I don't get white gold

[Gary123]

I don't understand why anyone would buy a white gold or platinum watch, unless it is to fly under the radar because the watch is not offered in stainless.

If one wants to buy a gold watch, then I'd think they would get yellow or pink so the metal reveals itself, otherwise get stainless, if available. The notion that white gold gives the wearer a private pleasure of some sort doesn't make much sense to me. I can understand if the watch only comes in either yellow gold or white gold, then I can see buying white gold if you want to fly under the radar.

Am I missing something?

[Roller.959]

I don't understand why anyone would buy a white gold or platinum watch, unless it is to fly under the radar because there is no other discrete choice in metal.

If one wants to buy a gold watch, then I'd think they would get yellow or pink so the metal reveals itself, otherwise get stainless, if available. The notion that white gold gives the wearer a private pleasure of some sort doesn't make much sense to me. I can understand if the watch only comes in either yellow gold or white gold, then I can see buying white gold if you want to fly under the radar.

Am I missing something?

It is likely difficult to tell the difference between SS and WG when separate. I believe you can tell the difference in the tone of the metals when side by side. In fact, I think CitizenM in some of his reviews has pointed this out and was able to somewhat back it up with photos. That said, is WG "worth" double to triple the price compared to the SS case of the same watch...not for me at this point.

[CitizenM]

I'm both with you and against you on this one. I wouldn't pay any extra for a white gold watch for sure (or any gold, although on rare occasion I like an SS/gold combination). And it's really hard to tell the difference between WG and SS on their own. But when they're side by side, the white gold does appear "whiter" or "purer" than the steel...less gray if you will. Difficult to describe in words.

SS also has a big advantage on WG in durability. SS is not only (normally) much harder and it also doesn't have the rhodium plating WG does in jewelry purposes, which tends to wear off.

But, the durability doesn't really matter if it's only the inside of the watch instead of the case or bracelet, so in a few watches, like the AT8500, it's not really an issue because it's SS on the outside, WG on the inside. I suck at photography, but maybe you can compare the SS case with the WG movement/hands/hour markers.




The second one shows it better I thin. Everything you can see on the movement is rhodium plated white gold, and the case and bracelet is SS. To my eye, the WG is noticeably "whiter" than the grayish SS.

I think a really good comparison would be titanium and white gold...titanium usually shows a darker gray than SS. Sorry though, my photography sucks. Easier to tell in real life for sure.

[nelsonjhk]

I imagine that white gold would be noticeably heavier than most SS alloys too. In a thin dress watch it might help give it some heft.

[wuyeah]

I have seen some vintage white gold watches that don't age well. Has yellowish tone. Which I have to say no to that....

[Fordham-NY]

I think it's best used on hands, markers and other components under the crystal. Because white gold is, as pointed out, gold (with some other metals added) coated in rhodium. It wears off and needs to be re-done. I prefer SS, because I think it holds up best in watches, and defines them more as watches as opposed to jewelry.

The only watch I have with a precious metal (save for some internal movement parts) white gold, is my Breitling SuperOcean Professional; the Breitling logo is made of white gold and is applied to the dial.

But lack of durability and wear is my biggest reservation with it. My wedding ring is made of stainless steel, and I never worry about it, I never take it off. It's got some surface scratches and that's it.

[CitizenM]

That's another perk of non-plated SS...you can polish it effectively endlessly before you really wear it down. Any plated metal (that we use in jewelry anyway) can get polished off relatively quickly, be it gold plating itself, or rhodium plating on solid gold.

[mleok]

That's another perk of non-plated SS...you can polish it effectively endlessly before you really wear it down. Any plated metal (that we use in jewelry anyway) can get polished off relatively quickly, be it gold plating itself, or rhodium plating on solid gold.

Agreed, I'm not a big fan of anything plated because it limits the usable lifespan of the watch. There's nothing more annoying to me than a watch case with the plating worn through. I hope the advances in unscratchable gold (Vickers 1000) developed jointly by EPFL and Hublot, which consist of a ceramic lattice infused with gold, will percolate into the rest of the industry.

EPFL creates unscratchable gold

A more conventional alternative is the honey gold developed by A. Lange & Sohne (Vickers 320), compared to Vickers 135 for yellow gold, and Vickers 600 for tempered steel.

18-CARAT HONEY-COLOURED GOLD

[Mr.Kane]

The answer is yes, you're missing something. Although I'd be lying if I didn't try and get my wife that ss zirconia engagement ring...

[Likestheshiny]

Precious-metal watches aren't really my thing. But, if we'll pay good money for fancy movements that we can't see, I have no problem with paying good money for precious metals that look awfully similar to steel. Watches are jewelry, after all, and precious metals are a part of that. And, really, the idea that other people noticing has any impact on a watch is pretty negligible, since 99% of people never notice any watch to begin with.