Rose gold day date color changes?

[Rolexownerx2]

Hi all.

I recently purchased a pre-owned rose gold day date circa 2006 from a gray market dealer. When I purchased, I commented to the seller that the color seemed different/less “rose” than the current rose gold day dates I’ve seen in boutiques. The dealer explained that the gold changed color over time, and showed me how the older yellow gold watches change too. I was recently with a friend who had a newer rose gold day date, bought 2 yrs ago, and the color is definitely different. She thought mine was yellow! Anyone know about this? Does it really fade/change, or did Rolex change their rose metal over the years? I love my watch but kind of bummed thinking maybe I should’ve looked around more for a more recent one.

[David5807]

Former RG DD owner here, and can attest to the color changing. Over the year that I owned the watch, the color turned ever so slightly less rosey, and had some spots which showed patina.

[Rolexownerx2]

Interesting that it happened so quickly! I guess it’s inevitable and just part of the beauty of the watch

[David5807]

Originally Posted by Rolexownerx2

Interesting that it happened so quickly! I guess it’s inevitable and just part of the beauty of the watch

I didn't mind the shift in color so much as I did the patina spots. Those did not look good and ultimately led me to trade the watch.

[MRBolton]

My understanding is that the answer is yes to both of your questions. Rolex has tweaked its formulas over the years for all three gold metals (YG/RG/WG). Rose gold seems to have had the most change.
It seems the older ones are a lot closer to yellow, but supposedly will return to the original rose if polished.
I know exactly what you mean by mistaking YG for RG. Another forum member somewhat recently posted his new RG Daytona with his other RG that was about 6 years old. Next to the new one, the one he had (I think 2017) looked basically yellow gold!
I may have read that the newer ones (something like post 2019 or 2021) have a new, stronger formula that doesn't shift color as much, but I could be totally wrong about that, and even still--only time will tell if that actually is true. Your friend's 2 year-old Day-Date would suggest it's not.

I've never owned rose gold, but have kept up somewhat with many comments about it on here. Definitely seems that the "ever" in "everose gold" isn't so forever. Just have to decide if you can live with it. To a certain degree, you get something that's patina and unique to you.

[Jake Sully]

I at one point had two DD40 watches of the same vintage/year with different dials. The color of the yellow gold was definitely different when holding them side by side. Not a big difference but it was noticeable.

[Rolexownerx2]

Originally Posted by Jake Sully

I at one point had two DD40 watches of the same vintage/year with different dials. The color of the yellow gold was definitely different when holding them side by side. Not a big difference but it was noticeable.

Ya when I went to pick it up the dealer showed me a yellow gold dd and it definitely did look different than the rose. Even the older yellow look different to the newer yellow

[Rolexownerx2]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

My understanding is that the answer is yes to both of your questions. Rolex has tweaked its formulas over the years for all three gold metals (YG/RG/WG). Rose gold seems to have had the most change.
It seems the older ones are a lot closer to yellow, but supposedly will return to the original rose if polished.
I know exactly what you mean by mistaking YG for RG. Another forum member somewhat recently posted his new RG Daytona with his other RG that was about 6 years old. Next to the new one, the one he had (I think 2017) looked basically yellow gold!
I may have read that the newer ones (something like post 2019 or 2021) have a new, stronger formula that doesn't shift color as much, but I could be totally wrong about that, and even still--only time will tell if that actually is true. Your friend's 2 year-old Day-Date would suggest it's not.

I've never owned rose gold, but have kept up somewhat with many comments about it on here. Definitely seems that the "ever" in "everose gold" isn't so forever. Just have to decide if you can live with it. To a certain degree, you get something that's patina and unique to you.

Thank you! Yea the newer rg dd has a totally different rose color! I have a two tone rose and stainless dj I bought in 2018, and the rose looks the same as my dd. I guess the color does change with time. I do love my watch I was just wondering if it’s a real thing or my eyes are playing tricks on me lol

[brandrea]

Sounds a lot like Pepsi Bezel threads here … I digress

[Rolexownerx2]

lol I’m newer here, I have to find those threads haha

[joli160]

AFAIK over the years Rolex used different alloys for their red gold. Each a different hue.
The current everose is pretty stable in keeping its color. I don’t see any changes after a few years of wear.
Older versions lost the ‘red’ a bit over time which comes back after a shine in all its glory

[jgottsman11]

Yes I had a day date 40 rose for 3 years and then bought a brand new one and held them side by side and they were quite different