New to Rolex (almost)

[Morty]

I am new to this forum and have just returned to Rolex. I purchased a DJ11 TT last weekend. Had a Submariner about 10 years ago but sold it because I could not get it to fit comfortably. This one fits perfectly. Quick question. I can't find any info on the 18k gold bezel and Rolesor bracelet. Is it gold plated, gold-filled or solid gold? BTW, the list on my watch in Toronto was $11,080 (although I did get a reasonable discount). I confirmed the retail price with another AD. Seems awfully high. Thanks,
Morty

[GradyPhilpott]

Welcome aboard!

That's a good question.

I believe that I've read that the Rolesor bracelet is gold-filled, or as Rolex calls it, or used to call it, rolled gold.

When you look at the bracelet, it's hard to imagine that it could be otherwise, especially in the latch area.

I'm sure one of our genuine experts will be along shortly.

[Shade]

Morty, the price you mentioned does sound a bit high, but we should take your discount under consideration, you might well be paying a reasonable price for it.

The centre links are solid 18k gold as far as I know.

[Morty]

Paid $8495 plus tax = $9600(CDN), which is approx. 23% off retail (if you can believe a retail price of $11,080).

[CDN_ROLEX]

Welcome to the Rolex forum Morty and enjoy your new Rolex

[wuzzzer]

All gold on Rolexes is solid 18k gold. On the clasp it is a solid piece of gold fused to the steel part of the clasp. Even though the gold doesn't go all the way through the clasp it is still considered solid gold and can be polished/refinished just like the rest of the watch.

[wuzzzer]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Welcome aboard!

I believe that I've read that the Rolesor bracelet is gold-filled, or as Rolex calls it, or used to call it, rolled gold.

When you look at the bracelet, it's hard to imagine that it could be otherwise, especially in the latch area.

I'm sure one of our genuine experts will be along shortly.

Gold filled????

[vukotab]

My AD told me numerous times that ALL gold that you see on Rolex watch is solid 18ct gold...
Welcome to TRF!

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by wuzzzer

Gold filled????

I'm glad your such a jovial mood.

Gold-filled, or some other similar term such as rolled gold, means that a layer of solid gold is fused to a substrate of base metal.

Unless the links of the bracelet are made in two pieces, I cannot see how they could be gold all the way through. There must be a layer of gold fused to the stainless steel.

That is the meaning of gold-filled, so laugh till your sides split, but until someone with actual knowledge confirms that the links are made of two components, I'm sticking with this story.

I notice that you haven't an explanation of your own.

http://jewelry.about.com/od/goldjewe...old_filled.htm

[wuzzzer]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Unless the links of the bracelet are made in two pieces, I cannot see how they could be gold all the way through. There must be a layer of gold fused to the stainless steel.

That is the meaning of gold-filled, so laugh till your sides split, but until someone with actual knowledge confirms that the links are made of two components, I'm sticking with this story.

The links in an oyster bracelet are made of steel sides and a solid 'brick' of 18k gold in the center. How is that difficult to see? The entire center section is solid gold, not rolled gold, not gold plated, not gold filled, not anything else you could look up the definition of.

[GradyPhilpott]

It's not difficult to understand, if that is indeed the case.

Why didn't you just offer that explanation in the beginning, instead of offering a line of emoticons, expressing your contemptuous amusement?

[GradyPhilpott]

I live about a mile from my AD, Beauchamp Jewelers, and so I stopped off there about an hour ago and Ron Beauchamp was kind enough to explain to me how the Rolesor links are constructed.

They do indeed comprise three components, two stainless steel and one 18kt gold, which are held together by two splined pins.

The strip of gold on the clasp he said was probably soldered to the stainless steel, but that as far as he knows Rolex does not reveal their methods to the public in this regard.

I asked him if the definition of gold-filled was a sheet of gold bonded to a base substrate, why the clasp was not considered gold-filled.

He said that gold-filled was a process whereby a very thin sheet of gold, probably 200 microns maximum, was bonded to the base substrate.

In the case of the clasp on a Rolesor bracelet, the gold is far too thick to fall into that category.

I've looked at these watches before, but I've never inspected one as closely as I did this one today and Ron Beauchamp is to be commended for taking the time to not only tell me how this is all done, but to also draw some very detailed drawings of the structure of the bracelet.

Even in the case of the SEL, the same method of using a splined pin to connect the gold center section to the stainless sections is used.

I'm really lucky to have such a fine jeweler and watchmaker so close, who are never too busy to explain things to a novice.

[rfknauss]

Welcome to TRF!

[Morty]

Thanks for the info. With the price of gold constantly rising, it is no wonder the price of these watches keeps rising also. I find there isn't a lot of technical info from Rolex. Too bad. Would make excellent bedside reading.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Morty

I find there isn't a lot of technical info from Rolex.

That really is the truth. It can either be frustrating or make the chase for the facts that much more interesting.

I guess you have to go with the latter.

[wuzzzer]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

It's not difficult to understand, if that is indeed the case.

Why didn't you just offer that explanation in the beginning, instead of offering a line of emoticons, expressing your contemptuous amusement?

I do apologize. I didn't mean to come off like I did. It just surprised me that a member that had so many posts didn't know the answer to the question that was posted. Unfortunately there is quite a bit more technical information to learn about Rolex than with most other watch brands so I shouldn't assume that everyone on here knows all the ins and outs of them.