The mysterious alchemy of Rolex watches

　　Watches inherently possess a class attribute, and the best reflection of this is the material of the case. Without doubt, the yellow gold case is one of the most prominent features of luxury watches. The gold most widely used in modern watches is 18K gold rather than 24K, primarily to meet mechanical strength requirements such as hardness. Countless brands in the watch industry craft precious metal timepieces, yet Rolex stands out uniquely. UltimatelyRolex watchesof precious metals, what is the secret that has kept them popular for decades?

　　Everest white gold - non-allergenic and non-yellowing white gold technology

　　Many people do not know that white gold actually has two processing techniques: one uses nickel as a colouring agent, while the other, used by most watches, blends rarer palladium into yellow gold. White gold has a lustre similar to stainless steel, yet it is a true 'aristocrat', making it more understated. Furthermore, the nickel contained in stainless steel materials can cause allergic reactions in some people. Therefore, white gold containing palladium is more skin-friendly. How does Rolex make elegant white gold comfortable to wear? This brings us to the European Rolex patent EP242758, a new technology for manufacturing white gold - nickel-free and copper-free white gold.

　　Rolex Day-Date collection228239

　　Watch series: Day-Date Series

　　Movement Type: Automatic winding

　　Target Audience: Men's

　　Case Material: Stainless steel

　　Bracelet material: Stainless steel bracelet

　　Case diameter: 40 mm

　　Watch price: $372.68 USD

　　In the manufacture of white gold, traditional techniques require the addition of copper, but white gold using copper comes with many issues. During production, the cooling rates of gold and copper differ too greatly, making them prone to separation during the fusion process; poor fusion also leads to uneven hardness and uncontrollable breakage. Moreover, the uneven presentation of copper affects the colouration effect of the alloy, and it is easily discoloured by oxidation. This time, Rolex has found a new white gold formula, now made public: containing 75.1% gold, 20% palladium (also a precious metal), 1.5% zirconium and niobium metals, and including trace amounts of 0.002% to 0.006% rhenium. This metal rhenium has a melting point three times that of gold, reaching 3180 degrees Celsius, and was previously used for special purposes such as manufacturing satellite and rocket hulls and protective shields for nuclear reactors. It is precisely with such new technology backing it up that Rolex dares to feature white gold models as its mainstay.

　　Everose gold - the rose that never fades

　　Rose gold has become a newcomer favourite in the precious metal circle in recent years. Its warm red radiance has captured the hearts of many women. The magic of rose gold's colour stems precisely from a mysterious copper-silver alloy ratio. When the copper content is greater than 18% and the silver content is around 4%, the alloy exhibits a vibrant red colour. If the copper content is 6% and the silver content is 15%, the colour becomes lighter, presenting a pink hue. This is a very mature technology. However, the biggest challenge faced by rose gold, which many friends will have noticed during wear, is that colour durability cannot be guaranteed.

　　In our daily lives, we come into contact with tap water, seawater, swimming pool water, saltwater and even soapy water. Although these solutions do not react with stable gold, they react chemically with copper and silver, causing rose gold to gradually fade and the red hue to become increasingly light.

　　Rolex Day-Date collection 228235, white diamond-set dial rose gold watch

　　Watch series: Day-Date Series

　　Movement Type: Automatic winding

　　Target Audience: Men's

　　Case material: Rose gold-plated

　　Strap material: Rose gold bracelet

　　Case diameter: 40 mm

　　Watch price: $402.49 USD

　　To retain the beautiful red-gold colour, Rolex holds a unique patent. European patent EP1512766, the secret recipe of the alloy lies in adding 0.5% to 4% platinum, especially when the copper content equals 15%, the platinum content cannot be 0.5%. After adding platinum, the copper content can be increased to 22% to 23%, presenting Rolex's signature rich and deep red-gold hue.

　　The more mysterious it is, the more fascinating it becomes, which is also the charm of Rolex. Since its establishment in 1905, Rolex has spent 111 years building the most loyal fan base in the world. Aside from precise Top Chronometer certification and the robust, classic Oyster case design, Rolex has even more untold secrets waiting for people to discover.

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