Did Rolex use both black and white ceramic balls in the glidelock?

[Bustelo]

What color are your balls?

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

What color are your balls?

That's not a Rolex glidelock clasp - Rolex don't use ceramic balls.

[Bustelo]

Originally Posted by Devildog

That's not a Rolex glidelock clasp - Rolex don't use ceramic balls.

That is 100% what every single glidelock clasp looks like. The balls are either black or white ceramic just like you would see in the Tudors.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

That is 100% what every single glidelock clasp looks like. The balls are either black or white ceramic just like you would see in the Tudors.

Apologies. I was looking at it incorrectly


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[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

That is 100% what every single glidelock clasp looks like. The balls are either black or white ceramic just like you would see in the Tudors.

Nope, I just checked my Submariner, it's stainless steel ball bearings. If it's black, I would clean your watch to make sure it's not just blackened metal from dirt and friction.

[Bustelo]

No one knows what color their balls are?

Show me your balls?

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

No one knows what color their balls are?

Show me your balls?

Blue

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

No one knows what color their balls are?

Show me your balls?

[S’portEye]

There are no balls, but there is a plastic slider.

[Bustelo]

Originally Posted by S’portEye

There are no balls, but there is a plastic slider.

I literally posted a picture of my balls.

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

I literally posted a picture of my balls.

I didn't know you could. Well, here we go...

[Rolex1982]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

I literally posted a picture of my balls.

[favx]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

I literally posted a picture of my balls.

[Anthony07]

Eww

[Dan Pierce]

White ceramic balls on my Tudor clasps. Now I feel so cheap.
dP

[drrd]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

What color are your balls?

What makes you think they’re ceramic? I thought these bearings were more likely an engineering plastic like Delrin.

What makes you think they’re balls and not cylindrical?

[SPACE PEPSI]

I have a Submariner that's just under 5 years old, and out of curiosity I looked at mine and they appear to be stainless steel or chrome plated. Watch was purchased brand new from an authorized dealer.

[htrap2294]

I am pretty sure there's a lot of misinformation going on in this thread.

For clarity, Tudor uses ceramic ball bearings in their clasps.

Rolex, to my knowledge, uses steel ball bearings. You can tell because of the depth of the scratches in the metal when comparing material hardness.

In fact, I just checked my Jan 5th 2024 BLRO and it is steel ball bearings. I checked my 2023 Submariner, it is steel ball bearings.

[Bustelo]

Have a look below. I'm not talking about the flip lock clasp, those protrusions/balls are metal for sure. I'm taking specifically about the glidelock T link that you pop open and closed to slide and adjust, is held closed and snaps on ceramic balls bearings. I've seen white ones (like Tudor, and on my gen frosted 116610) and black ones on newer clasps. I was curious what you guys see on yours? Here's some closer pics.




Not this ball.

[Bustelo]

I thought it would be a bit of fun to post this, and looks like many people didn't know Rolex was doing this way before Tudor used them on their clasps.

[TunaTuna]

X rated post

[MitchSF]

On my three month old 126610, they are dark. Can't tell if they're metal or ceramic.

[Anthony07]

Checked out my late 2023 124060. Definitely not white, and black. Shiny dark silver so I'm assuming they are stainless steel.

[andrewjb88]

My Tudor has white

[Giovannibravo]

Originally Posted by andrewjb88

My Tudor has white

From my understanding Tudor uses ceramic. Rolex uses steel.

[Dave O]

Originally Posted by andrewjb88

My Tudor has white

Originally Posted by Giovannibravo

From my understanding Tudor uses ceramic. Rolex uses steel.

Guys, the OP is talking about the balls on the glidelock mechanism, not the balls on the clasp clip. Tudor doesn't even have a glidelock so you must be looking at the clasp clip, which is not what the OP is looking for.

OP, just checked my OF Daytona which I purchased a week ago from my AD as well as my Sub which was purchased in 2020. The balls on the glidelock appear to be black ceramic, but could be steel. Can't tell for sure. However, they are dark, and not shiny metal as is the balls on the clasp clip. Which is leading me to believe they are something other than metal. One other possible scenario is that they are in fact white, but have lubrication on them that is causing them to look dark. Hope this helps.

[Bustelo]

Originally Posted by Dave O

Guys, the OP is talking about the balls on the glidelock mechanism, not the balls on the clasp clip. Tudor doesn't even have a glidelock so you must be looking at the clasp clip, which is not what the OP is looking for.

OP, just checked my OF Daytona which I purchased a week ago from my AD as well as my Sub which was purchased in 2020. The balls on the glidelock appear to be black ceramic, but could be steel. Can't tell for sure. However, they are dark, and not shiny metal as is the balls on the clasp clip. Which is leading me to believe they are something other than metal. One other possible scenario is that they are in fact white, but have lubrication on them that is causing them to look dark. Hope this helps.

The ones you guys are seeing are black ceramic. The older glidelocks, like the frosted ones, were white.

I wonder what made them switch to black balls? Once they went black they never went back. My white balls get the job done but I have FOMO now on black balls.

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

The ones you guys are seeing are black ceramic. The older glidelocks, like the frosted ones, were white.

I wonder what made them switch to black balls? Once they went black they never went back. My white balls get the job done but I have FOMO now on black balls.

They did it to be inclusive

[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by Bustelo

The ones you guys are seeing are black ceramic. The older glidelocks, like the frosted ones, were white.

I wonder what made them switch to black balls? Once they went black they never went back. My white balls get the job done but I have FOMO now on black balls.

White ceramic probably looks cheaper and stands out more. I have shiny black balls in my glidelock portion of the clasp.

[brandrea]

How do I tell if my Rolex Balls are authentic?

I don’t trust my AD.