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SS 316L vs. 316F vs. 904L- The final VERDICT- A technical study

sincron

Horology Curious
23/10/20
22
5
0
Recently, a friend of mine showed me how his original rolex submariner purchased 5 years ago looked. He had gone into the sea one day under a yellow flag and the steel box had been completely crushed by the sand in a 5 minute swim. How could this be possible?
 

Glaude

Tech Admin
Staff member
Administrator
11/8/17
6,755
5,364
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He had gone into the sea one day under a yellow flag and the steel box had been completely crushed by the sand in a 5 minute swim.

Steel box ? You meant the case of the watch ?

Crushed by sand ?

:bsmeter:
 

nani89

Horology Curious
6/11/18
6
3
3
the post was written in 2011 and updated in 2017, in these days if in the TD catalog says the wach with 904L is they still laying to us ?
 

derjenigewelcher

Watch Enthusiast
Supporter
Certified
22/11/20
6,409
6,929
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Switzerland
the post was written in 2011 and updated in 2017, in these days if in the TD catalog says the wach with 904L is they still laying to us ?

No. It was documented by a metal analysis test by a member here (I'm no longer sure whether it was a TD or not) with photos that the specified values were correct. ZZF is known as the only son of a bitch company that lied to people about the Submariner and sold the ZZF V2 as the 904L.
Buying the 904L from a TD is the 904L.

But I tell you: the difference between Gen and 316L is barely visible :)
 

Rocco8081

Known Member
27/6/16
117
2
0
Conus
Is this still true today ? Most of the reps out there advertise 904?

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk
 

Rocco8081

Known Member
27/6/16
117
2
0
Conus
Is this still true today ? Most of the reps out there advertise 904?

Sent from my SM-N981U using Tapatalk
 

ALE7575

Section Mod
Section Moderator
Certified
18/1/11
19,826
338
83
Nowadays, many Rolex reps are really made with SS 904. Maybe it is not as good as the Rolex SS but it is very correct

And the other reps are mainly made with a 316 F but the prices are the same as other SS

ALE
 
Last edited:

AnExpensiveBracelet

You're Saying I Can Sell?
17/4/22
72
51
18
Nowadays, many Rolex reps are really made with SS 904. Maybe it is not as good as the Rolex SS but it is very correct

And the other reps are mainly made with a 316 F but the prices are the same as other SS

ALE

Thanks, Its good to know that those more reputable Rolex reps (CF, VSF, etc) are really using the 904s they claim.
 
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MaxAndPaddy

Banned member, the goat does not approve
Banned
26/5/22
53
12
0
Crewe
It’s a relief to hear that higher end factories like CF and VSF are using 904
 

cbx1100

CBX
3/3/22
68
16
8
Sumas WA
Does the 904L advertising that I see alot of still not available as per the 2011 technical study or has the use increased?