Why is the term Yellow Metal used in the UK?

[AJF]

My understanding was that as Rolex use more base metal in the 18ct gold TT watches than the UK gold standard allows, therefore it has to advertise the watches as steel & yellow metal and not steel and 18ct.

However in Europe this is not the case and the watches are advertised as SS and 18ct gold.

Is this correct?

How are they advertised in the USA and other non EC countries?

Thanks.

AJF

[OYSTERMANN]

Ally, my understanding on this, as advised by my AD, is that only gold that can be hallmarked can be called 'gold' in the UK, under the ancient assay legislation.

Hence the all-gold models, eg Day-Dates etc, where they are hallmarked, are described as being 18ct gold.

The gold on the TTs is identical, but as it isn't hallmarked, is described as being of yellow (or white and pink) metal.

I hope this helps .

[AJF]

Originally Posted by OYSTERMANN

Ally, my understanding on this, as advised by my AD, is that only gold that can be hallmarked can be called 'gold' in the UK, under the ancient assay legislation.

Hence the solid versions, eg Day-Dates etc, where they are hallmarked, are described as being 18ct gold.

The gold on the TTs is identical, but as it isn't hallmarked, is described as being of yellow (or white and pink) metal.

I hope this helps .

Neil,

Thanks for the reply.

It is an interesting one. I have dug out a couple of old brochures, and back when I got my watch in 1990, they were calling TT versions steel and yellow metal. Even up to July 1996 in the UK editions. Not sure when the change came, but I have one from July 2001 that has yellow ROLESOR used.

It would be interesting to know when they started using the term ROLESOR in marketing literature and whether this is the same in other countries.

I remember seeing TT watches in Europe advertised as steel and 18ct gold in promotional material and it got me wondering whether other countries have a different gold standard to ours.

AJF.

[OYSTERMANN]

Originally Posted by AJF

Neil,

Thanks for the reply.

It is an interesting one. I have dug out a couple of old brochures, and back when I got my watch in 1990, they were calling TT versions steel and yellow metal. Even up to July 1996 in the UK editions. Not sure when the change came, but I have one from July 2001 that has yellow ROLESOR used.

It would be interesting to know when they started using the term ROLESOR in marketing literature and whether this is the same in other countries.

I remember seeing TT watches in Europe advertised as steel and 18ct gold in promotional material and it got me wondering whether other countries have a different gold standard to ours.

AJF.

Ally,

I'm not sure when the term Rolesor came into being (a play on Rolex and Or, being gold), but they use it to describe watches produced in combinations of steel and yellow, white and pink metals. Hence Yellow, White and Everose Rolesor. Models containing steel and non-hallmarked platinum - eg the Yachtmaster, are described as Rolesium.

I don't think it's a case of differences in gold standards that determines whether they can be described as steel and gold, but the fact that the gold, under quirky UK legislation, must be hallmarked.

It may even be that, in the UK, it is not permissable to hallmark gold, where it is in a combination with another metal - in this case steel.

Regards

[Chris B]

Tracking off a bit but I believe they hallmark 9ct / 18ct which has other metals added.

I would like to know anyway, great thread

[OYSTERMANN]

Originally Posted by Chris B

Tracking off a bit but I believe they hallmark 9ct / 18ct which has other metals added.

I would like to know anyway, great thread

Chris, as you say, in the UK, the carat content is hallmarked, determining the actual quantity of gold used in the alloy itself - ie 18ct gold is stamped '750' (75% gold content) and 9ct stamped as '375' (37.5%), based on solid 24ct gold being '1000' (100%). Other metals used in the alloy are copper, silver and, in the case of the Everose Rolesor, a tiny amount of platinum to fix the colour permanently.

The fact is that, currently, Rolex use 18ct gold together with steel in the TT models, but as it is not hallmarked, they can't, in the UK anyway, describe the gold as being, well, gold.