Color of "Polished Gold" vs "Unpolished Gold"

[Triple Black 88]

Looked at a few Presidents D/D models 118238 & 18238's today. One was circa 1996 and one 2001. The 96 model was just polished and ready to be picked up and the 01 was unpolished. My question is...the newly polished model was much lighter in color then the unpolished one which was more yellow.
Is this normal?

[daunwaun]

i believe so yes

[waltk1026]

I believe so also. I'm not sure how long it exactly takes but YG tones down over time. Definitly not as bright as a new or just buffed up one.

[BiG JeEzY]

Well, it is normal for polished gold to appear "less yellow" and brighter and for unpolished gold to look more yellow. I believe that this is normal.

All Day Dates have unpolished links as well as polished center links so both models should look fairly consistent with each other. Unless the unpolished finish on the older model was of course, polished.

[daunwaun]

lol uh huh

[Triple Black 88]

Thanks Guys...just needed a sanity check here. I had them side by side this afternoon and was amazed by the difference.

[daunwaun]

too bad you could get a pic

[daunwaun]

where was the daydate you were looking at

[Tools]

The color is the same....it doesn't change.

What changes is the polished gold ability to refract the light in a more uniform way making it appear to be lighter than gold without good refraction...

[daunwaun]

Originally Posted by Tools

The color is the same....it doesn't change.

What changes is the polished gold ability to refract the light in a more uniform way making it appear to be lighter than gold without good refraction...

great info tools

[Triple Black 88]

Originally Posted by daunwaun

where was the daydate you were looking at

National Watch Exchange on Jewlers row in Philadelphia.

[daunwaun]

hmmm i might be there in a week for business actually

[oakcircle]

Originally Posted by Triple Black 88

Looked at a few Presidents D/D models 118238 & 18238's today. One was circa 1996 and one 2001. The 96 model was just polished and ready to be picked up and the 01 was unpolished. My question is...the newly polished model was much lighter in color then the unpolished one which was more yellow.
Is this normal?

Since 18K gold is an alloy of gold (75%), silver, and copper (25% combined), the silver and copper do oxidize (tarnish). Therefore, the color does change over time. Yesterday, I compared my newly-polished YG president to a friend's who has not had his polished in 5 years (only worn 2x), and the color difference is pretty dramatic. His has a deeper, orangish-red color (as mine did before polishing) while mine now has lighter, more yellow color.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Yes, gold does tarnish.

I have no gold watch, but I have a 14 kt. solid gold Dunhill lighter, and is does tarnish when not used.

"Yes, but that is because it is not 18 kt.", some you say!

Nope! Because I have some Dunhill pipes, too, that have been fitted with an original Dunhill factory 18 kt. gold band, and that 18 kt. (stamped with the hallmark "750"=) does tarnish as well.

[Tools]

Now we've gone from the color of gold to the color of tarnish..

If you clean your watch regularly... ... no, no...better yet..

When your butler or pantry maid is cleaning the silver, simply put your Rolex there to be cleaned as well..

It will always sparkle and look like new..

[yachtsales]

Glad that got cleared up! I have noticed that of the many Prezes I looked at differed in shade