Frequently Asked Question
The most common questions about Rolex Steel
What steel does Rolex use?
OYSTERSTEEL. A Rolex watch must work perfectly and maintain its beauty even in the harshest environments. That is why Rolex uses Oystersteel, a steel alloy specific to the brand. Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, which is particularly resistant to corrosion and acquires an exceptional sheen when polished.Are Rolexes made of steel?
Stainless steel – Oystersteel, the key element of Rolex watches. Oystersteel is probably the most commonly used material for Rolex watches. The stainless steel is an in-house superalloy and guarantees the robustness of a vast number of Swiss luxury watch components.Are all Rolex stainless steel?
Almost every watch in the Rolex collection has been released in stainless steel. For some, it is the only option available; for others, it is just one in a diverse range. As a general rule, the sports/tool models will have been first released in steel, with the most popular (Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master, etc.)Jun 29, 2020What is Rolex stainless steel?
Most watches today use a stainless steel graded 316L. But, Rolex being Rolex, the company uses a unique blend of high-quality 904L stainless steel made by their in-house foundry. Just recently, it has been baptized as the Oystersteel.Nov 9, 2018Why are there no stainless steel Rolex watches?
The simple and short answer to the question of why there is a shortage of Rolex professional models – in particular, stainless steel sports models, is that the demand exceeds the supply. In other words the number of watches that Rolex manufacture.Which is better 904L or 316L?
It has incredibly high corrosion resistance. This is critical for some applications, but 316L is more than enough for most luxury watchmaking. Type 904L contains more chromium, molybdenum, and nickel than 316L. However, it also contains some copper, manganese, and silicon, which enhances corrosion resistance.Oct 25, 2021Can a Rolex watch rust?
Rolex Repair Lesson #3: Don't Let Your Watch Rust The amount of time that passes after moisture first appears inside a watch is often directly proportional to the amount of corrosion that will be present inside it.Will stainless steel rust?
Stainless steel is armed with built-in corrosion resistance but it can and will rust in certain conditions—although not as quickly or severely as conventional steels. Stainless steels corrode when exposed to damaging chemicals, saline, grease, moisture, or heat for prolonged periods of time.What kind of steel does Patek Philippe use?
While Patek Philippe makes most of its watches in precious metals, the company does have a long history of producing pieces in stainless steel, going back more than 100 years.Aug 6, 2019Why is it called oyster steel?
The “Oystersteel” name first made an appearance at Baselworld 2018, taking the place of “904L stainless steel” within Rolex's literature; however no distinction was made between the two metals, so it is likely that “Oystersteel” is just Rolex's name for the high-quality, 904L stainless steel that is produced in-house ...Jun 9, 2021What is the cheapest Rolex?
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.Nov 3, 2021
Is stainless steel better than white gold?
Stainless steel, in its soft, fully annealed state is about 155 Vickers, but at full hardening can reach 390 Vickers, which is 70 percent harder than platinum or white gold. This means that stainless steel will resist wear, dents, dings, and scratches better than either white gold or platinum.Dec 18, 2016Is 316 stainless steel corrosion resistant?
316 stainless steel is a popular alloy that possesses molybdenum. Unlike 304 steel, the most common form of stainless steel, it possesses enhanced resistance to corrosion from chloride and other acids.Jan 12, 2021Does Rolex stainless steel tarnish?
Here's the deal: Rolex, for most of its production time, has used the standard 316L stainless steel for its watches. But then, Rolex started noticing that the steel could corrode and tarnish, which is something that they tried to find a solution to.Why does Rolex use 904L steel?
Since salt is generally the culprit behind rusting and pitting, Rolex decided to make the switch to 904L. The material is actually more resistant to all chemicals (not just chloride.) Switching to 904L allowed them to offer a better product that was could handle serious stress.Oct 26, 2017Why do Rolex scratch easily?
Do Rolex Watches Scratch Easily? Rolex stainless steel watches scratch easier because they're made out of an alloy (904L) with added corrosion resistance. This makes the metals slightly softer and more prone to scratches.Is Rolex Two Tone real gold?
Two-tone Rolex watches have their bezels, winding crowns, and center bracelet links craft from 18-karat gold, while the middle case and outer links of the bracelet are made from 904L stainless steel.Is 904L harder than 316L?
According to this site (which proclaims to be the leading online publication for the Materials Science community), 904L is no more difficult to work with than 316L: “Grade 904L stainless steels are high purity steels with low sulfur content. They can be machined using any standard methods.”Is Oystersteel scratch resistant?
Scratch-Resistant Alloys Rolex's famous "Oystersteel" is said to be its own alloy of 904L stainless steel (which some other companies also use), for instance, and it's more corrosion-resistant than 316L.Jul 23, 2021Should I wear my Rolex everyday?
One of the best things about owning a Rolex watch is wearing it and enjoying it every day. This daily, constant wear is one of the best ways you can care for your watch. While Rolex watches are famous for their durability and robustness, your Rolex will inevitably gain scratches and dings while you wear them.Feb 21, 2020Is 316L stainless steel?
316L stainless steel is a type of metallic alloy of stainless steel that is austenitic and contains nickel and molybdenum, which make it corrosion resistant.Dec 17, 2016Is 904L steel more scratch resistant?
The real deal here is that 904L steel offers a different shine - more interesting and brilliant - than 316L steel, which tends to look a little more dull. And yes - what Francis Jacquerye has said in his answer is true: 904L scratches more easily than 316L.Does Rolex make a titanium watch?
Rolex hasn't made titanium watches before, and they are very traditional, design-wise. They make innovations on the movements, but most of their watches look very similar from decades ago. People like it that way.
