Rolex Sea Dweller Deep Sea!

[trailboss99]

Thank you for your response. As far as the comment above, I'm sure that's true. Interesting fellow though...

Oh I don't for one minute expect everyone to get along with Robert but he has thrown more light on the goings on behind the scenes than anyone. There is a post here somewhere where a member askes how big is the rep market. T4D's reply to that is one well worth reading.


Col.

 

[ThinkBachs]

True to my word, here's the first response that I got from the Caswell forum...

I've never seen a sided by side comparison but just looking at the composition, you would think 316L would be a "whiter" metal. It contains less carbon and iron than 316F. Both contain the same amount of "white" metals such as chromium and nickel. But 316L contains 75% more Molybdenum than 316F and that does darken the metal. (Over 2%) If I were to choose based on that, I'd pick 316F as the whiter of the two.

My only goal is to see if there is any scientific support for a difference in brightness, if any. I'm not here to cause problems, just to learn as much as I can. For that, I rely on the opinions of those who are respected to give my some direction to that end. Finding an answer is much more satisfying than being right, and being wrong means I learned something today.

With that said, looks good for me so far.

 

[Time4Direct]

How on earth are you going to detect at max 2% in colour variation.
You would be hard pushed to pick that up on a spectrum that level of variation could happen on the same production line

 

[alvinado]

yes not problem, we are all here to learn, it is an interesting read! Keep us posted...

 

[ThinkBachs]

None of us may find the answer we're looking for, hopefully we'll all find a way to peacefully agree to disagree, but at the end of the day- at least we'll have learned something we didn't know yesterday.

This is interesting, and I'm not sure how much of an impact it has on the durability of 316L- seems to me that it would better to have it than not...

Molybdenum

The ability of molybdenum to withstand extreme temperatures without significantly expanding or softening makes it useful in applications that involve intense heat, including the manufacture of aircraft parts, electrical contacts, industrial motors and filaments. Molybdenum is also used in alloys for its high corrosion resistance and weldability. Molybdenum contributes corrosion resistance to type 316 stainless steel by 'gettering' residual carbon, preventing the formation of chromium carbide at grain boundaries. Most high-strength steel alloys contain 0.25% to 8% molybdenum. Despite such small portions, more than 43,000 tonnes of molybdenum are used as an alloying agent each year in stainless steels, tool steels, cast irons and high-temperature super-alloys.

Reading this, it seems that having the greater percentage of this component would be better than not.

Yum!

Let's look at 904L, used by Rolex...

904L is a non-stabilised low carbon high alloy austenitic stainless steel. The addition of copper to this grade gives it greatly improved resistance to strong reducing acids, particularly sulphuric acid. It is also highly resistant to chloride attack - both pitting / crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking.

This grade is non-magnetic in all conditions and has excellent weldability and formability. The austenitic structure also gives this grade excellent toughness, even down to cryogenic temperatures.

Although originally developed for its resistance to sulphuric acid it also has a very high resistance to a wide range of environments. It has good resistance to warm sea water and other high chloride environments. High nickel content results in a much better resistance to stress corrosion cracking than the standard austenitic grades. Copper adds resistance to sulphuric and other reducing acids, particularly in the very aggressive "mid concentration" range.

904L does have very substantial contents of the high cost ingredients nickel and molybdenum. Some people may have a sensitivity to nickel and find that this steel irritates the skin.

This is interesting...


Originally Posted by padi56

Rolex uses 904L also 316L but the myth of the "special Rolex steel" comes up frequently. An employee of Rolex said in 2002: Quote.

At the moment, we have several companies all over the world, serving our needs for stainless steel. The watch cases and bracelets are all mainly made of X2CrNiMo17-12-2 which is the best compromise between the attributes of the variant materials. As usual, the steel is melted under vacuum, so we get an very pure base, which is easy to handle and allows an perfect polishing. I think, the same procedure as in every good (expensive gold) company,and now X2CrNiMo17-12-2 is used for parts than come into skin contact

One of those providers is http://www.boehler-thyssen.ch/

Rolex does use indeed Steel 904L, but only for parts that are not in direct contact to the skin. 904 has a higher amount of Nickel than 316, so it is used for parts such as case ring bars screws pins etc.

X2CrNiMo17-12-2 is the formula for 316L SS.

Now perhaps this has changed,but I would doubt.Don't think Rolex would put anything on sale that could possible cause a allergy without some sort of warning on label.

Oh crap... I might have to start eating some crow. May even have to send T4D a Christmas card...

 

[QinetiQ]

Oh I don't for one minute expect everyone to get along with Robert but he has thrown more light on the goings on behind the scenes than anyone. There is a post here somewhere where a member askes how big is the rep market. T4D's reply to that is one well worth reading.


Col.

Sorry for the off topic but I would really like to read Robert's answer to that question. I tried searching for it but I can't seem to find it. Do you happen to have a link to it or at least guide as to where should I look for it? Was it a specific thread or a question within another thread?

 

[trailboss99]

Damn it Q I can't find it either. It's here somewhere, I though that was roughly the name of the post but Google can't find it.
Anyone?


Col.

 

[ThinkBachs]

Hello just wondering ho has the best Deep Sea version for sale? How is Hont's? please give me some information

Regards

I was just looking at EuroTimez site again and see that they have uploaded some new pics of the New V5, which can be found on the home page >>> center page xml slide show >>> menu: New Watches 2009 >>> new V5.

These pics are excellent. If.....IF they send out the exact watch shown in those pics, then you'll have the best version available from what I can tell. If has the correct style HEV, lume dots look good, blue lume I'm assuming, good looking ceramic bezel. The one thing that bugs me is that the ring looks like it needs to be turned clockwise a bit. Other than that, it all looks good to me. I'll be throwing in for one here very shortly and will share once it comes in.

 

[gabrielf]

I was just looking at EuroTimez site again and see that they have uploaded some new pics of the New V5, which can be found on the home page >>> center page xml slide show >>> menu: New Watches 2009 >>> new V5.

These pics are excellent. If.....IF they send out the exact watch shown in those pics, then you'll have the best version available from what I can tell. If has the correct style HEV, lume dots look good, blue lume I'm assuming, good looking ceramic bezel. The one thing that bugs me is that the ring looks like it needs to be turned clockwise a bit. Other than that, it all looks good to me. I'll be throwing in for one here very shortly and will share once it comes in.

a ageree with you looks verry good!

Just got my Deep Sea from Hont,, Not satisfied.. Pearl is not correct and not centred. Same as the Orginal "Gas escape valve text is not cetred.. but otherwise its looks good! I have a Orginale to compare with.

 

[nielest]

ask d4m, i have one from him, it's almost flawless!

 

[gabrielf]

I just put up a review with pics of D4M's DSSD (V5) here: http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/major-kudos-for-d4m-pic-47379?t=47379

Orginal Gas Escape valve is not centred