Rolex white gold composition?

[oztimelord]

Dear All,

Here is an interesting questions to test the experts. We know the famous composition of Rolex red gold or 'Rolesor'.

Given that Rolex uses a fair degree of platinum in their rose gold, I was wondering if their white gold also had any unique elements.

I've been looking at my WG Daytona and it looks more a like platinum\palladium mix (as opposed to a high nickel content).

[Andad]

That is a nice pix of one of my favourites but I can't come to terms with white gold. It is a personal thing and gold needs to be yellow IMO.
If I were to spend $30000 on a gold watch it would need to look significantly different to my SS Daytona.

I am sure that there are some gold experts out there who will answer your question but I am also sure that the exact composition of the gold that Rolex uses is a very closely guarded secret. The only thing we can be sure of it that the current gold Rolex models are 18K (75% yellow gold).

For 18K rose gold there is usually a mix of about 4% silver, 75% yellow gold and 21% copper to give the color.
18 K rose gold could be up to 25% copper and 75% yellow gold.

I am not aware of a rose gold with a high platinum content as that would be going towards white gold IMO.

White gold at one time had a high % of nickel but this has been phased out due to allergy reactions. Palladium has been used for white gold but this is a softer mix than the nickel mix.
I don't know the mix that Rolex uses for its white gold but as Rolex do not rhodium plate their white gold I would strongly suspect that they use a 75% yellow gold, 15% platinum with the rest being palladium or palladium/silver. This would also explain why white gold Rolex are more expensive than yellow gold Rolex.
If someone wants to sacrifice a WG Daytona and send be a sample I can have it analysed.

[Tempo]

"If I were to spend $30000 on a gold watch it would need to look significantly different to my SS Daytona."

The colour may seem to be just a shade different, but its when I actually picked up the WG Daytona and wore it on my wrist that I finally appreciated that there is a world of difference between the WG and SS Daytonas.

The difference, frankly, was quite breathtaking. Very possibly even more breathtaking than the difference in price.

[oztimelord]

Originally Posted by Tempo

"If I were to spend $30000 on a gold watch it would need to look significantly different to my SS Daytona."

The colour may seem to be just a shade different, but its when I actually picked up the WG Daytona and wore it on my wrist that I finally appreciated that there is a world of difference between the WG and SS Daytonas.

The difference, frankly, was quite breathtaking. Very possibly even more breathtaking than the difference in price.

Fully agree , I'm about pick up a SS Daytona (had one previously but sold it ) and I feel they are very different indeed.

[worktolivelife]

WG D options ..its all about the nicer dial options and that quality heft IMHO one reason although i love the look of it on a croc strap that tactile quality feel is lacking IMHO

to my knowledge Rolex WG is composed

75 % gold

12.5 palladium

12.5 mix copper/silver

[Andad]

Originally Posted by worktolivelife

WG D options ..its all about the nicer dial options and that quality heft IMHO one reason although i love the look of it on a croc strap that tactile quality feel is lacking IMHO

to my knowledge Rolex WG is composed

75 % gold

12.5 palladium

12.5 mix copper/silver

Why would Rolex add copper to a white gold mix?
IMO, palladium with copper at that percentage would require rhodium plating.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Tempo

"If I were to spend $30000 on a gold watch it would need to look significantly different to my SS Daytona."

The colour may seem to be just a shade different, but its when I actually picked up the WG Daytona and wore it on my wrist that I finally appreciated that there is a world of difference between the WG and SS Daytonas.

The difference, frankly, was quite breathtaking. Very possibly even more breathtaking than the difference in price.

I agree in comparison...but IMO hand someone a WG Daytona and most will struggle to tell it from SS unless they either own an SS Daytona or are holding one in their other hand.

[2careless]

Have a read here about WG composition - (near the bottom of the article)
http://www.utilisegold.com/jewellery...colour_alloys/
There are so many "mix" of Palladium WG. Which one would Rolex be using?

[worktolivelife]

Isn't a personal timepiece about how it feels to you not others equating to its worth

[Alcan]

White Gold (18K):

Gold 75%
Palladium 10%
Nickel 10%
Zinc 5%


http://jewelrymaking.allinfoabout.co...oldalloys.html

[StanGMT]

That WG Daytona has a beautiful lustre to it that SS just cannot come near matching. While I can see the definite appeal of WG I do feel, like some of the others, that gold, for me, needs to be yellow or red.

Stan

[Tempo]

Is White Gold that much less durable and prone to damage than 904 steel?

How tough is Rolex White Gold compared to Yellow, Rose or Pink gold?

[tphan]

Although the 116509 look like stainless...it isn't.

Over the weekend at an AD, I was lucky enough to set hands on a 116509 blk dial for over 2 hrs. Had my SS Daytona at the time, the 116520 felt small; less; words couldn't described how the WG D felt

Went home without it...of course

[Tempo]

Originally Posted by tphan

Although the 116509 look like stainless...it isn't.

Over the weekend at an AD, I was lucky enough to set hands on a 116509 blk dial for over 2 hrs. Had my SS Daytona at the time, the 116520 felt small; less; words couldn't described how the WG D felt

Went home without it...of course

Exactly what I noticed and I thought I was the only one! The 116509 looked somehow bigger than the SS. Somehow, it seemed to fill up more space and radiate more "presence."

It is an optical illusion of course. You have to put the crystals of the WG and SS facing each other, then it proves they are of the same size.

Also, even with the stickers and protective tape on, the WG feels strangely cooler to the wrist; like it is an alien metal from a different planet.

[Tempo]

Originally Posted by tphan

Had my SS Daytona at the time, the 116520 felt small; less; words couldn't described how the WG D felt

Went home without it...of course

It's hard to tell what it's like living with a watch after spending a couple hours with it, just like a potential life partner.

Although extremely impressive, the 116509's flashy racy black/red dial could have an overwhelming visual effect that might grate on the eyes over time.

On the other hand your simpler more understated SS dial might be more pleasing and sit better with the eyes on daily basis, in the long run.

The WG is also softer and more easily scratched than steel. When the time comes to sell, the SS will reward you with a far better resale value than the WG.

Enjoy your 116520. It is not a poor cousin to the WG as it might seem at the start.

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by oztimelord

Dear All,

Here is an interesting questions to test the experts. We know the famous composition of Rolex red gold or 'Rolesor'.

Given that Rolex uses a fair degree of platinum in their rose gold, I was wondering if their white gold also had any unique elements.

I've been looking at my WG Daytona and it looks more a like platinum\palladium mix (as opposed to a high nickel content).