White Gold vs. Yellow Gold Cost?

[AAP8]

Hey Everyone,

I have been helping my dad in his search for his next watch, he is looking at All Gold Daytona's.

I was wondering if anyone knows why White Gold costs more than Yellow Gold? Both are 18K, so both have the same quantity of real gold, its just what the other "6K" is that changes the color right???

The difference is around $2000, which is not a huge deal in the Rolex all gold world, but a 6-7% difference is high for a color??

Anyone know why this is the case?

Thanks in advance.

[kilyung]

WG is more popular than YG or RG.

[77T]

Relatively speaking, good thing you weren't looking for Pink Gold. There is more gold than you may realize in the alloy differences.

[horseco]

Originally Posted by kilyung

WG is more popular than YG or RG.

It was my understanding that Rolex mixes platinum in with yellow gold to make it "white"... the extra cost is due to that, & this "white" alloy is somewhat harder to mold & polish...

[Otto]

Originally Posted by kilyung

WG is more popular than YG or RG.

Hmmm ... Why would you say that?

[Dr. Robert]

Auric Goldfinger & I prefer YG.

[Tools]

Rolex is a luxury product.. It doesn't matter what it is made of, it's going to be priced based on market value - supply and demand..

That's why a Sub costs more than a GMT too .. It has little to do with how much it costs to make it.. Their profit margin on every model will be slightly different and not a strict linear markup per each pieces cost to manufacture..

[bigrustypig]

Originally Posted by Otto

Hmmm ... Why would you say that?

I think the broader view is that white is more popular than yellow. I find in the streets, offices, elevators etc..... that guys wear white more than yellow. My estimate is 8 white watches and 2 yellow watches for every 10 wrists that I see.

[AAP8]

Originally Posted by horseco

It was my understanding that Rolex mixes platinum in with yellow gold to make it "white"... the extra cost is due to that, & this "white" alloy is somewhat harder to mold & polish...

That makes sense since 18k yellow is usually a cheaper filler metal.

[AAP8]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex is a luxury product.. It doesn't matter what it is made of, it's going to be priced based on market value - supply and demand..

That's why a Sub costs more than a GMT too .. It has little to do with how much it costs to make it.. Their profit margin on every model will be slightly different and not a strict linear markup per each pieces cost to manufacture..

That makes sense but even non cost differences are important to understand. If its just a case of WG is more popular or less popular, that's fine, it's just a hard to believe that the only reason is pure popularity

[Otto]

Originally Posted by bigrustypig

I think the broader view is that white is more popular than yellow. I find in the streets, offices, elevators etc..... that guys wear white more than yellow. My estimate is 8 white watches and 2 yellow watches for every 10 wrists that I see.

I don't know about such a broader view. I might agree with your personal observation if you were comparing white metal in general to YG, but I doubt WG is more popular in watches; especially in gold Rolex watches.

[horseco]

Originally Posted by AAP8

That makes sense since 18k yellow is usually a cheaper filler metal.

You clearly haven't checked the price of gold lately... its closed higher than platinum per oz today...

[SWIMPRUF]

If I want gold I'd settle for the yellow.

[emagni]

I would have to guess that it would havce to do with the mix of alloy. Yellow gold mix with some platinum and rhodium. I'm guessing on the platinum part but I wouldn't be surprise since the white gold Rolex produces doesn't seem to turn too yellowish over time like most white gold I've seen that needs to be redip with rhodium. Can someone confirm?

[AAP8]

Originally Posted by horseco

You clearly haven't checked the price of gold lately... its closed higher than platinum per oz today...

Actually I have, I flip gold daily doing range trading, but I meant that if in white gold they use platinum and in yellow they use copper... We all know cpper is cheaper than platinum.

[Andad]

Too much misinformation guys.

Must try harder.

[horseco]

Originally Posted by AAP8

Actually I have, I flip gold daily doing range trading, but I meant that if in white gold they use platinum and in yellow they use copper... We all know cpper is cheaper than platinum.

I stand corrected...

[RolexWatcher]

Originally Posted by AAP8

Anyone know why this is the case?

I guess we can give lots of reasons why WG is more expensive than YG (popularity, alloys used, manufacturing process)...

But it's Rolex! They can do whatever they want. It's like pushing up prices - why do they do it? Because they can! :)

[George Ab]

For white gold Rolex uses Palladium not Platinum. Palladium is $600/troy ounce vice $1,400 for Platinum. Copper is what is normally mixed with yellow gold which is about $4.60 per pound.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by bigrustypig

I think the broader view is that white is more popular than yellow.

Jeff stated my thoughts better than I did. IMO more folks would pick a WG model over colored gold because of a) a preference for whiter colors or b) staying below the radar while still enjoying gold. My personal feeling is get YG over WG (too much like SS).

[SohAIS]

i am in jewelry business for 17 years and there is no price difference in making different colors of gold. It's simply a different alloy mixed to get a certain color. I believe it is just more money because it is more popular.

[Ebruner]

Originally Posted by AAP8

Actually I have, I flip gold daily doing range trading, but I meant that if in white gold they use platinum and in yellow they use copper... We all know cpper is cheaper than platinum.

Not true, MOST WG alloys do not use platinum.

I am a rare coin and precious metals dealer and I know a thing or two myself.

-Eddie

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Otto

I don't know about such a broader view. I might agree with your personal observation if you were comparing white metal in general to YG, but I doubt WG is more popular in watches; especially in gold Rolex watches.

Agree!

[DDG]

Are Rolex white gold watches Rhodium plated? Most, if not all white gold jewelery is, and the plating wears off with use. Easy & cheap to re-plate, but does Rolex do this? With 18k rings, 3/4 of the mix is yellow gold, and the alloy can't completely eliminate the yellow color, so it's plated.

[chronoman]

all i know is you wouldn't want 24K gold b/c it's too soft. The case would ding or bend, and the bracelet would stretch in a day or two.

[dalip]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex is a luxury product.. It doesn't matter what it is made of, it's going to be priced based on market value - supply and demand..

That's why a Sub costs more than a GMT too .. It has little to do with how much it costs to make it.. Their profit margin on every model will be slightly different and not a strict linear markup per each pieces cost to manufacture..

Agreed...

[goldminer]

Not sure what Rolex use but Breitling owned up to this a few years ago:

18K White Gold 750 Au, 30 Ag, 125 Pd, 95 Cu
18K Yellow Gold (2N) 750 Au, 160 Ag, 90 Cu

The white gold alloy would be more expensive due to the replacement of much of the Ag with Pd. Haven't done the maths to see how much this affects the price per oz!

[tomchicago]

hmmmm

[goldminer]

Originally Posted by tomchicago

Rhodium is MUCH more expensive than gold.

No it isn't

http://www.rhodiumspotprice.com/

Edit: Nice Edit!!

[goldminer]

Originally Posted by goldminer

Not sure what Rolex use but Breitling owned up to this a few years ago:

18K White Gold 750 Au, 30 Ag, 125 Pd, 95 Cu
18K Yellow Gold (2N) 750 Au, 160 Ag, 90 Cu

The white gold alloy would be more expensive due to the replacement of much of the Ag with Pd. Haven't done the maths to see how much this affects the price per oz!

I did a quick calculation based on spot prices, the components of the white gold alloy given above are about 6% more expensive than the yellow gold alloy which is about the same as the price difference between the two Daytonas given by the original poster.