Precious metal question I have always wondered

[ColRam425]

Okay so as we pretty much all know, Rolex makes watches in stainless steel, 18k golds, and 950 platinum. That being said I have always wondered why Rolex doesn't make 925 sterling silver watches. To me it is the perfect "half way" metal between stainless steel and 18k gold (not counting Rolesor). Since Rolex is known for precious metal watches, why not make silver models for prices between that of SS and Au?

[bradj]

Two reasons I can think of

1) Silver tarnishes, not ideal for a watch.
2) 16oz of silver is only about $350 USD.. not really that precious.

[ColRam425]

Originally Posted by bradj

Two reasons I can think of

1) Silver tarnishes, not ideal for a watch.
2) 16oz of silver is only about $350 USD.. not really that precious.

I thought only pure Ag tarnishes though. I thought Sterling Silver was made specifically to avoid tarnish. And as for the price, it still is worth way more than steel.

[bradj]

Originally Posted by ColRam425

I thought only pure Ag tarnishes though. I thought Sterling Silver was made specifically to avoid tarnish. And as for the price, it still is worth way more than steel.

Relative to the price of a Rolex, silver is not "way more" than SS. I'd much rather the performance of SS over silver as well.

[Speed]

Wouldn't do much for the brand...would it?

[Dvenus11]

i personally prefer stainless steel over silver

[samsam]

I think you have a valid question; however, even sterling silver tarnishes with time (from experience).

[ColRam425]

Actually this may answer my own question but could it have anything to do with salt water corroding Ag, thus making the water-proofness of all Oysters irrelevant?

[landroverking]

And it's soft

[ExplorerChris]

The day Rolex makes 92.5 % sterling watches (I know they won't that's why I say this)
I get rid of my Explorer II and never look at Rolex again.

[redsubby]

If we have people b!tch about their polished center links being too shiny, I wonder what they will say about a silver watch...

[chemistryde]

Originally Posted by landroverking

And it's soft

It's actually somewhat harder than 18K gold!

But yes, the correct answer is that silver tarnishes (i.e. it oxidizes due to contact with sulfides in the air). 925 silver (sterling silver) contains 92.5% Ag and 7.5% Cu. Both will oxidize over time!

A watch made of sterling silver would look quite ugly (brown/black) after a while especially the little areas between the links/lugs that are hard to reach with a polishing cloth.

[MILGAUSS88]

There are some early Rolexes made of silver. 1910's and 1920's. I own 2.
Omega made several watches in silver during this time period as well. The Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle watch came in silver.
The cases have a dark hue on the outside, along the lines of nickel. The have held up for 90 years to date, so it should be feasible.
How it would react with salt water, I do not know.
Maybe Panerai will make a silver edition, to go with there bronze watch.

[ExplorerChris]

92.5 Sterling looks awful after being in a pool, hot tub or the ocean it looks very ugly

[richard371]

They could make a sterling silver Daytona with turquoise dial and smokey quartz bezel. Aka the poor mans Platona sold at your local 7-11

[Roger1079]

Originally Posted by chemistryde

It's actually somewhat harder than 18K gold!

But yes, the correct answer is that silver tarnishes (i.e. it oxidizes due to contact with sulfides in the air). 925 silver (sterling silver) contains 92.5% Ag and 7.5% Cu. Both will oxidize over time!

A watch made of sterling silver would look quite ugly (brown/black) after a while especially the little areas between the links/lugs that are hard to reach with a polishing cloth.

I agree with everything except your first sentence. Silver is only harder than gold in its purest form (24k). Once the gold is mixed with other elements to reach the usual 18k and 14k found in most jewelry its hardness will usually exceed that of sterling silver (silver and copper). How much softer it is all depends on what type of gold being referred to (yellow, pink, white, green, etc.) and the mix of elements used to obtain those colors.

To the poster earlier that asked about sterling silver tarnishing, it absolutely does. When debating whether to use it in a watch, the downsides far outweigh any benefit over stainless steel.

[Rolexpharm]

It would be interesting to see but I don't think they will do it. If they have done it in the past and haven't returned it, it is probably for good reason

[Lol-x]

Offensive comments are not acceptable.
Infraction issued.

[dalip]

Absolutely disgusting ...Small minded and sad.

[Dittox]

Originally Posted by Roger1079

To the poster earlier that asked about sterling silver tarnishing, it absolutely does. When debating whether to use it in a watch, the downsides far outweigh any benefit over stainless steel.

There are some alloys of silver that are tarnish-resistant. This is accomplished by replacing some of the copper in the alloy with germanium which also makes it harder. However, this alloy is significantly more expensive than the traditional sterling silver. Nonetheless, I think that Rolex has the silver color pretty well-covered with the SS and WG watches!

[Suicide King]

I'm allergic to silver,and so is my mother for example.I'm sure we're not the only people allergic to silver.
Silver is inferior material and looks cheap.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Suicide King

I'm allergic to silver,and so is my mother for example.I'm sure we're not the only people allergic to silver.

Yeah, I mean werewolves wear watches also!

[locutus49]

The key objection to sterling - which one company is going to fix with a new alloy - is that when it oxidizes (tarnishes), it does so INSIDE the case as well, thus depositing particles on the mechanical pieces inside. Although My wife has an Hermes Cape Cod in sterling and it seems to run fine (quartz movement is the reason) and the exterior tarnishing is minimal.

[locutus49]

Do you avoid direct sunlight and do you like your steak very rare? If so, you will live a very, very long time. Avoid wooden stakes, though

Originally Posted by Suicide King

I'm allergic to silver,and so is my mother for example.I'm sure we're not the only people allergic to silver.
Silver is inferior material and looks cheap.

[joe100]

Originally Posted by richard371

They could make a sterling silver Daytona with turquoise dial and smokey quartz bezel. Aka the poor mans Platona sold at your local indian reservation :)

My other half is Native American. Really poor taste.

[Daytona4130]

Would a tarnished silver sub not look bad a$$? I think it would be cool, but very unlikely to them to do it

[ExplorerChris]

Originally Posted by richard371

They could make a sterling silver Daytona with turquoise dial and smokey quartz bezel. Aka the poor mans Platona sold at your local indian reservation :)

This indavidual owes this forum a retraction of their racist statement as well as an apology to the members.

No matter who we are are, what we believe, who we vote for and who we worship if we choose to worship we are united by our passion for Rolex.
Everyone is equal, everyone is welcome and everyone is accepted and that's what makes this the worlds best forum hands down.

However comments such as this are not welcome or accepted and neither are the people who make them.
Take your white sheet and hood off and look around, we are all human beings with thoughts, feelings, dreams and aspirations. There is enough BS going on all around us we don't need it here. This is our oasis, our sanctuary and a place to get away for a while.

To my fellow members

[bradj]

I still fall back on the fact that Silver really that precious or valuable of a metal and doesn't fall into a halfway spot between Gold and SS so it doesn't make sense.

9/4 Spot Prices

$19.08 USD oz Silver
$1263.80 USD oz Gold

Even if SS was $0.00 USD oz, Silver is a very long way off from being in the middle.
~

[dysondiver]

how about a titanium sub.

[ExplorerChris]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

how about a titanium sub.

Titanium would be a lot better, it won't react poorly to pool or hot tub water or swimming in salt water the way sterling silver would