Anyone not liking the current yellow gold that Rolex uses?

[McinRolex]

Rolex recently tweaked the chemicals or percentages for their yellow gold watches and the gold color got little bit softer than previous combinations.

Does anyone hate it or love it?

I personally think I like the previous combination (more yellow-ish than current combination).

[Time Out]

Odd you say this because I tried on the YG Bluesy and it felt more bronzy than gold.

[inadeje]

Yes, the yellow gold seems, well, less yellow…especially when compared alongside Says a 90s or early 2000s Rolex.

[Annan]

I dunno....have owned a number of YG/SS Datejusts over the past 32 years, the most recent one purchased this year, and see no change.

[omar10213245]

can someone post up a side-by-side picture comparison? because i honestly don't notice any sort of difference.

[4 Aussies]

Side by side YG!

[dnd2984]

I thought I was going crazy. I noticed this on my 11 sub vs 12 sub. I prefer the 11s color.

[1995akcoop]

Wasn’t aware of the change. This thread needs some pics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WatchGuy1966]

I was unaware of tweaks in the formula...

[CHRONOLEX]

Maybe it looks a little less like yellow cheese now? But I think that's just patina. I think a fresh YG DD looks super clean.

[fixinbones]

I like the new color better. It’s more subdued and not as loud/ in your face

[77T]

I don’t believe Rolex changed anything in its alloy formula - but the raw materials are likely different in quality.

Where has this belief that they changed the alloy originate?

With the pandemic, the supply chain in raw materials are not as reliable. While Rolex does it’s own work in-house and keeps its formulae secret. They do use reference purity at the foundry - but the source of silver, copper, platinum or palladium may deliver different quality.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by 4 Aussies

Side by side YG!

I know this thread is about YG pieces, but damn that platinum DD is such a stunner!

[Andad]

Originally Posted by 77T

I don’t believe Rolex changed anything in its alloy formula - but the raw materials are likely different in quality.

Where has this belief that they changed the alloy originate?

With the pandemic, the supply chain in raw materials are not as reliable. While Rolex does it’s own work in-house and keeps its formulae secret. They do use reference purity at the foundry - but the source of silver, copper, platinum or palladium may deliver different quality.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Hi Paul,

The silver, Pt, 24K gold, copper etc. that Rolex uses would not change in purity based on the specfication that Rolex would give to the supplier.

From the time that a new batch of 18K gold is produced the colour is changing slightly each day as the silver and copper additives oxidise on the surface.

[grahammackay86]

Originally Posted by fixinbones

I like the new color better. It’s more subdued and not as loud/ in your face

I second that. I recently tried on a full YG skydweller and was surprised at how toned down it was for being full YG.

[ancientmariner]

Recent service bezel insert on my 16613 looks gold indoors but looks bronze in sunlight.

Seems impossible to capture in a photo though!

[77T]

Originally Posted by Andad

Hi Paul,

The silver, Pt, 24K gold, copper etc. that Rolex uses would not change in purity based on the specfication that Rolex would give to the supplier.

From the time that a new batch of 18K gold is produced the colour is changing slightly each day as the silver and copper additives oxidise on the surface.

Good point. Wouldn’t that oxidation process affect previous YG as well as “new formula YG”?

I believe the shortages on the 2020-2021 markets could have had an affect on smelter deliveries but I don’t have any real knowledge.

When you look at the way Rolex does their work, it would appear the raw materials go through rigorous quality control. So I agree they wouldn’t be lowering their standards. Unless it was due to global trading issues - Rolex is a very small fish in the metals pond compared to other manufacturing giants. That’s where I’d place my bet if the YG was actually different.

I’m wondering where this theory began that Rolex changed their YG formula? I haven’t read a reliable source.

That’s why I speculated that raw material supply would be a more likely cause than a purposeful step by Rolex’s own foundry. (If, indeed, this isn’t some urban legend)

The way to know is take samples from 5 y.o. and current links and submit them to a gas chromatography mass spectrometry lab. Links are forged from same raw YG as cases. Only takes few milligrams of material from each link. Perhaps a group effort? Go fund me crowd sourcing could cover the costs.

That’s when the actual composition percentages would be undeniable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[padi56]

Originally Posted by 77T

I don’t believe Rolex changed anything in its alloy formula - but the raw materials are likely different in quality.

Where has this belief that they changed the alloy originate?

With the pandemic, the supply chain in raw materials are not as reliable. While Rolex does it’s own work in-house and keeps its formulae secret. They do use reference purity at the foundry - but the source of silver, copper, platinum or palladium may deliver different quality.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Exactly that 18Ct gold is just 18Ct gold no matter the colour, and scrap value is the same no matter the manufacturer or cost. And just like most other products like say coloured ceramics or even yellow/rose gold the colour could vary slightly batch to batch depending on that persons eyes.

[brandrea]

My stacks of gold bars from the 90’s are definitely different than the ones I bought last week

[rolexpure]

The current YG they use is ligher in colour and less yellow than the previous ones.

I think this happened in 2019/2020 or so.

My YG DD40 dated 2018 is much more yellow than my 116618LB Sub dated April 2020 which is less yellow and seems more washed out.

There are several threads that discuss this already

[beshannon]

I do not like yellow gold. Period.

[watchwatcher]

There have been different hues in YG Rolex watches for some time now. We had a member who claimed a while back this and provided pics to prove it.

So, I don't think there's been any sudden 'tweaking' on the part of Rolex. However, if you have proof of that, I'm sure we'd all be very interested in seeing it.

[Wahlberg]

Previous topic: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=814982

YG



Rose

[McinRolex]

Originally Posted by Time Out

Odd you say this because I tried on the YG Bluesy and it felt more bronzy than gold.

Exactly! Previous formula yellow gold looked yellow basically under any light conditions but new formula kinda looks bronze in some light conditions.

Originally Posted by inadeje

Yes, the yellow gold seems, well, less yellow…especially when compared alongside Says a 90s or early 2000s Rolex.

Yes! It looks definitely softer, less yelllow.

Originally Posted by dnd2984

I thought I was going crazy. I noticed this on my 11 sub vs 12 sub. I prefer the 11s color.

Same here!

Originally Posted by ancientmariner

Recent service bezel insert on my 16613 looks gold indoors but looks bronze in sunlight.

Seems impossible to capture in a photo though!

Yup!

Originally Posted by rolexpure

The current YG they use is ligher in colour and less yellow than the previous ones.

I think this happened in 2019/2020 or so.

My YG DD40 dated 2018 is much more yellow than my 116618LB Sub dated April 2020 which is less yellow and seems more washed out.

There are several threads that discuss this already

Yeap! Which one do you prefer more?

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

Previous topic: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=814982

YG

There are definitely some differences.

[Fleetlord]

Absolutely it's different

[Watchdoyouwant?]

I prefer the softer yellow. Less garish.

[Onikage]

Wow. It looks like they switched fineness without telling anybody. According to the coin community things like striking pressure and chemical wash can affect lightplay and colour in identical alloys even pure 9999s fine stuffs but wow.. Hey if Rolex says it's 18K it probably is..

[rolexpure]

The only concern I have is what is you order a new link or a completely new bracelet and your watch has the older more yellowish tone?

Will they match it?

[rambo99]

Originally Posted by rolexpure

The only concern I have is what is you order a new link or a completely new bracelet and your watch has the older more yellowish tone?

Will they match it?

I think they certainly will.

[HogwldFLTR]

I like white gold much better. No difference in my eye for me.