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ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
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#1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Real Name: Andrew
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Posts: 61
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904l?
Just checking to see if EVERY SS rolex is made from 904L steel, since im in the market for my first rolex it will be relatively cheap (by rolex standards!) but I still want to make sure im getting a high quality steel and not something like 440A.
Thanks, ~Andrew |
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#2 |
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Real Name: Dave
Location: CA
Watch: es
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To my knowledge all SS models that Rolex makes currently are made with 904L steel.
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#3 |
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Location: So Cal, USA
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only the oyster case.
I thought the case back and the bracelet was of different grade of SS so it's less likely to cause skin reaction to the chromium content of 904L
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SS Submariner Date "Z" SS SeaDweller "D" SS Submariner "Random" TT Blue Submariner "P" SS GMT-Master ll "M", Pepsi Pam 311, 524, 297 |
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#4 |
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"Vintage" watches were not 904L...but I don't think anyone thinks they're "relatively cheap" or not "high quality"
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#5 | |
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Quote:
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Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! ![]() I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!! |
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#6 |
Banned
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Real Name: Hermann
Location: Middle of Europe
Watch: 16710/3185 16613 B
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Since when are Rolexes made of 904L?
thx, Hermann |
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#7 |
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I thought I read (here) that the bracelets are 316??? Wouldn't hurt to clear up any dis-information on this. To the OP, there are a number (some heated) discussions about the virtues of 904L vs 316... Try a little searching
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Rolex GMT Master II 16710 (Blk/Blk) Rolex Explorer 114270 Sinn 356 Sa Flieger Limes Endurance 1Tausend Too many others... #2592 It may seem like I'm doing nothing but, at a cellular level, I'm actually quite busy... |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 384
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The newest Rolexes are all 904L. As the SS models have been redesigned over the past few years they are now 904L bracelet and case instead of 904L case only as they previously were made.
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#9 |
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904L is far superior because it doesn't react to chemicals in the body or in saltwater. This keeps the case and bracelet looking like new for the next 50 years. Some earlier models were not of 904L and when you look at them opened, you see some corrosion right where the case back meets the case, compromising the waterproof integrity of the watch.
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#10 |
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Better than I thought!
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SS Submariner Date "Z" SS SeaDweller "D" SS Submariner "Random" TT Blue Submariner "P" SS GMT-Master ll "M", Pepsi Pam 311, 524, 297 |
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#11 | |
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Quote:
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#12 | |
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Quote:
From article on net Quote from Rolex employee in 2002. At the moment, we have several companies all over the world, serving our needs for stainless steel. The watch case backs and bracelets are all made of X2CrNiMo17-12-2 S.Steel which by the way is the code for 316L and is the best compromise between the attributes of the variant materials. As usual, the steel is melted under vacuum, so we get an very pure base, which is easy to handle and allows almost perfect polishing. I think, the same procedure as in every good gold smelting company.Well as we all know 904L has a quite high nickel content, and nickel can be quite irritant to skin.And as far as I am aware only certain parts of Rolex are 904L the rest according to a Rolex employee the more common 316L.But would doubt if Rolex would say that because 904L,is approx 3 times more expensive than the more common 316L.And we all know more expensive or bigger,deeper rated etc is always better don't we.Just like it takes 12 months to make a Rolex.Or Carlsberg is the finest lager in the world properly all just b#llsh#t pure hype and marketing words
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ICom Pro3 All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only. "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever." Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again. www.mc0yad.club Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder ![]() |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Real Name: Chris
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Where do you guys come up with this conspiracy theory stuff? From what I know just about all watches 10 years old and newer are 100% 904L. For you guys that are skeptical, take your newest purchase to a friend with a mass spectrometer, and stop going on hearsay!
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#14 | |
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2008
Real Name: Hermann
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![]() Quote:
Can you quote a source? Mine is from 2002 ( bought, may have been made in 2001, a GMT II ) and I would like it to be 904L! Just so itīs a "special" steel, 316 is tooooo common! ;-) Hermann |
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#15 |
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They are supposed to be 904L, so why would Rolex choose otherwise?
Someone somewhere will have tested a watch and if it had not been 904L then the cat would be well and truly out of the bag by know.
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Why have what's new when you have what's best. f |
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#16 |
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Real Name: Steve
Location: Wales, UK
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As far as I know the case is manufactured from 904L and bracelets 316L.
Check it out... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=az_P_N...eature=related |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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Did anyone not read my comment above?
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#18 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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Rolex GMT Master II 16710 (Blk/Blk) Rolex Explorer 114270 Sinn 356 Sa Flieger Limes Endurance 1Tausend Too many others... #2592 It may seem like I'm doing nothing but, at a cellular level, I'm actually quite busy... |
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#19 | |
Fondly Remembered
Join Date: May 2005
Real Name: JJ
Location: Auckland, NZ
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Quote:
To the best of my knowledge, the entire watch is made of 904L steel. JJ
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Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! ![]() I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!! |
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#20 |
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Can folks please cite their references?
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Rolex GMT Master II 16710 (Blk/Blk) Rolex Explorer 114270 Sinn 356 Sa Flieger Limes Endurance 1Tausend Too many others... #2592 It may seem like I'm doing nothing but, at a cellular level, I'm actually quite busy... |
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#21 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 142
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Folks.... much ado about NOTHING; every watch and every part of every watch we are discussing here (except the SD) is also made out 18k gold.
Gold is weaker, it scratches easier, it dents easier, it wears easier. So for the love of god, if 18k will do surely whatever stainless will do as well. I too agree that 904 over 316 is 90% marketing hype and BS, if we start seeing the same wear / corroshion / pitting at the O-ring interface on cases in 15-20 years that we see on the old subs then I will say 904 is 100% BS, as this is the only advantage that I see. |
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#22 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Real Name: Hermann
Location: Middle of Europe
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#23 |
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panties in a bunch over THIS?
![]() ![]() ![]() c'mon guys, relax. ![]() |
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#24 |
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Location: Bahston
Posts: 127
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With all these interesting revalations about the superiority of 904L, I will be looking for the price of vintage watches to crash!
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1680 Submariner ~ 5513 Submariner ~ 16710 GMT Master II ~ 145.00.22 Speedmaster Professional ~ 2531.80 Seamaster Professional ~ Marathon TSAR |
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#25 | |
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Quote:
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#26 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
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All the newest SS models with polished center links have 904L bracelets along with the new Air-King that still has the brushed bracelet.
Source: A Rolex rep. |
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#27 |
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Location: UK
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To me....
Steel is steel is steel. As long as it keeps the water out and can be regularly polished I don't care what kind of steel it is made from! J |
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#28 |
Banned
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Real Name: Hermann
Location: Middle of Europe
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Itīs just the usual interest in all Rolex related issues.
Otherwise we probably wouldnīt be there at this forum. As an engeneer I find it interesting, that there is a steel, wich contains nearly 50% alloys! Half of that "steel" is Chrome and Nickel! I always thought the aim was to "better" the steel with as few %s of alloy metals as possible, as these are expensive. If 904L polishes better and is more corrosion resistant against sweat and seawater or chlorinated water, itīs very - ok with me! Hermann |
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#29 |
"TRF" Member
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For the record, I don't view this as an obsessive and useless query. I view it more as fact finding. The only problem is, the facts are hard to substantiate w/Rolex being so tight lipped. Hearsay and opinions are plentiful, facts not so much...
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Rolex GMT Master II 16710 (Blk/Blk) Rolex Explorer 114270 Sinn 356 Sa Flieger Limes Endurance 1Tausend Too many others... #2592 It may seem like I'm doing nothing but, at a cellular level, I'm actually quite busy... |
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#30 | |
Fondly Remembered
Join Date: May 2005
Real Name: JJ
Location: Auckland, NZ
Watch: ALL SOLD!!
Posts: 74,319
|
Quote:
Just something I've heard very often!! ![]()
__________________
Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! ![]() I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!! |
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