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

i have white gold datejust on a lether strap id like to know as well, better yet how much gold on the case?

don't know the exact composition but nickel is what gives it the white color I believe Rik

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

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.

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%

That one I'd really like to see.

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]

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?

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:

http://www.watchwallpapers.com/1601kar.jpg
(Pic by Jocke)

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

Here it is