less resistant to scratch when comparing to steel 914L, am I correct ?

Thanks a lot
Chow

[sleddog]

1/ Yes, it's easy to tell up close, not from a distance however!

2/ It's all about choices....Some like to know that have a precious metal watch and appreciate that fact in itself!

3/ Marketing.....It's always a plus to say "Gold" in any discription of whatever object!

4/ Not correct. Gold is softer and will scratch easier!

[Ebruner]

I positively can tell.

-Eddie

[landroverking]

The WG Rolex uses is harder than some due to the additives. Still not as hard as SS.
The color just looks deeper/richer

[bayerische]

Gold is... GOLD!

People will always want it, it's expensive. I much prefer gold in any color over SS.

[Speed]

WG has a nice heavy feel.

The Daytona in WG feels great IMO !

[Rolex-Girl]

I can tell, white gold looks whiter to me then SS

[seanthome]

Originally Posted by Speed

WG has a nice heavy feel.

The Daytona in WG feels great IMO !

I was looking at Daytona watches and trying some on. There was a weight difference between the SS and WG, but I was paying so close to the design I didn't really notice it. But the one I like and asked about the price turned out to be WG, and I thought it was SS cause the metals looks so alike even side by side.

[Jason71]

FWIW, Rolex uses 904L Steel for their watches, not 914L

[dddrees]

Sometimes I have a hard time telling. But the more you see it the more you can tell, and there is a noticeable difference in weight.

[Brenngun]

Not without biting it .....

[watchf]

I haven't seen or handled a white gold piece up close in person so I can't say for certain. From pics of SS and WG side by side I can't tell the difference but I like YG better anyway

[Jason71]

I can tell you that the color and weight of my WG Sub is VERY different from all my other watches.

[winedemonium]

Rolex's 904L steel is a lot more grey in colour compared to the White gold.

But this question raises an important point. Do we make our choices based on what they project - I.e. What others can see? Or, do we make our choices based on how they make us feel? If it is the former, then white gold is perhaps too discrete compared to 904L. If it is the latter, then the White gold is precious, and feels that bit more solid and weighty on the wrist. To push the argument further, why don't we wear fakes if the good ones look just the same to the casual observer and perhaps only we would know? Because owning the real thing makes you feel something.

My 2c anyway

[lortap]

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Not without biting it .....

Please, remind me to keep my wrist away from Rick

[MortgageGuy]

You can certainly tell the difference with the naked eye. The gold has a very rich look to it quite different than steel. In person that is :-)

[lortap]

Like anything else that sparks your interest; some people are enamored that they have gold, flying under the radar so to speak, while looking like they are just wearing another SS watch. We all know a $5.00 quartz watch could likely keep just as good (or better) time than a 24k Rolex. How many of us love the fact we have an all mechanical machine beating away COSC spec time even though most of us (us without clear case backs) never see that machine. In the end its another hobby and what makes you happy makes it fun.

[Perdu]

Originally Posted by Rolex-Girl

I can tell, white gold looks whiter to me then SS

White gold looks so lustrous because it is coated with rhodium. Without the plating it is a pale yellow color.

[mmmmp]

Yes, you can see the difference. My Datejust features a W/G bezel which is, obviously, directly beside / above the S/S casework. Even fully polished when new, the color diffence is noticeable - subtle- but visible. Gold is gold: it really adds a touch of class when used artistically. Best, Mark

[slcbbrown]

Easy to tell when side by side. For me, impossible on someone else's wrist. I believe stainless is the perfect watch building material, even though I have a gold DJ, a tt TOG, and a tt DJ to go with a 14060. However, I have the gold because I like the look. I'm usually at a bit of a loss to understand why some folks are so fond of white gold on a Rolex, since it looks so similar to SS.

White gold will form easier and won't dull in normal conditions, so it makes a great material for dial markers.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Perdu

White gold looks so lustrous because it is coated with rhodium. Without the plating it is a pale yellow color.

Rolex do not coat the white gold with Rhodium,there white gold colour is kept by the alloy mix.They use Palladium and a very tiny amount of Platinum and other alloys in the white gold mix.

[jenniferjanef]

I find it is easier to tell 18k white gold from ss than pt from ss

[gwozhog]

White gold is coated. Think about it. Its basic art 101. How is 25 percent white metal going to turn 75 percent yellow gold white. If anyone wants to bring one of there white gold rolex's over the house we can saw into it.Beer is on me

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

White gold is coated. Think about it. Its basic art 101. How is 25 percent white metal going to turn 75 percent yellow gold white. If anyone wants to bring one of there white gold rolex's over the house we can saw into it.Beer is on me

Did you not read Padi's Post? Rolex S.A. does not coat their WG watches.

[Le Chef]

All you have to do is turn the watch over and look for "750" stamped on one of the lugs. That tells you it's gold. "950" would tell you it was platinum.

[mhester]

Originally Posted by Perdu

White gold looks so lustrous because it is coated with rhodium. Without the plating it is a pale yellow color.

My wife has a white gold wedding ring and it needs to be re-plated with rhodium once a year. Will you have the same issue with the white gold Rolex watches? Surely it would look terrible once the rhodium has worn off. Yellow gold is a pale dull colour.


Sorry just read Padi's post! That's reassuring as I really like the WG Sub C.

[kkwn98]

Originally Posted by chowkanhung

Some Rolex models are all made of white gold. How many of you can identify white gold and steel 914L with your naked eyes ? As white gold is much expensive than steel 914L, why is white gold not replaced by steel 914L ?
What is the advantage of using white gold to make the fluted bezel but not the steel 914 ? White gold is less resistant to scratch when comparing to steel 914L, am I correct ?

Thanks a lot
Chow

Perhaps there are people who want, and can afford, white gold watches?

Also, as has been mentioned already, Rolex do not use 914L steel.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by Jason71

Did you not read Padi's Post? Rolex S.A. does not coat their WG watches.

[buke45]

Originally Posted by padi56

rolex do not coat the white gold with rhodium,there white gold colour is kept by the alloy mix.they use palladium and a very tiny amount of platinum and other alloys in the white gold mix.

x2

[Ebruner]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

White gold is coated. Think about it. Its basic art 101. How is 25 percent white metal going to turn 75 percent yellow gold white. If anyone wants to bring one of there white gold rolex's over the house we can saw into it.Beer is on me

You Sir are badly misinformed.

-Eddie