Day Date 40 Platinum

[DJTOSUB]

Why is the Day Date 40 in Platinum only offered with the smooth bezel versus the usual fluted? Is it because it is too difficult to create a fluted bezel in platinum or some other reason?

[Tangier11]

Originally Posted by DJTOSUB

Why is the Day Date 40 in Platinum only offered with the smooth bezel versus the usual fluted? Is it because it is too difficult to create a fluted bezel in platinum or some other reason?

I asked this question a while back on that the DD 36 in PT. I don't think I ever got an answer. I don't think it has anything to do with it being too difficult to create.

[DJTOSUB]

Originally Posted by Tangier11

I asked this question a while back on that the DD 36 in PT. I don't think I ever got an answer. I don't think it has anything to do with it being too difficult to create.

So it's probably to create some exclusivity - OK.

[chicagowatchman]

My understanding is that the fluted bezel is hard to do in platinum so that is the reason for the smooth bezel

[Noonan]

If they can do the YM bezels in Plat, they can most certainly do a fluted if they so wanted.

[Swaye]

I was told point blank it was due to how hard it was to create a fluted bezel in Platinum at a Rolex road show by a Rolex rep. He seemed very sure of himself. But it never made much sense to me. I do love it just as it is though.

[David5807]

Originally Posted by chicagowatchman

My understanding is that the fluted bezel is hard to do in platinum so that is the reason for the smooth bezel

This is what I've heard as well but you would think by now that Rolex would have figured it out.

[trfChris]

It’s weird to me that they can’t make a fluted bezel in platinum but have no problem creating the crown with all its ridges in platinum?

[dkast85]

Originally Posted by DJTOSUB

So it's probably to create some exclusivity - OK.

Yeah this is likely it. Same reason why they have the Ice Blue dial. It’s another way to make it stand out that it’s platinum. Personally when I think day-date, I think fluted bezel but that’s just me. Honestly don’t understand WG or platinum. I cannot for the life of me tell the difference between WG, Platinum and SS. And as far as I can tell, Rolex knows this, which is why they have to create tweaks that make their PM pieces stand out. The only reason they can sell a WG submariner is because the bezel is blue. If there was a WG submariner and it had the standard black bezel, not a soul would buy it. I literally can’t imagine one person buying it.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by dkast85

Yeah this is likely it. Same reason why they have the Ice Blue dial. It’s another way to make it stand out that it’s platinum. Personally when I think day-date, I think fluted bezel but that’s just me. Honestly don’t understand WG or platinum. I cannot for the life of me tell the difference between WG, Platinum and SS. And as far as I can tell, Rolex knows this, which is why they have to create tweaks that make their PM pieces stand out. The only reason they can sell a WG submariner is because the bezel is blue. If there was a WG submariner and it had the standard black bezel, not a soul would buy it. I literally can’t imagine one person buying it.

its easy to tell the difference between wg, ss and plat if they're next to each other but other than that i agree. and to me a day date should be in colored gold (unless its not your first)

[nationalrobert]

The fluted bezel is no harder to do in platinum than it is to do in any other metal. These products are done by an automated machine, forget the thought that some expert is carving this out with a pocket knife.
They don't do it in platinum because they want the extra little bit of distinction between the products.
I'm sorry to sound so raw and abrupt but that is it.

Enjoy your first class watches everybody.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[dkast85]

Originally Posted by huncho

its easy to tell the difference between wg, ss and plat if they're next to each other but other than that i agree. and to me a day date should be in colored gold (unless its not your first)

someone should post a picture of a WG oyster bracelet, a SS oyster bracelet and a platinum oyster bracelet. Just the bracelet. Don't show anything else. Then see if people can pair all three

[huncho]

Originally Posted by dkast85

someone should post a picture of a WG oyster bracelet, a SS oyster bracelet and a platinum oyster bracelet. Just the bracelet. Don't show anything else. Then see if people can pair all three

ss vs platinum is probably hard, but wg vs plat/ss is easy to spot when together

[EndlessEight]

Visual prompt to differentiate from “inferior” precious metals.

[jvb.nc]

because it’s badass.

it doesn’t need to call attention to itself. it’s simple. it’s cold. it’s platinum.

it’s absolutely perfect as is.

[Ian Macdermott]

Originally Posted by huncho

ss vs platinum is probably hard, but wg vs plat/ss is easy to spot when together

Not in those pictures on an old iPad it ain't

[Swaye]

You can tell the difference on your wrist. Or I can anyway. And the dials they give some of these to differentiate them are spectacular.

[RolexJoe]

The notion that Rolex is unable to make a fluted platinum bezel doesn’t hold water. It simply isn’t logical. It’s not like it’s hard to machine inconel.

My thought is that it’s to differentiate it from the white gold models. I’m fine with that, I’ll have one eventually.

[mountainjogger]

Why would making a fluted platinum bezel be any more difficult than making a platinum crown?

[GoingPlaces]

There are other posts on this. Yes, it's true that platinum is harder to work with than gold. We had a couple of members - smarter than me - chime in on reasoning.

[supacarrot]

I asked this question to my AD last month. The answer I got was this:

WG in a fluted bezel will hold up reasonably well to wear for a PM because it is 75% PM. The issue with platinum is that is is 95% PM. This is why the platinum watch weighs MUCH heavier and has a more expensive feel relative to the WG. The caveat is that more PM means it will scratch easier and sharp edges will squish easier. Thus the fluted bezel on a platinum model will not hold up as well relative to Rolex standards.

Side note: my AD also said platinum is more difficult to refinish than WG because of how soft 95% PM is. This makes it hard to refinish the fluted bezel without causing excess wear.

[Brew]

It's bad enough when wg is mistaken for ss. If the pt. dd had a fluted bezel like pedestrian wg, or ss (heaven forbid), the world might stop spinning.

[DJTOSUB]

Originally Posted by Brew

It's bad enough when wg is mistaken for ss. If the pt. dd had a fluted bezel like pedestrian wg, or ss (heaven forbid), the world might stop spinning.

But someone could potentially mistake the platinum DD for an even more pedestrian smooth bezel DJ. This might cause the world to spin backwards.

[GoingPlaces]

Originally Posted by supacarrot

I asked this question to my AD last month. The answer I got was this:



WG in a fluted bezel will hold up reasonably well to wear for a PM because it is 75% PM. The issue with platinum is that is is 95% PM. This is why the platinum watch weighs MUCH heavier and has a more expensive feel relative to the WG. The caveat is that more PM means it will scratch easier and sharp edges will squish easier. Thus the fluted bezel on a platinum model will not hold up as well relative to Rolex standards.



Side note: my AD also said platinum is more difficult to refinish than WG because of how soft 95% PM is. This makes it hard to refinish the fluted bezel without causing excess wear.

Correct. When polishing platinum, the metal actually just moves around compared to gold or steel in which you actually remove the metal.


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[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Noonan

If they can do the YM bezels in Plat, they can most certainly do a fluted if they so wanted.

Very good point. Throws the too hard reason out the door.

[Tangier11]

Originally Posted by David5807

This is what I've heard as well but you would think by now that Rolex would have figured it out.

I have to call BS on this, If they can make a crown out of PT (Which is basically fluted if you will) surely they could make the much less intricate bezel

[strettyend]

Originally Posted by trfChris

It’s weird to me that they can’t make a fluted bezel in platinum but have no problem creating the crown with all its ridges in platinum?

And the underside of the Oyster case...