Rotting pearl dial Rolex

[DamselInDistress]

Can anyone help with there expertise please

I recently was gifted bought my first Rolex it was the;
178341 - Chocolate Datejust, diamond bezel, oyster bracelet everrose gold with Roman numerals and diamond 6

But I immediately didn't like the dial and I'm the type to go with my first impression when buying items

(The giftee doesn't mind at all that I'll be swapping the dial they semi expect I would)

I have since checked the Rolex website seen the exact same watch but with a white mother of peak dial (178341 - diamond bezel, oyster bracelet everrose gold with Roman numerals and diamond 6) which from the dial options is the dial that I prefer the look of (I've seen white MOP in store too - so I've seen how they slightly vary)

I can have the dial changed for £1600 but the only problem is I've read elsewhere that generally pearls discolor and I fear that it will become yellowish, become a faded off white yeloow, loose its colour or worse deteriorate if I change the dial to the white mother of pearl

I want to keep my Rolex forever and not loose too much value on it either but I also want it to look beautiful to me

Does anyone please know whether the white mother of pearl pearl will discolour or worse?

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[Yzord]

I have an old Breitling Chronomat MoP and it is still looking crispy here. Just go for it

[wach16]

Have not heard of the dial rotting before but it will be interesting to hear what everyone else says

[Dirt]

I've never seen MOP deteriorate in any way what so ever, and I've had exposure to it as a material for well over 45 years.
As far as I know it's virtually timeless.

Rolex uses exhibition grade MOP and there can be quite a big variation in it from one piece to the next just as no two pieces are alike.
It's a lottery what one gets in terms of appearance.
When I was looking for my wife's watch with a MOP dial as my wedding present to her. I searched high and low through the local AD's for quite a long while and as stock was turning over until I found one example that I was happy to give to her.
It was made more difficult because we had specifically chosen the White MOP with 10 diamonds in 31 MM with the fluted Rose gold bezel.
There seemed to be some nice examples of white MOP just not in the specific watch configuration we were after.

There are things such as fake MOP in the marketplace, also there is MOP which is of a lower standard that I understand is enhanced in some way to add colour.
Perhaps it's these materials which deteriorate in some way?

Good luck with your hunt for the perfect example.
It could be an expensive quest if you are particular.
In that light it may be more cost effective to sell the current watch privately and purchase a new watch that is a known quantity in terms of appearance and you are happy with from the proceeds of the sale.
As I say, it's a lottery as to what you will ultimately get going by my own experience just looking through the AD's, and that was the easy part.
The problem will be compounded going through the RSC, as to them one MOP dial is the same as another with no guarantee any piece you will end up with will be satisfactory to you. You don't get a choice.
To go this way will incur an additional cost each time you change dials.

[MILGAUSS88]

I have seen mother of pearl buttons that are 100 years old.
Looked fine to me.
They haven't turned yellow.

[ejvette]

Never heard of pearl discoloration

[DramaTurtle]

Don't think pearl goes bad.

That is one truly extravagant DJ.

[DamselInDistress]

Originally Posted by DramaTurtle

Don't think pearl goes bad.

That is one truly extravagant DJ.

It's 31mm and I had links taken out because my wrist is slim, so it's not a big watch

Roman numerals and oyster strap is more subtle I think.



I'm just worried of discoloration of white MOP. I think it's natural and something to do with oxygen, moisture, sealed pearls etc

https://www.fratellowatches.com/the-...lex-snake-pit/

http://www.jewelrynotes.com/can-you-...urning-yellow/





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[Hodog16]

I say go for it. My wife has that exact watch but with the purple VI dial.

She used to wear it daily until I got her an Apple Watch for her birthday. Guess what she's been wearing since January on a daily basis.

[116500LN]

If it turns yellow, just swap it for a new dial again when the time comes.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by 116500LN

If it turns yellow, just swap it for a new dial again when the time comes.

That's all well and good provided the dials are still available for that model when the time comes.
Fortunately I don't think it will ever be an issue.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by DamselInDistress

It's 31mm and I had links taken out because my wrist is slim, so it's not a big watch

Roman numerals and oyster strap is more subtle I think.



I'm just worried of discoloration of white MOP. I think it's natural and something to do with oxygen, moisture, sealed pearls etc

https://www.fratellowatches.com/the-...lex-snake-pit/

http://www.jewelrynotes.com/can-you-...urning-yellow/





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The pictures you show of white MOP dials are rather good examples.
Some are not as nice.
I have found it can be hard to capture the essence of MOP in pics. Well done
Also MOP is a totally different material to the stuff Pearls are made of.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by DamselInDistress

It's 31mm and I had links taken out because my wrist is slim, so it's not a big watch

Roman numerals and oyster strap is more subtle I think.


I'm just worried of discoloration of white MOP. I think it's natural and something to do with oxygen, moisture, sealed pearls etc


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These are some of the best examples of MoP I've seen, and I've seen quite a few shopping for a watch for my wife.

I have some antique MoP accessories that look brand new. I don't think fine MoP patina's over time (that's one reason to use it), and Rolex uses fine MoP.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by DamselInDistress

It's 31mm and I had links taken out because my wrist is slim, so it's not a big watch

Roman numerals and oyster strap is more subtle I think.

I'm just worried of discoloration of white MOP. I think it's natural and something to do with oxygen, moisture, sealed pearls etc

https://www.fratellowatches.com/the-...lex-snake-pit/

http://www.jewelrynotes.com/can-you-...urning-yellow/

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Hi

The "pearl" referred to in your frst link is the luminous marker in some rolex watches on the bezel. Its not actually a pearl, but coated luminous material (containing tritium) which discolours along with the luminous material in the hands and dots on the dial. This type of luminous material is no longer used on Rolex watches. Old dials and bezels fade and discolour due to the effect of UV light aging as the colour pigments used at the time were less resiliant than they are now.

Contrary to what has been posted above, MOP is what the outer coating of pearls are made from. However, I have never heard of or seen a discoloured MOP dial on a watch. Rolex will use high quality MOP for its dials and its not something I would worry about.

What you will need to be aware of is that if you order a MOP dial, you will not know what it will look like in advance. As has been posted above, they are all a little different.

HTH

[joli160]

Don't worry about it, not going to happen. Never seen one turning

[DamselInDistress]

Thanks everyone that replied you guys really helped. They should warn newbies you're definitely enablers lmaooooo


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