Rolex SS Soft

[Tylerlsu2008]

Anyone else find Rolex’s stainless steel dents / dings easily? Compared to my other watches (Omega, IWC, Panerai), I have found they dent way easier in comparison. I’ve recently noticed a few dings on my fairly new watches, and I don’t really recall doing anything noteworthy to do so.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tylerlsu2008

Anyone else find Rolex’s stainless steel dents / dings easily? Compared to my other watches (Omega, IWC, Panerai), I have found they dent way easier in comparison. I’ve recently noticed a few dings on my fairly new watches, and I don’t really recall doing anything noteworthy to do so.

The 904L SS steel now called Oyster steel is a little bit more corrosion resistant than the industry norm 316L.But the Rolex SS will show scratches dings more easily than 316L.But it's how any metal tempered defines the overall hardness.

[brandrea]

I haven’t really noticed a difference. That’s said, polished surfaces on either variant are easily scratched.

[worldofoyster]

equally the same

[krounchou]

I too found my Seiko divers to be "harder". Did not notice any scratch and did notbaby them. However I have so marks on my Rolexes.

[luk4s83]

Originally Posted by krounchou

I too found my Seiko divers to be "harder". Did not notice any scratch and did notbaby them. However I have so marks on my Rolexes.

More premium Seiko watches have Diashield coating which suppose to make them more scratch resistant than regular 316L stainless steel.

[Mystro]

Absolutely I have noticed 904l is a bit softer than 316L BUT there is a trade off with it polishing up with a greater luster.

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Absolutely I have noticed 904l is a bit softer than 316L BUT there is a trade off with it polishing up with a greater luster.

Spot on.

Your other watches may not show wear as easily, they also won't have that Rolex luster.

Cheers,

[thesharkfactor]

When I buy, I like them looking like new, from then on I enjoy looking at the wear I've put on my watches. Bring the scratches on..

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Tylerlsu2008

Anyone else find Rolex’s stainless steel dents / dings easily? Compared to my other watches (Omega, IWC, Panerai), I have found they dent way easier in comparison. I’ve recently noticed a few dings on my fairly new watches, and I don’t really recall doing anything noteworthy to do so.

Yes.

As well as being more prone to scratches and dents, Rolex's 904 alloy also appears more brittle and prone to chipping.

It makes me laugh when some say that Rolex 18ct gold is as scratch/ding resistant as Rolex 904L steel. Whilst that may have some truth to it (as an owner of both) its probably more correct to say that Rolex 904L is as scratch/ding resistant as 18ct gold.

All my 316 steel watches show noticeably less hairlines and are more ding resistant than any 904L Rolex I've owned.

And they are shown less wrist awareness.

I don't know what Rolex 904 alloy comprises, but I suspect some of the elements are at the brittle end of the scale

[TickTockChuck]

My Omega 300M Seamaster seems to dent/scratch fairly easy compared to my other SS watches. My Rolex seem to do reasonably well, but I'm more careful with them. Oystersteel is more of a corrosion resistant alloy and I don't think I've ever seen claims for scratch resistance. Generally the harder the material the less impact resistant it is, so there are always tradeoffs. Cheers.

[Krash]

I think my Submariner and Seamaster are equally resilient and seem pretty tough to me. The polished clapse on my DJ41 and GMT is a different story altogether.


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[KatGirl]

I haven’t noticed any differences. However, I have so many watches, none of them are worn for long. All of them look “as new”, unless viewed with a loupe.

Kat


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[joli160]

I see no differences at all between the various metals including the so called soft gold regardless the position on any hardness scale.

They all scratch and ding the same in daily wear.
Whatever will scratch or ding your gold or 904 watch will do the same to your 316 watch.
Touching a brick wall, dropping your watch on a tile floor to name a few

[Andad]

Originally Posted by joli160

I see no differences at all between the various metals including the so called soft gold regardless the position on any hardness scale.

They all scratch and ding the same in daily wear.
Whatever will scratch or ding your gold or 904 watch will do the same to your 316 watch.
Touching a brick wall, dropping your watch on a tile floor to name a few

Enough of the intelligent posts on this thread thanks.

[krounchou]

Good thing they invented laser welding. If I ever have a serious chip in one of my watches I would bring it to one of these top guys specialised in Rolex laser welding. It's virtually impossible to detect after the process

I agree also on the luster of Oystersteel. It's really something else compared to regular 316L watches

[Tbird]

Strange that Rolex mentions that 904L is more difficult to machine. Maybe it is more tough? Hardness and toughness are 2 different material properties.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tbird

Strange that Rolex mentions that 904L is more difficult to machine. Maybe it is more tough? Hardness and toughness are 2 different material properties.

It's called marketing which often baffles brains,at one time they used to brag about they were the only ones using what they once said special 904L but this was not true.

[jimcameron]

If you bubble wrap your watch you will have no problems.

[DudeLove]

Maybe it’s just me but I found the 6 digit Rolex watches I have owned scratched far more easily than my 5 digit watches. I have had cheap 316 steel watches that I have bashed around and they didn’t scratch as easily as a 6 digit Rolex.

[Harry-57]

The more I wear a watch the more bashed up it gets. Can't say my other watch brands are any better or worse than Rolex.

[elgordomac]

My OP - worn every day - looked like it had been brushed with sandpaper by the time it went for its first service :)

[Calatrava r]

It always seems to amaze me. I can wear a 1K watch and it never scratches. put on a Rolex and it shows hairlines everywhere.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

I haven’t noticed that Rolexes scratch or dent easier than other watches however I have noticed that it hurts more when they do.

[Tools]

904L is not "softer" than 316L by a noticeable amount. The higher molybdenum percentage could be measured with the right tools but annealing the metal dictates "hardness".

904 is more durable, less prone to stress cracking, and more corrosion resistant due to a slight change in composition and some added copper.

It is harder to machine all stainless steel because it is all hard, comparatively, and the high chromium content dulls machine-bits quickly. 904L has a higher chromium content than 316, so it eats up machine tools more quickly