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Old 24 January 2021, 04:53 PM   #1
Rollieo
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Why do you go for white gold?

So I’ve always been curious about this.

1. The weight of white gold is more than stainless. So does that make it feel better? Some people just like a heftier watch?

2. Is there actually a different look than stainless? I find it hard to tell the difference.

3. It’s a less hard material than stainless, and seems like it will scratch more easily. So seems like a negative.

4. Costs way more (obviously) than stainless.

So why do people go for white gold? Doesn’t seem like there’s any benefit compared to stainless?
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Old 24 January 2021, 04:57 PM   #2
StevenMichael
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Well, I suppose there are times when the configuration you want is only available in white gold. That probably accounts for a certain percentage of them.
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Old 24 January 2021, 05:22 PM   #3
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Well, I suppose there are times when the configuration you want is only available in white gold. That probably accounts for a certain percentage of them.
GMT-II Meteorite immediately comes to mind. Perhaps some may want to match their wedding bands if they have it in white gold as well?
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Old 24 January 2021, 05:26 PM   #4
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Well, I suppose there are times when the configuration you want is only available in white gold. That probably accounts for a certain percentage of them.
This is My case
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Old 24 January 2021, 06:07 PM   #5
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Why does anyone prefer a high end option over a lesser one? It’s as often more emotional than it is practical. To address your points:

1) Yes, the extra heft is nice and reminds you what’s on your wrist.
2) To the trained eye you can tell the difference. This is something I actually like...not flashy like yellow/rose gold but those who know, know.
3) Technically yes but many folks feel the composition of Rolex gold is fairly comparable to steel. Durability isn’t exactly why folks choose steel over gold... just like it’s more expensive to repair a Ferrari than a Fiat but that’s not what discourages Ferrari owners.
4) Same point as above.

As I said, some people just don’t want the flash of yellow/rose gold. To me, white gold is something you buy for yourself and not for others. Hence why I like it.
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Old 24 January 2021, 06:09 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Rollieo View Post
So I’ve always been curious about this.

1. The weight of white gold is more than stainless. So does that make it feel better? Some people just like a heftier watch?

2. Is there actually a different look than stainless? I find it hard to tell the difference.

3. It’s a less hard material than stainless, and seems like it will scratch more easily. So seems like a negative.

4. Costs way more (obviously) than stainless.

So why do people go for white gold? Doesn’t seem like there’s any benefit compared to stainless?

1. I do like the extra heft, feels more substantial.

2. The lustre is different, can definitely tell the difference.

3. I’ve not noticed a big difference. If i compare the clasp of my white gold Daytona and my steel Sea Dweller, both equally scratched.

4. I always said i wouldn’t buy gold, but as others have suggested, some configurations only come in white gold, that was why i went for the Daytona as there isn’t a steel one on OysterFlex, and also the dial.


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Old 24 January 2021, 07:59 PM   #7
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1. Yes, i like them heavy.

2. Yes, very nice hue, easy to see the difference for me.

3. Scratches the same. Everything in daily use what scratches your WG will also mark your SS watch. Despite what many SS aficionados say it’s not an issue.

4. Depends on the size of your wallet.

Dial and bezel colours only available on PM models for one.
Bit more exclusive, you just don’t see that many WG models in the wild.
Besides with your reasoning why buy a Rolex anyway if a 20$ watch will do the same ?
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Old 24 January 2021, 08:08 PM   #8
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People buy the watch they like and people with a big wallet do really not care if it scratches, loses money or not.
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Old 24 January 2021, 09:11 PM   #9
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Mostly I can tell that white gold is a something that can tell ourselves and to a small number of people that might know the difference with a SS, the we could be more exclusive.
In reality the only man that could do this was Gianni Agnelli wearing is white gold DayDate over the shirt...
For the rest they just own an heavier and more delicate Rolex
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Old 24 January 2021, 09:37 PM   #10
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I haven't yet although the configuration case is why I would!!!
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Old 24 January 2021, 11:36 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollieo View Post
So I’ve always been curious about this.

1. The weight of white gold is more than stainless. So does that make it feel better? Some people just like a heftier watch?

2. Is there actually a different look than stainless? I find it hard to tell the difference.

3. It’s a less hard material than stainless, and seems like it will scratch more easily. So seems like a negative.

4. Costs way more (obviously) than stainless.

So why do people go for white gold? Doesn’t seem like there’s any benefit compared to stainless?
i ask myself the same question. but some people like it. they like the stealth wealth. me i like the loud obnoxious yellow.
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Old 24 January 2021, 11:42 PM   #12
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I went for configuration first (BLRO), then went nuts for WG and now I rarely wear SS. And after 4-5 years of WG, I'm 99% convinced that "scratchability" is the same as SS.

Interesting to note that I paid the same price for my WG 116719 five years ago as what SS 126710 are going for now.
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Old 24 January 2021, 11:46 PM   #13
Etschell
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I went for configuration first (BLRO), then went nuts for WG and now I rarely wear SS. And after 4-5 years of WG, I'm 99% convinced that "scratchability" is the same as SS.
definitely true. people who say gold or white gold scratches more than ss are wrong.
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Old 24 January 2021, 11:50 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollieo View Post
So I’ve always been curious about this.

1. The weight of white gold is more than stainless. So does that make it feel better? Some people just like a heftier watch?

2. Is there actually a different look than stainless? I find it hard to tell the difference.

3. It’s a less hard material than stainless, and seems like it will scratch more easily. So seems like a negative.

4. Costs way more (obviously) than stainless.

So why do people go for white gold? Doesn’t seem like there’s any benefit compared to stainless?

1. Yep. I love the way it melts into your wrist. It just seems glued to your arm. I like the lightness of steel, and WG is a nice change.

2. It’s warmer looking. I can tell and that’s all that matters. WG is just for me. Less ostentatious (I have YG, but sometimes I want to wear less flashy pieces).

3. It’s hard enough. I’ve put some big dings in SS. WG is not like butter. It’s plenty durable.

4. Yep. Cost is a factor. Why do people buy a Tesla when a Prius will do the job?

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Old 25 January 2021, 12:15 AM   #15
zion_rasta
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The only problem with wearing WG is that going back to steel is really hard. Steel feels cheap and light after you get used to the heft of gold.

That said, it took me a while to get use to the heft coming from SS.

WG has a different luster and tint to it that makes it more pleasing to the eye.
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Old 25 January 2021, 12:32 AM   #16
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Why? Some of my favorite references are white gold. Simple.

It really is a simple hobby...until you have to start factoring in if anybody else will notice or appreciate your watch.
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Old 25 January 2021, 12:47 AM   #17
F33A
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You buy white gold because you can't quite swing platinum.
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Old 25 January 2021, 12:50 AM   #18
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What I don’t understand is why Rolex bothers with white gold in the first place, instead of using platinum (a much nicer material IMO) for all white precious metal references.
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Old 25 January 2021, 12:53 AM   #19
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You buy white gold because you can't quite swing platinum.
There is no Rolex Submariner in Platinum so WG or YG it must be
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Old 25 January 2021, 12:54 AM   #20
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What I don’t understand is why Rolex bothers with white gold in the first place, instead of using platinum (a much nicer material IMO) for all white precious metal references.


A couple of reasons I can think of :
-platinum is harder to work with (machine) than gold
-platinum is heavier than gold - some people think that is a negative
-more expensive
-gold has longer historical roots than platinum


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Old 25 January 2021, 12:57 AM   #21
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You buy white gold because you can't quite swing platinum.
No, YOU buy white gold b/c you can't swing platinum.

I buy white gold b/c I like many of the WG references.
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Old 25 January 2021, 01:05 AM   #22
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To stay low key and its sort of an understated class.
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Old 25 January 2021, 01:14 AM   #23
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I always wondered this also until I saw white gold in person. Beautiful very shiny chrome look. Easy to tell difference between steel in person if you know watches or jewelry.
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Old 25 January 2021, 01:19 AM   #24
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It really is a simple hobby...until you have to start factoring in if anybody else will notice or appreciate your watch.[/QUOTE]

This


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Old 25 January 2021, 02:21 AM   #25
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I only have one WG piece in my collection. TBH I usually steer towards YG or WG but chose it because it matches the piece a bit better. It’s on a strap, not bracelet, and the heft is still most definitely noticeable in a great way.

IMO it’s very simple: pick a piece and if you love it and it’s in your budget, get it and enjoy. Never understood the rationale of picking WG to “fly under the radar” or “stealth wealth” or any of that crazy talk.
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Old 25 January 2021, 02:37 AM   #26
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I feels great and flies under the radar. I have the WG YM on Oysterflex and its my most comfortable watch.
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Old 25 January 2021, 02:55 AM   #27
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It makes infinitely more sense than paying a big premium for a different color bezel...or does it?

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Old 25 January 2021, 03:12 AM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bradyb View Post
I went for configuration first (BLRO), then went nuts for WG and now I rarely wear SS. And after 4-5 years of WG, I'm 99% convinced that "scratchability" is the same as SS.

Interesting to note that I paid the same price for my WG 116719 five years ago as what SS 126710 are going for now.

I think there's a practical reason for this. While gold is softer than steel the objects you encounter in normal wear that would scratch your gold are also hard enough to scratch stainless.

Various silicates and oxides in our dirt and dust for example.
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Old 25 January 2021, 03:14 AM   #29
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Gold is gold, steel is steel. Buy what you like and can afford. If you need others to justify it to you then stick to SS
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Old 25 January 2021, 03:21 AM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bradyb View Post
I went for configuration first (BLRO), then went nuts for WG and now I rarely wear SS. And after 4-5 years of WG, I'm 99% convinced that "scratchability" is the same as SS.

Interesting to note that I paid the same price for my WG 116719 five years ago as what SS 126710 are going for now.
I would also add the gold is easier to buff those scratches out over 904l. 904l can be a lot more tricky to get a oem finish than PM in my experience.


White Gold or Platinum is pure opulence for the owner. I love the unashamed reasoning of "because I can".
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