18038 spring bars - pure gold?

[NB93]

Hi there,

I just received some spring bars purchased off eBay for my 18038. The seller assured me they were 18k gold 18038 spring bars but my magnet at home is picking them up. Are spring bars for this model a mix of metals with gold ends? I was always under the impression they should be all gold. Aware it is a punt making an eBay purchase so I’m not going to be overly surprised if I find out they are knock offs.

Any help would be appreciated thanks guys.

[Andad]

The springs are not gold.

How strong is your magnet?

[NB93]

Yeah just dawned on me now, funnily enough the magnet only picks them up dead in the centre of the bars so I’m assuming it’s picking up the spring? The ends of the bars it does not pick anything up. Otherwise they look as they should for their age.

Cheers for your reply

[offrdmania]

The correct spring bars should be 750 18K gold. If they are factory Rolex then you will see some roll lines on the body of the spring bar indicating that they are gold. I had two pairs for my 18038; one set to fit the bracelet and a different style to fit in a strap. Neither of them stuck to a magnet at all. You probably received a gold plated set from the seller. Send them back.
Here is an old thread of mine that may help out for the visual appearance. The part number wont help you unless you are putting on a strap.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=656334

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

The correct spring bars should be 750 18K gold.
…
Neither of them stuck to a magnet at all. You probably received a gold plated set from the seller. Send them back.

I wonder if this difference isn’t a function of how strong the magnet is - Certainly the *interior* spring must be steel in factory originals, as 18K gold wouldn’t be ‘springy’ enough. Also, if the shells were gold plated, wouldn’t they most likely be plated over brass, rather than steel?

PS - Thanks again for that earlier thread, Matt!

[offrdmania]

Most likely the spring is steel but the gold is probably a pretty good shell. That would have to be one hell of a magnet to pick up just the tiny spring inside, enough to hold the entire spring bar against the magnet

[donq]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Most likely the spring is steel but the gold is probably a pretty good shell. That would have to be one hell of a magnet to pick up just the tiny spring inside, enough to hold the entire spring bar against the magnet

There are some rare earth magnets out there that are incredibly strong.
I had one in my shop and set it on top of a vise, and had to use pliers to remove it!

[offrdmania]

OP, please post pics of the spring bars

[NB93]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

OP, please post pics of the spring bars

Hi Matt,

Thanks for your reply, and your link to your original spring bars

See below photos of spring bars/magnet. It’s just your average fridge magnet that is picking them up directly in the centre. It does not pick up either end of the bar so I did assume maybe it’s just the spring?

What are your thoughts based off those photos? Thanks again for the help also apologies for photo quality. Uploaded via phone and was restricted with image size

[offrdmania]

Do they have the lines etched on the center main housing indicating that they are gold? Its too hard to see any detail in those pics

[NB93]

Unfortunately not they are plain. Based off what I can find online etching doesn’t appear to be on gold spring bars of this era? Happy to be wrong of course.

Cheers

[springer]

Ebay gold spring bars are normally plated.

[snakeeyes]

I picked up some gold plated spring bars off ebay, cant fault them at all.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by snakeeyes

I picked up some gold plated spring bars off ebay, cant fault them at all.

These will eventually create oval holes and ruin your case and cause rattling end links. Irreversible and not worth it to save a few bucks

[Andad]

Originally Posted by joli160

These will eventually create oval holes and ruin your case and cause rattling end links. Irreversible and not worth it to save a few bucks

Can you cite a reference to this?

Tks.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Andad

Can you cite a reference to this?

Tks.

No, but it is logic isn’t it. Harder material grinding away the softer.