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

[68camaro]

I looked at upgrading my SS to WG but after seeing it in person I like looks of SS better. AD told me the WG is covered with another material for protection and to my eyes looked matted. Your mileage may vary.

I didn't compare with platinum.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by 68camaro

AD told me the WG is covered with another material for protection...

Your AD is misinformed. Rolex watches aren't rhodium plated like WG jewelry.

[gwozhog]

[QUOTE=kilyung;4188282]Your AD is misinformed. Rolex watches aren't rhodium plated like WG

I still do not under stand how rolex turns a 75 percent yellow gold mixture white with out plating it. Mike I think you are going to have to take a hacksaw to your white smurf and cut her in half to prove to the naysayers she white all the way through.

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

I still do not under stand how rolex turns a 75 percent yellow gold mixture white with out plating it. Mike I think you are going to have to take a hacksaw to your white smurf and cut her in half to prove to the naysayers she white all the way through.

It's white all the way through because of a special mixture they use (I believe its 75% gold and 25% palladium or something like that). They also manufacture their gold in house in a vacuum which removes impurities.

Trust me, it's not plated, it's white all the way though.
I know it doesn't make sense on paper, but it's true.

[LightOnAHill]

if you look close, you can see the difference in the metal if the three are sitting next to each other.

The plat looks a bit more white than the SS and WG. The WG has a bit more shine than the SS, and the SS has a crisp look on the brushed parts.

Weight, though, is probably the best way to tell, besides model differences, such as the triangles instead of the lines on the daytona.

[Evan614]

Since Daytona has already been discussed - I won't mention Daytona
(and outside the fact dials can be swapped)
popular sport models:
Yachtmaster: if it is ALL steel looking (dial and bezel) it probably is the Platinum model. Anything else is probably SS or YG.
Submariner: If the bracelet looks like all steel and the dial and bezel is blue.. then it's white gold. All others will be SS or YG. (no Platinum)
SD and DSSD: probably just SS.
Any other models with all steel looking sport bracelets will be SS.
------------------
In short there are very few white gold and/or platinum sport watches. (outside of Daytona)

Best advice is first identify which model and tell us what color the dial is (and bezel)

this link has a good list of watch and descriptions and what they come in. http://www.bernardwatch.com/Rolex-Model-Overview

[zion_rasta]

SS rocks!

One thing I do not like about gold is the softness of the metal. I save the precious metals for dressing up occasions.

SS for every day use.

[BGRINDEL]

Easiest way to tell is by either checking the hallmark on the case / bracelet (gold and plat will be stamped), or by looking at the crown. The crown on gold / platinum is different than SS. SS has three small dots on the crown, vs small and large on gold vs platinum. There is a pic of the comparison somewhere.

[BGRINDEL]

Here's a pic of the different crowns:

Differentiates twin vs. trip lock; SS / yellow gold, white gold and platinum.

[Joelmor]

Originally Posted by BGRINDEL

Here's a pic of the different crowns:

Differentiates twin vs. trip lock; SS / yellow gold, white gold and platinum.

This is not correct. My YG DD2 has 2 dots, the marking you have indicated stands for WG.

[landroverking]

WG just pops

[Shikar]

I bought the Smurf, cos i cant tell its WG....looks just like my SS Sub. That's what I love about it....almost more than the blue dial!

Regards.

[iloveomegawatch]

I think it can help newbie like me

[votoms]

I think the veterans are right. You need to have each side by side to tell unless they are distinguishable by other details. Rolex WG is a little yellow compared to SS as mentioned before. The WG fluted bezel on my DJII looks a little yellower than the polished centre links on the bracelet under certain light.

[pfranze]

Originally Posted by votoms

I think the veterans are right. You need to have each side by side to tell unless they are distinguishable by other details. Rolex WG is a little yellow compared to SS as mentioned before. The WG fluted bezel on my DJII looks a little yellower than the polished centre links on the bracelet under certain light.

Unless it concerns the Daytona, in which case you can tell bij the bezel. ;-)

[HRFdez]

White gold is sweet, but to me looks close to stainless. Yellow gold IMO is more striking. On a Daytona it looks just awesome.

[dogguru]

Sorry but Rolex WG is not covered/plated with anything. WG is derived by mixing YG with white metals like platinum and/or palladium. You can alloy YG by 25% and blend out most of the yellow color of gold but not all of it.

Mike is right . They are not plated . The differences are subtle but visible . WG has a warmth to it , Platinium has a greyness to it which is why some companies rodium plat to make it look whiter . One problem is that there is no "standard " alloy for white gold . Other brands such as AP use a "white gold " that is more like a 'off yellow" so the plating is needed to change the colour . Platimiun is often plated because it is not "white and shiney" enough for some markets .

[sncarney18]

There is an older thread in which this was discussed from 2010. Rolex White Gold 18ct is 75% Gold 25% Palladium giving it the advantage of not having to be coated with Rhodium, and it not turning yellow over time. The drawback though is palladium scratches easier than SS, Gold, or Platnium so those PCLs on the Smurf and other White Gold Oysters will scratch a little easier than their SS or Yellow Gold counterparts.

[tomchicago]

there will be an intangible "something about it"

[kngzfrd]

Originally Posted by frosty

+1

+1

[iloveomegawatch]

The different in price between PT and WG is how much?

[Vincent65]

Rolex don't use rhodium plating on their WG cases, unlike many jewellers. Good thing too, because it wears off very quickly and the [comparatively] 'dull' WG shows through underneath, and you have to get the item re-plated regularly.

[garymj]

My family have run a Jewelery shop since 1900, and i have never heard of platinum being plated.

[CoachRolexRyan]

I'm no expert, but I'd say the best way to tell them apart is to look at the price tag.

[Andad]

Why not all go back and read the OP's first post.

This thread is rapidly heading for a record of misinformation.

However there are manufacturing jewelers who Rhodium plate Platinum.

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Why not all go back and read the OP's first post..

I know right? Someone posted earlier that they can see the difference between all 3 metals from a distance and that's just bollocks. Unless you hold them right next to each other (and even then it's going to be near impossible going on just the colour) there is no way to tell unless you KNOW the relevant model/dial/bezel combinations.

The new Rolex white gold mix is very good and does not need plating because it's pretty much white as it is. From a distance, the metals all look the same. Sorry but its true.

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Why not all go back and read the OP's first post.

This thread is rapidly heading for a record of misinformation.

However there are manufacturing jewelers who Rhodium plate Platinum.

It's pretty vague and general, and people are just sharing their views and knowledge. And given that this is a Rolex forum, the likelihood of mentioning the various metals they use arising is quite high

[Andad]

As you say Dan the OP was not referring to Rolex watches or any other specific watch brand.
The question was:

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

Your answer is on the money IMO.

[AK797]

They all look very similar and that is the entire point, no one is buying a WG or platinum watch because the colour is unique and so different from SS but because it does look so much like it, only the weight and feel is very different and that's what the owner wants.

[wesleyvs]

Originally Posted by AK797

They all look very similar and that is the entire point, no one is buying a WG or platinum watch because the colour is unique and so different from SS but because it does look so much like it, only the weight and feel is very different and that's what the owner wants.

Well i bought my white gold Daytona because of the color of the metal its much warmer.

Cheers