Looking for info about the darker shade of YG on the all-gold Sub & GMT

[Nick H.]

Hi everyone, this is my first post! Maybe this is a dumb question but I can't help noticing that some of the 6 digit all gold models seem to be a very dark colour, almost brownish. For example the Sub and the GMT 50th anniversary. I can only judge this by looking at pics on my computer screen, but even in the pics on the Rolex company site these models are so much darker than, say, a YG DD40, that I can't put it down simply to variations in lighting. Surely Rolex would strive not to make that mistake on their own site? But I can't find any discussion or even acknowledgement of this. The Rolex site just says that all these watches are "18 ct yellow gold." But I'm sure you guys know the whole story and I'd be very grateful if you could please point me in the right direction with a few links.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Nick H.

Hi everyone, this is my first post! Maybe this is a dumb question but I can't help noticing that some of the 6 digit all gold models seem to be a very dark colour, almost brownish. For example the Sub and the GMT 50th anniversary. I can only judge this by looking at pics on my computer screen, but even in the pics on the Rolex company site these models are so much darker than, say, a YG DD40, that I can't put it down simply to variations in lighting. Surely Rolex would strive not to make that mistake on their own site? But I can't find any discussion or even acknowledgement of this. The Rolex site just says that all these watches are "18 ct yellow gold." But I'm sure you guys know the whole story and I'd be very grateful if you could please point me in the right direction with a few links.

I think you've probably answered your own question - its probably your computer screen calibration and lighting/exposure/ digital image processing differences between references when the images for the Rolex site were taken.

[AK797]

The YG colour is the same, I've owned a few, Rolex don't put too much care into their website, altho they are getting better.

[watchwatcher]

I have heard some owners talk of a lighter tone in certain YG pieces, but not experienced it myself. Between a YG sub, GMT, and a DD40 they all look pretty much the same to me.

[kilyung]

Rolex smelts their own gold. Over time, Rolex may have changed the composition of its 18k gold alloy. No one knows what current or past alloys were used. That may lend to perceived color differences. Personally, all my YG pieces are more recent pieces so they appear the same color to me.

[rmlovett1]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Rolex smelts their own gold. Over time, Rolex may have changed the composition of its 18k gold alloy. No one knows what current or past alloys were used. That may lend to perceived color differences. Personally, all my YG pieces are more recent pieces so they appear the same color to me.

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ Agree

[Tangier11]

I have never seen this to be the case in person. I have however noticed pictures where a watch is advertised for sale on ebay or someplace where the description says YG and it is obvious rose gold.

[Loevhagen]

YG 16618 from same seller - and they appears different in pictures - even though it's the same YG.

Moral? Don't trust images...and especially Rolex own images on their website. Heck, even the flat blue 116619LB in WG seems to have a SB dial in Rolex official pictures. :)

[Nick H.]

Thanks everybody, I was slowly coming to the correct conclusion and it's great to have it confirmed by owners. (I'm afraid I only have an unmentionable f**e.) I've been looking at the pics in the owners thread for the all-gold ceramic sub and it strikes me that the gold always appears a little browner on a black-dialled model compared to a blue-dialled one. Maybe it's a quirk of the way the human eye perceives colours next to each other - the same effect as those pics which go viral because nobody can agree on whether a dress is blue or brown.

[saskmh]

I have seen a vintage day date next to a newer gold ceramic sub where the tone of the yellow gold was very noticeably different. The vintage gold mix is a bit more yellow whereas the new gold mix seems a bit lighter and less yellow.

[Onikage]

I'll throw the possibility of patina in.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Onikage

I'll throw the possibility of patina in.

Gold doesn’t patina or oxidize. However the alloys used to smelt 18k gold can potentially cause a change in color.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Gold doesn’t patina or oxidize. However the alloys used to smelt 18k gold can potentially cause a change in color.

I have seen some older 18K yellow gold pieces that have been tucked away in safes for several years for sale here. They appear to have a "haze" on them. Is that the other metals oxidizing?

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

I have seen some older 18K yellow gold pieces that have been tucked away in safes for several years for sale here. They appear to have a "haze" on them. Is that the other metals oxidizing?

I hear ya. Some very orangy examples. Though I'm not sure if 'oxidizing' is accurate. As has been said Gold itself is very unreactive, hence its prefered use in jewellery but the other metals in the gold alloy (traditionally silver and copper) react in more environmental conditions so the colour can vary depending on the owners swimming regularity or if they're owner of the pickle factory. Or the atmospheric conditions inside the safe.