18k gold.
Aside from some special dials made from materials such as meteorite, mother-of-pearl, and hard stones, Rolex dials are made from brass, while the dial markers are fashioned from 18k gold (also made in-house at Rolex’s own gold foundry) to prevent tarnishing.
In this post
What are Rolex markers made of?
gold
The appliques, which include hour markers and the Rolex crown, are always made from gold and sometimes filled with luminescence. They are then hand applied to the dial.
Are Rolex hour markers gold?
5. All modern Rolex models use white gold in the hour indices and hands. Vintage Rolex watches have watch hands that corrode. But modern Rolex watches have white gold for hands and indices such that they do not corrode.
What is Rolex white dial made of?
brass
With just a handful of exceptions, all of Rolex’s dials are made from brass. Strong, hardwearing and easily machinable, it is the perfect material for the job. Manufacturing takes place in Rolex’s Chêne-Bourg factory, one of four massive complexes in their Geneva compound.
What are watch dials made out of?
Watch dials are made of metal, such as brass or titanium, and then a finish is applied to them.
Why did Rolex stop using tritium?
Whilst tritium is also radioactive, it has a much lower level of radiation. Tritium has good luminous characteristics and glows rather strong, but an issue is that it has a 12-year half-life (due to the Lowe level of radiation), which means it will stop glowing.
When did Rolex stop using tritium?
1998
When did Rolex stop using tritium? In 1998 once the use of tritium paint was banned. They have been using Luminova instead.
Are Rolex links solid gold?
To conclude the answer to the question, yes, Rolex watches are made of real gold. Rolex does not use any “fake gold”, but instead, they only use 18K gold, and make their own alloys in-house in their own foundries.
What parts of a Rolex are gold?
What is this? The parts of a Rolex watch that contain the most gold is the case and the bracelet, and this is something you will notice when putting a full gold Rolex watch on the wrist. You would be surprised at how hefty and weighty full gold Rolex watches are. For obvious reasons, the movement is not made in gold.
Does gold on Rolex fade?
Rolex’s yellow gold will not fade. It may soften with time (becoming less shiny), but it will never lose its yellow gold luscious appearance. The alloy is truly flawless in its composition.
What is the most popular Rolex dial color?
Black Rolex
Black Rolex Dials
Topping off the list of most popular Rolex dial colors on is black. This comes as no surprise, as many popular Rolex models – including the Submariner, Datejust, GMT Master, and Explorer – all come available with a sleek black dial.
What is the cheapest Rolex you can buy?
36mm Oyster Perpetual
What Is The Cheapest Rolex. The cheapest Rolex is the 36mm Oyster Perpetual which costs $5,800 MSRP. The Oyster Perpetual is a no date stainless steel sports model that is considered the most affordable or entry level men’s Rolex.
What is a tritium dial?
An isotope of hydrogen that is used to make watch hands and indices glow in the dark. Until a few years ago, hands and indices were often painted with tritium paint. But because tritium is mildly radioactive, and feared by some to be a health hazard, tritium paint is no longer used on dials.
What kind of paint is used on watch dials?
Instead of using enamel powder, a lacquered dial is produced by spray-painting a few layers of lacquer (or enamel paint) on the base dial (normally made of brass).
How are enamel dials made?
To make an enamel dial, the ground-up enamel is applied to a metal disc. Either by sieving it in an even layer, or by mixing the powder with water and brushing it across the surface. Through firing in an oven at 800 to 1,200℃, the enamel melts and flows into a smooth consistency that bonds with the metal.
What are watch faces made from?
Mineral crystal glass is the most common glass you’ll find on a watch. Mineral crystal glass is made from silica and is manufactured using regular tempered glass.
Will Rolex replace a tritium dial?
Most commonly for vintage Rolex dials is that the luminous material used for the watch (oftentimes tritium or radium), changes colors, ages, changes shape, and loses its glowing effect. During a service by Rolex, Rolex does not repair and restore old dials. Instead, they replace it with a new dial instead.
Are old Rolex watches radioactive?
From the 1950s to the late 90s, Rolex used the radioactive material Tritium, which refers to the chemical used on the hands and hour markers of the watches, which causes them to illuminate.
How long do tritium dials last?
Tritium exit signs usually come in three brightness levels guaranteed for 10, 15, or 20 year useful life expectancies.
Are old tritium watches safe?
The answer, you will be glad to hear, is that the Tritium illumination used in Nite watches is completely safe.
Why does my Rolex say T Swiss made T?
“T Swiss made T” means that the watch is Swiss and contains a certain quantity of tritium that emits less than 227 MBq (7.5 mCi). “Swiss T<25" means that the watch is Swiss and contains a certain quantity of tritium that emits less than 925 MBq (25 mCi).