The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex WatchTech

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 22 March 2011, 07:45 AM   #1
mhelouin
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 15
Rolex white gold

A question for the community please...

I apologize if this has been asked and answered; I have checked the forums, and I wasn't able to find an answer.

I understand that white gold is typically gold alloyed with another metal to give it the color, and that white gold alloys may have nickel or platinum, among other metals.

Does anyone have any information as to the content of Rolex 18k white gold? Specifically, what constitutes the 25% non-gold portion?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards,

Marc
mhelouin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 March 2011, 09:54 AM   #2
shirtguy
"TRF" Member
 
shirtguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ny
Watch: sub-c Date
Posts: 1,313
i have white gold datejust on a lether strap id like to know as well, better yet how much gold on the case?
shirtguy is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 22 March 2011, 11:27 AM   #3
Rikki
TechXpert
 
Rikki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Rik Dietel
Location: Seminole Fla
Watch: 5512 s/s Sub
Posts: 1,818
don't know the exact composition but nickel is what gives it the white color I believe Rik
__________________
Century 21 Certified watchmaker
Omega Service Provider Trained
Omega OWME Certified.
Rolex Parts Account Holder.
Rikki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 March 2011, 02:07 PM   #4
crhfish
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 159
I don't know about Rolex, but I did find this link which talks about all of the different gold types.

http://jewelrymaking.allinfoabout.co...oldalloys.html
crhfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 March 2011, 05:52 PM   #5
Andad
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
Andad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Real Name: Eddie
Location: Australia
Watch: A few.
Posts: 37,426
Your link has potential security issues according to my protector.
IMO white gold in Rolex form would not have much nickel. The exact composition would be closely guarded but there are some good WG mixes out there that don't require Rhodium plating if you have the $$$$'s.
__________________
E

Andad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 March 2011, 10:58 PM   #6
crhfish
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 159
Yellow Gold (22K)
Gold 91.67%
Silver 5%
Copper 2%
Zinc 1.33%

Red Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Copper 25%

Rose Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Copper 22.25%
Silver 2.75%

Pink Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Copper 20%
Silver 5%

White Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Platinum or Palladium 25%

White Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Palladium 10%
Nickel 10%
Zinc 5%

Gray-White Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Iron 17%
Copper 8%

Soft Green Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Silver 25%

Light Green Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Copper 23%
Cadmium 2%

Green Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Silver 20%
Copper 5%

Deep Green Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Silver 15%
Copper 6%
Cadmium 4%

Blue-White or Blue Gold (18K)
Gold 75%
Iron 25%

Purple Gold
Gold 80%
Aluminum 20%
crhfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22 March 2011, 11:17 PM   #7
MonBK
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kingstown
Posts: 58,279
Quote:
Originally Posted by shirtguy View Post
i have white gold datejust on a lether strap id like to know as well, better yet how much gold on the case?
That one I'd really like to see.
MonBK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2011, 08:55 PM   #8
Steelfish
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Real Name: Ritchie
Location: Angola
Watch: RExpI
Posts: 145
What is the Rhodium plating for? And how durable is it?
Steelfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 March 2011, 10:40 PM   #9
TheDude
"TRF" Member
 
TheDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DC Area, USA
Watch: IIc,1680 Red,16660
Posts: 4,492
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steelfish View Post
What is the Rhodium plating for? And how durable is it?
I think Rhodium is also used to color gold white. It's part of the platinum group of metals, I have a few watches claiming "Rhodium plated hands".

From Wikipedia:

Rhodium finds use in jewelry and for decorations. It is electroplated on white gold and platinum to give it a reflective white surface. This is known as rhodium flashing in the jewelry business. It may also be used in coating sterling silver in order to strengthen the metal against tarnish, which is silver sulfide (Ag2S) produced from the atmospheric hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Solid (pure) rhodium jewelry is very rare, because the metal has both high melting point and poor malleability (making such jewelry very hard to fabricate) rather than due to its high price.[36] Additionally, its high cost assures that most of its jewelry usage is in the form of tiny amounts of powder (commonly called rhodium sponge) dissolved into electroplating solutions.
Rhodium has also been used for honors, or to symbolize wealth, when more commonly used metals such as silver, gold or platinum are deemed insufficient. In 1979, the Guinness Book of World Records gave Paul McCartney a rhodium-plated disc for being history's all-time best-selling songwriter and recording artist.[37]
TheDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 March 2011, 10:24 PM   #10
Steelfish
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Real Name: Ritchie
Location: Angola
Watch: RExpI
Posts: 145
Thanks Dude, very informative. I have heard that Rolex white gold watches are not polished by the RSC, is this true? There is also an instruction on cape cod cloths not to use it on white gold. What are the options then, to remove scratches from let's say the center links of a white gold Sub?
Steelfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 March 2011, 01:13 AM   #11
SPACE-DWELLER
"TRF" Member
 
SPACE-DWELLER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Real Name: Bo
Location: Denmark
Watch: Rolex, of course!
Posts: 22,436
Evidently, at least up to a point years back (my bet would be around 1985 when Rolex changed to solid gold hands), Rolex did Rhodium plate WG:


(Pic by Jocke)
SPACE-DWELLER is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 March 2011, 09:47 AM   #12
DoubleRedRolex
"TRF" Member
 
DoubleRedRolex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Real Name: Lonnie
Location: Canada
Watch: Rolex 1680-8
Posts: 80
Does anyone have any nickle alergies to white rolex gold? Does Rolex use nickle or just plat/paladium? I cant even wear newer Rolex with 904L because in the summertime I get a rash on my wrist from it.

Lonnie
DoubleRedRolex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8 April 2011, 01:24 AM   #13
shirtguy
"TRF" Member
 
shirtguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ny
Watch: sub-c Date
Posts: 1,313
Here it is
shirtguy is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

OCWatches

Wrist Aficionado

Asset Appeal

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

My Watch LLC


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.