The look of Rolex steel

[goldfixer21]

Don't get me wrong, I do love my stainless steel Rolex watches, but their stainless steel is no different from any other company using 904L. Rolex doesn't have a magic steel formula, neither do they have a unique gold alloy either. If they did, anyone could copy it easily anyway. An XRF tester can easily identify every alloy in any metal, and the % of each one.

[goldfixer21]

Originally Posted by Gearjockey

Curious if the folks who laser weld (solder) with 904L SS wire actually procure the product from Rolex.
I see it is available commercially after market. Guess it’s not that proprietary.
Seems to blend in perfectly.

Rolex doesn't produce wire products, and if they did they certainly wouldn't sell it. You can purchase stainless steel wire from a number of companies, in just about any alloy you want. I have spools of 316l and 904l that I use for laser welding, it's not a secret formula.

[fsprow]

Materials science background here. Nothing special about 904 unless you plan to have your wrist in hot strong corrosives as found in some industries. Slight appearance difference is all and a bit more prone to surface scratches.