Is all the gold on a Rolex really SOLID gold?

[Alan111]

Hi Guys,


For the price we pay for the watches, on would assume that any gold portion on the watch, is solid 18K gold. I can understand that regarding the bezel, crown, dial and midlinks.

But how about the clasp? I have a 116233 Z serial and have trouble convincing myself that the yellow gold portion of the clasp, is solid gold. It just doesn't seem correct to me the way the clasp is constructed. The clasp seems to be completely stainless steel with the center portion heavily gold plated. Is this the case - or is it solid gold?

Someone please clarify - thanks!





(borrowed picture)

[BarkMaster]

That would be a concern, since the clasp is likely to get scratched.

[train-time]

I believe that they call it "capped" as opposed to plated. Capping is a considerably thicker piece of gold bonded to the stainless steel. If it doesn't show gold through the back of the clasp, it's probably capped.

[tkc324]

I have the same question about the YM... i wonder if the ENTIRE bezel is made of platinum. They say the dial is plat too... really?
I am curious to find the anwer to the gold question... anyone?

[newmedia]

I been told its plated gold on the clasp.

[Tools]

It is not electroplated....

Rolex takes a solid piece of gold, and fuses it to the back-side of the clasp. This gives the aesthetics and retains the strength of the Steel.

You cannot scratch or rub through this piece as you could gold plating... you would have to dig through the piece of gold down to the stainless...

[jnkay]

Yes, the entire bezel is made of platinum, as is the dial. Both make the watch noticeably heavier than the ss sub, for example, and more on par with the tt sub that has gold center links and bezel.

Originally Posted by tkc324

I have the same question about the YM... i wonder if the ENTIRE bezel is made of platinum. They say the dial is plat too... really?
I am curious to find the anwer to the gold question... anyone?

[Alan111]

Originally Posted by Tools

It is not electroplated....

Rolex takes a solid piece of gold, and fuses it to the back-side of the clasp. This gives the aesthetics and retains the strength of the Steel.

You cannot scratch or rub through this piece as you could gold plating... you would have to dig through the piece of gold down to the stainless...

Thanks Larry. So just to reiterate what you explained... It's actually piece of solid gold that has been attached to the SS clasp. So in reality, it's two pieces of different metal (SS and yellow gold) fused together. And the only way one would see through the gold, would be after severely polishing through until no more gold remains of the solid gold. Is that correct?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Alan111

Thanks Larry. So just to reiterate what you explained... It's actually piece of solid gold that has been attached to the SS clasp. So in reality, it's two pieces of different metal (SS and yellow gold) fused together. And the only way one would see through the gold, would be after severely polishing through until no more gold remains of the solid gold. Is that correct?

That's correct.. but you would have to do a lot of polishing to ever get that far..

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Alan111

Thanks Larry. So just to reiterate what you explained... It's actually piece of solid gold that has been attached to the SS clasp. So in reality, it's two pieces of different metal (SS and yellow gold) fused together. And the only way one would see through the gold, would be after severely polishing through until no more gold remains of the solid gold. Is that correct?

That's right, Alan......it's called FUSION wherein a solid piece of 18 K gold is actually "fused" onto the steel below. It's a complex and expensive process and has absolutely nothing to do with electroplating which you find on cheaper watches.

With electroplating, the thickness of the gold can go up to 10 microns in thickness (1000 microns = 1 mm); but with FUSION the thickness of the gold is more than 500 microns of solid 18 K gold.



Have a look on the edge of the clasp to see how thick the gold is....

[bodybump]

thats right allan what ever they said...

[Alan111]

cool - thanks Larry and JJ. I got worried for a minute there... Only TRF would have the answers to a question like that

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Alan111

cool - thanks Larry and JJ. I got worried for a minute there... Only TRF would have the answers to a question like that

Just remember one thing, Alan.....

Anything YELLOW you see on a modern day Rolex is 18 K (750) gold.

JJ

[Rikki]

Also the end links on a t/t jubilee or oyster band are gold capped and fused. Rolex has been doing this for many many years. Rik

[MortgageGuy]

Great info, Thank you all. Question for you here. Why is the piece you pull to un buckle the clasp on the GMT IIc (on the TT it is gold) slightly loose? This is on the actual clasp, not the secondary flip lock or whatever it is called... Anyone have any clue what I am talking about here? In JJ's firrst pic it is the piece just left of the Rolex crown that looks as if it still has a piece of plastic on it.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by MortgageGuy

Great info, Thank you all. Question for you here. Why is the piece you pull to un buckle the clasp on the GMT IIc (on the TT it is gold) slightly loose? This is on the actual clasp, not the secondary flip lock or whatever it is called... Anyone have any clue what I am talking about here? In JJ's firrst pic it is the piece just left of the Rolex crown that looks as if it still has a piece of plastic on it.

I've got my watch on so I think I know what you're talking about.

That bit is flexible and seems to be spring-loaded. I guess it enables the clasp to "CLICK" into place over the main clasp just before you flip the secure lock over the groove of the clasp.

JJ

[MortgageGuy]

The entire piece appears to be spring loaded but I am talking about the gold piece within the stainless piece... Does the gold piece move on your as well within the piece of stainless steel? On mine it would appear the spring is on the entire piece but the center gold moves seperately just slightly.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by MortgageGuy

The entire piece appears to be spring loaded but I am talking about the gold piece within the stainless piece... Does the gold piece move on your as well within the piece of stainless steel? On mine it would appear the spring is on the entire piece but the center gold moves seperately just slightly.

Yes, I know which piece you are referring to......it's the piece in my picture which still has the protective platic on it. It does move up and down and is spring-loaded.

It's the same piece which clamps down on the clasp with a definitive CLICK.

JJ

[Zgar]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Just remember one thing, Alan.....

Anything YELLOW you see on a modern day Rolex is 18 K (750) gold.

JJ

JJ I was told by my AD that the numbers on the ceramic bezel were 24K yellow gold on the TT Sub, TT GMT ?

[MortgageGuy]

That would be the one...the gold part with the plastic still on it. Thanks JJ! How are you loving that new baby?

[jimbomurf]

Originally Posted by Zgar

JJ I was told by my AD that the numbers on the ceramic bezel were 24K yellow gold on the TT Sub, TT GMT ?

Yes it's Gold. 24K not sure. Rolex just says they bombard the bezel with Gold before polishing the ceramic. I would say it is at least 18K if not 24K. The SS is bombarded with Platinum. There is a video on the Rolex web site.

http://www.rolex.com/en/inside-rolex...rfection/index

[wcl884]

I read that the crown is wrapped in gold, but not solid 18k. The stem is wrapped with very thick head of 18k gold, but the step on for the crown is not 18k. Can someone verify? Is this only true for older models?

[sleddog]

Crown itself is solid gold!!!!(latest models for sure!!) Stem is Stainless Steel......
Rob.

[Andad]

Hi Rob,

The crown is gold but isn't there also a SS thread insert? I can't see how a gold thread would last? I would have thought that the crown is steel capped with 18K gold?

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Rob,

The crown is gold but isn't there also a SS thread insert? I can't see how a gold thread would last? I would have thought that the crown is steel capped with 18K gold?

Good point to make Eddie.....From my understanding the crown is made up of solid gold with the SS threaded insert(female) incased underneath.....That is what I have been under the assumption of....If there are any members who know different,please step in!!!!
Rob.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by wcl884

I read that the crown is wrapped in gold, but not solid 18k. The stem is wrapped with very thick head of 18k gold, but the step on for the crown is not 18k. Can someone verify? Is this only true for older models?

Originally Posted by sleddog1000

Crown itself is solid gold!!!!(latest models for sure!!) Stem is Stainless Steel......
Rob.

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi Rob,

The crown is gold but isn't there also a SS thread insert? I can't see how a gold thread would last? I would have thought that the crown is steel capped with 18K gold?

Originally Posted by sleddog1000

Good point to make Eddie.....From my understanding the crown is made up of solid gold with the SS threaded insert(female) incased underneath.....That is what I have been under the assumption of....If there are any members who know different,please step in!!!!
Rob.

Here's the facts regarding the crown....

It's what Rolex call a MONOBLOC crown.

It's an 18 K solid gold crown encased on top of a steel cap. The threads inside are naturally steel which match up with the steel threads on the stem.

You can't have gold threads anywhere......they'd be too soft and would strip away in next to no time at all!!

[Andad]

I knew that JJ , I just wanted you to explain it 'cos I was watching the Holdens winning at Bathurst.

[entropydave]

Originally Posted by train-time

I believe that they call it "capped" as opposed to plated. Capping is a considerably thicker piece of gold bonded to the stainless steel. If it doesn't show gold through the back of the clasp, it's probably capped.

...would this be the answer to the Rolesor thread I started?

[Andad]

Dave,

I have always thought that 'rolesor' was the description that Rolex gave to TT models.

Larry would be one who could clarify this.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Dave,

I have always thought that 'rolesor' was the description that Rolex gave to TT models.

Larry would be one who could clarify this.

Yes...."ROLESOR" is a registered trademark name of Rolex for their steel & gold models.

JJ