Two tone woes.. Any with similar experiences?

[leopardprey]

Does the way the 18ct Gold center link scratch up quickly make the center links as well less polished? I am actually considering a TT Sub, but do not wnat it too shiney. The one I am looking at, the Gold actually appears a little duller than some other models I looked at side by side. I like that. (Always been a fan of the duller looking really soft 23ct. Gold worn by most in Thailand). I think getting all the scratches on the Gold will jsut build character to the watch, dull it out a bit, and make it look good. A watch band worn everyday will get sratches on it. I do not mind.


Holy...what's the story behind this watch Al??__________________

Was in a a motorcyle accident.

[Alcan]

Oops, Chad was quicker on the draw than I was. I wish there was a Delete option in Edit.

Originally Posted by jasonbellevue

Holy...what's the story behind this watch Al??

The pic has been around the internet for a while. It was said to have been through a motorcycle accident. A new bezel, crystal, crown and polishing at a RSC would probably have it loking showroom new again.

[iSellJerseyShore]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

They might, but then again I might have to kill them!!

JJ I am on the same page with you, nobody wants to see fine pieces of craftsmanship abused.... I just thought it would add additional value to the thread to see some of the worst case scenarios of worn TT's....


Now as for the picture posted by Alcan... That must have been some accident to leave that Rolex looking the way it does.. Id say that was a bit beyond worn as most people were describing here on the forum... LOL



-Frankie

[s7horton]

JJ, actually going to 14K or 10K would make a difference. The higher the karat, the less impurities. Gold itself is soft, but mixed with impurities (as all gold except 24K is) will make it less scratch resistant.

Rolex uses 18K because it looks so much better than 14K or 10K. They see the visual impact fo 18k as more important than the gain of scratch resistance you get going to 14k or 10k. So, no all gold is not the same.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Hi,

try out THIS link:

http://www.rolexreferencepage.com/sc...scratches.html

Or even better THIS link:

http://www.oysterinfo.de/de/workshop...tung/index.php

It is written in German, but I have (freely) translated it for you (that is the instruction under the photos!):

1: The object shown with slight traces of wearing. It looks worse here than it actually is.
2: Start by applying tape to the matte finished OUTER links. Be very thorough with with the taping of the matte finish centre link so that you are SURE that NO Cape Cod polish come unto the matte links!
3: Polish with the PINK cloth. There are gloves in the Cape Cod tin, if you need them. You can polish in one or another direction or in circular movements. It doesn't matter how you do it.
4: Here you see the result.
5: Then you polish with the WHITE cloth in that is in the Cape Cod tin (or a SOFT cotton cloth)
6: Also at this stage you will see black "dirt"
7: Nice result, isn't it??!!
8: Another photo is shown of the end result.

[astcell]

I thought when you got rid of scratches you basically shaved down the gold to the level of the deepest scratch, thus you will lose ALL the gold to that level. True or false?

Alsy why not get the cloth on the SS? What will happen?

Do I want to buy a Cape Cod cloth?

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by astcell

I thought when you got rid of scratches you basically shaved down the gold to the level of the deepest scratch, thus you will lose ALL the gold to that level. True or false?

Alsy why not get the cloth on the SS? What will happen?

Do I want to buy a Cape Cod cloth?

I cannot vouch for the effectivity of the Cape Cod cloth since I have not tried it out myself.

But in the FIRST link of the two links I gave, there is a note that the Cape Cod would make the matte finished links too shiny IF you by accident would polish the matte links with CC.

Basically, I just had these links from my favourites list of wristwatch items, so I just shared it with the thread starter trying to help him out

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by astcell

I thought when you got rid of scratches you basically shaved down the gold to the level of the deepest scratch, thus you will lose ALL the gold to that level. True or false?

Alsy why not get the cloth on the SS? What will happen?

Do I want to buy a Cape Cod cloth?

http://www.rolexreferencepage.com/sc...scratches.html says the following:

"When you're using the cloth, it's very important to understand that you only want to use the cloth on the polished portion of the Oyster bracelet. If you use the cloth on the outer links of an Oyster bracelet, the brushed finish will be changed to a polished one".

[astcell]

The brushed finish will change to a polished one, wow! hey JJ, now your watches will look even MORE fake! :D

[mlb]

Originally Posted by Alcan

Oops, Chad was quicker on the draw than I was. I wish there was a Delete option in Edit.



The pic has been around the internet for a while. It was said to have been through a motorcycle accident. A new bezel, crystal, crown and polishing at a RSC would probably have it loking showroom new again.

Wish we could say the same about the rider

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by s7horton

JJ, actually going to 14K or 10K would make a difference. The higher the karat, the less impurities. Gold itself is soft, but mixed with impurities (as all gold except 24K is) will make it less scratch resistant.

Rolex uses 18K because it looks so much better than 14K or 10K. They see the visual impact fo 18k as more important than the gain of scratch resistance you get going to 14k or 10k. So, no all gold is not the same.

Seth,

An expert goldsmith once told me that any gold LESS than 14 K is pure crap!! Far too many impurities.

Besides, any polished surface will scratch - so will POLISHED STEEL!!!

So, at the end of the day, Rolex are doing well by giving us 18 K gold. Also bear in mind that their very early models were 14 K gold - at least the TT ones were - I should know 'cause my very first TT DJ was 14 K gold.

JJ

[s7horton]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Seth,

An expert goldsmith once told me that any gold LESS than 14 K is pure crap!! Far too many impurities.

Besides, any polished surface will scratch - so will POLISHED STEEL!!!

So, at the end of the day, Rolex are doing well by giving us 18 K gold. Also bear in mind that their very early models were 14 K gold - at least the TT ones were - I should know 'cause my very first TT DJ was 14 K gold.

JJ

I don't disagree with what you are saying. Just pointing out that polished 14K gold will scratch less easliy than polished 18k. Just as polished steel will scratch less easliy than 14K polished gold. As an FYI, my wedding band is Tungsten Carbide (the same stuff used to make wood working bits and blades, among other things). It is guaranted against scratches and is highly polished.

The higher in karat you go, the more color there will be and the more pleasing to the eye it will be. Under 14K gold is not crap, just worth less because it contains less gold in it. (more impurities) Rolex uses 18K because it looks better than the 14k that most others use.

10K may not look nice, but it is much harder than 18K.

[astcell]

I some some nice 22k jewelry in Qatar. it may be soft but it was gorgeous!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by s7horton

10K may not look nice, but it is much harder than 18K.

Actually I've never heard of 10 K gold!!

Here in NZ, we have the 9 K variety which is used in cheaper jewellery and the common man's jewellery stores so that it is affordable by one and all.

But the high end jewellers don't even stock the 9 K gold - only the 18 K variety either in YG or WG. You'd be hard pressed to find 14 K in NZ.

JJ

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by astcell

I saw some nice 22k jewelry in Qatar. it may be soft but it was gorgeous!

Yes, very popular in India and most Asian countries. In fact, you only get 22 K there. Anything less than 18 K and they'll scoff at you....seriously!!

[astcell]

My first brush with 9k gold was a 1915 Rolex! We have 10k gold in the US, it goes by the name of Black Hills Gold.

[Welshwatchman]

I once asked a jeweler for 50% discount on a 18ct gold necklace I was considering buying for my wife.

He went away to think about it and came back with a 9ct necklace !

Go figure.




Disclaimer - The above story is fictional.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

I once asked a jeweler for 50% discount on a 18ct gold necklace I was considering buying for my wife.

He went away to think about it and came back with a 9ct necklace !

Go figure.




Disclaimer - The above story is fictional.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Actually I've never heard of 10 K gold!!

Very popular here in Canada for high wear items such as mens' wedding rings and wrist chains.