How to distinguish Platinum, White gold, Stainless Steel by naked eyes?

[Daytona-Dan]

Know the watch and you will likely also know the metal. Rolex is careful to distinguish SS from WG but if you know what models are available, you can tell what it's made of.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

Know the watch and you will likely also know the metal. Rolex is careful to distinguish SS from WG but if you know what models are available, you can tell what it's made of.

Not always the case today especially with Rolex watches with many changing dials on the S.steel watches, to dials that are only available on the precious metal watches.

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by padi56

Not always the case today especially with Rolex watches with many changing dials on the S.steel watches, to dials that are only available on the precious metal watches.

True, I forgot that people like to swap dials/bezels.
I guess it's a good starting point though.

To the naked eye, Rolex WG looks identical to SS, I guess the only way would be to hold it and feel the weight but even that is difficult unless you have something to compare it against.

If it was a lesser brand, the WG would show signs of yellowing as any Rhodium plating comes off but from what I can tell, Rolex WG is not plated and white all the way through.

[cht]

Originally Posted by bmendick1

Appearance wise, all three of those white metals are indistinguishable just by looking at them.

Originally Posted by TimeOnMyHands

It appears that perhaps only the owners of the actual watch know for sure if it is white gold or platinum. To the casual observer or even a casual WIS - it remains an educated guess.

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

To the naked eye, Rolex WG looks identical to SS, I guess the only way would be to hold it and feel the weight but even that is difficult unless you have something to compare it against.

I'd have to disagree with ALL of you.


You need to take the time to learn/observe the differences.

Though I have spent little time examining WG, SS, and platinum watch, by having them side by side the and taking a moment to LEARN/OBSERVE/CONTRAST/COMPARE I can tell the difference without touching the watches.

Even NEW WG rolex models when held side by side to a SS version you will notice a gold/yellowish HUE to the metal that SS does not have
Comaring SS to platinum, you can certainly tell the platinum is WHITER/CLEARER more like a mirror than SS.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by cht

I'd have to disagree with ALL of you.


You need to take the time to learn/observe the differences.

Though I have spent little time examining WG, SS, and platinum watch, by having them side by side the and taking a moment to LEARN/OBSERVE/CONTRAST/COMPARE I can tell the difference without touching the watches.

Even NEW WG rolex models when held side by side to a SS version you will notice a gold/yellowish HUE to the metal that SS does not have
Comaring SS to platinum, you can certainly tell the platinum is WHITER/CLEARER more like a mirror than SS.

Some don't let facts get in the way of talking about things they know nothing about.

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

Some don't let facts get in the way of talking about things they know nothing about.

LOL! It's funny cos it's true!

[Trex700]

Is it true that all fluted bezels are gold? I heard that Rolex dont make a steel fluted bezel but wanted to check if thats actually true?

[wesleyvs]

Originally Posted by padi56

Not always the case today especially with Rolex watches with many changing dials on the S.steel watches, to dials that are only available on the precious metal watches.

Even with swapping dials etc its most likely to see that the metal is different is the color and weight.
The WG is sort of brownish/yellowish tint if you know how that looks like in person you can spot it easy. As for the WG Daytona the case and bezel is different and for the WG Sub the bezel and dial is blue but also the bracelet should be with polished center links but you always have that different color. As for Platinum... The color is much whiter and it shines more also the weight is very heavy and for a Platinum Daydate 2 the bezel is flat and For the Daytona a brown ceramic and most of the time Platinum models have ice blue dials. So there's always a way to tell.