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Old 14 August 2013, 05:59 AM   #1
desertcop204
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Heard a rumor about Rolex gold alloys

We all know how rumors are and their reliability, but my work partner (who is also a Rolex guy) was talking to an AD one day recently while window shopping. The AD said that his rolex rep had been by a while back and told him that Rolex has recently tweaked their gold alloy slightly to harden it up a little but, conceivably to help with scratch resistance, as opposed to the older softer alloy.

So, anyone notice any difference between a newer gold piece and how it holds up versus say a watch from five or six years ago? My first watch with gold on it was a TT GMT back in 2001 and it was so prone to scratches I was paranoid to wear it, but the Day Date I have now hardly has any wear on it at all. Granted, I am way more cautious with this one than my first, but I just wonder if they did change the formula to harden it a touch?
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Old 14 August 2013, 06:10 AM   #2
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sounds like "tweaked" would mean less gold content in their watches in order to make them harder, $mart....
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Old 14 August 2013, 06:57 AM   #3
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Possibly. What my partner said exactly, was that the AD claimed that Titanium was now added to the alloy. Not sure what that would do, as I'm a pilot, not a metallurgist, but I'm assuming the rumor falls into the category that most do, i.e., BS.
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Old 14 August 2013, 06:57 AM   #4
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The only brand that I've heard to do this was Hublot and their Magic Gold. It's still 18k but mixed with ceramics to improved scratch-resistance. Only thing is it no longer looks like YG.

As for Rolex, I only know that they went from 14k to 18k decades ago... thus worsening scratch-resistance. Although I don't know if any of the alloys used in the modern gold help.
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Old 14 August 2013, 07:14 AM   #5
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All this fancy gold concoctions.
Just get a platinum Rolex, problem solved.
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Old 14 August 2013, 07:38 AM   #6
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Sounds like typical AD twaddle to me.
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Old 14 August 2013, 07:45 AM   #7
The GMT Master
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Quote:
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sounds like "tweaked" would mean less gold content in their watches in order to make them harder, $mart....
18ct will always have to have 75% gold content, regardless of the other metals in the alloy
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Old 14 August 2013, 08:17 AM   #8
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18ct will always have to have 75% gold content, regardless of the other metals in the alloy
Exactly.

If they wanted to make the alloy harder they might sub out something in the remaining 25%.
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Old 14 August 2013, 08:21 AM   #9
Cc1966
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I remember a jeweller once telling me that titanium was added/used to make gold "harder".
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Old 14 August 2013, 09:34 AM   #10
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I remember a jeweller once telling me that titanium was added/used to make gold "harder".
That's funny because nothing scratches faster than a titanium watch.
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Old 14 August 2013, 09:37 AM   #11
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http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/gold-alloys.htm
Enjoy.
I'm a little surprised that someone hasn't marketed their own proprietary super hard 14k gold for watches.
If the color was good, I'd buy it.
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Old 14 August 2013, 09:39 AM   #12
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That's funny because nothing scratches faster than a titanium watch.
IWC hardens it's titanium. It has held up great with heavy use.
Like gold alloys, not all titanium is the same.
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Old 14 August 2013, 10:57 AM   #13
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Sounds like typical AD twaddle to me.
A trip to the AD can be like a trip to the car dealer sometimes. No offense car salesmen out there....
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Old 14 August 2013, 11:32 AM   #14
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If Rolex made some gold alloy with titanium they would have some fantastic name for it.
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Old 14 August 2013, 12:11 PM   #15
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The grade 5 Ti omega now uses is much tougher. Scratches less then any SS rolex or other SS/Ti watches I have owned.

Quote:
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IWC hardens it's titanium. It has held up great with heavy use.
Like gold alloys, not all titanium is the same.
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Old 14 August 2013, 12:13 PM   #16
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I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder
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Old 14 August 2013, 12:18 PM   #17
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I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder
I just spit up my soda!
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Old 14 August 2013, 12:19 PM   #18
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I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder
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Old 14 August 2013, 12:36 PM   #19
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Old 14 August 2013, 01:01 PM   #20
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IWC hardens it's titanium. It has held up great with heavy use.
Like gold alloys, not all titanium is the same.
You're absolutely right, good point. Sinn also Tegiments (kolsterizes) Ti.
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Old 14 August 2013, 02:04 PM   #21
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I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder
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Old 14 August 2013, 05:01 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desertcop204 View Post
We all know how rumors are and their reliability, but my work partner (who is also a Rolex guy) was talking to an AD one day recently while window shopping. The AD said that his rolex rep had been by a while back and told him that Rolex has recently tweaked their gold alloy slightly to harden it up a little but, conceivably to help with scratch resistance, as opposed to the older softer alloy.

So, anyone notice any difference between a newer gold piece and how it holds up versus say a watch from five or six years ago? My first watch with gold on it was a TT GMT back in 2001 and it was so prone to scratches I was paranoid to wear it, but the Day Date I have now hardly has any wear on it at all. Granted, I am way more cautious with this one than my first, but I just wonder if they did change the formula to harden it a touch?
Many ADs have been known to talk through where the sun don't shine Rolex 18 Ct gold is just that no matter who makes it 75% pure gold the other 25% of the alloy added is mostly copper/nickel in the yellow now they add a bit of silver.And for white gold the gold alloy is mixed with a small amount of Platinum or Palladium plus copper or other alloys to turn yellow gold into white and its not Rhodium plated. And with there so called Everose gold a tiny amount of Platinum is added to the copper gold alloy mix.And with watches like the ceramic LV at one time Rolex called it a green gold dial even on the web site,but it was soon removed as the dial was not solid gold.But a aliminum disc coated very similar to a PVD coating with a mixture of gold power and aliminum oxide in a unknown process to to turn it green gold effect. But as always 18Ct gold is just that, and when scrapped you get the same price no matter the maker.
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Old 14 August 2013, 05:08 PM   #23
Vincent65
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If Rolex made some gold alloy with titanium they would have some fantastic name for it.

Titlex... Roletit, maybe !?
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Old 14 August 2013, 09:38 PM   #24
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I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder
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Old 14 August 2013, 09:43 PM   #25
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Titlex... Roletit, maybe !?
...blurted my morning coffee...thanks!
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Old 14 August 2013, 09:45 PM   #26
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If Rolex wanted to make their 18k harder they simply would go back to 14k which is less soft ! But I love 18k because of the weight. Collage ring is 10k to make stand up to more abuse.
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Old 14 August 2013, 09:46 PM   #27
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Lange did something similar recently when it introduced watches made in "honey gold". I never looked into the composition, but they claim it was significantly harder and more scratch resistant than regular gold.
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Old 15 August 2013, 03:52 AM   #28
rmfnla
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I heard they use 25% viagra to make it harder
Good one, Jeff!
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