Can someone explain the term wrapped Gold on a Rolex?

[Crjacobs88]

Hi All,

Currently looking at Getting a Rolex Datejust Wimbledon two tone on jubilee bracelet from Intime (Ryan). On the write up it mentions wrapped gold?
Am I right in thinking that this is a capping? Or is it just gold plated and a fancy term?

Cheers all,
Chris

 

[repreg123]

have u read https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/rolex-tudor-replicas/315608-the-wrapped-gold-sub-guide? It's even stickied

 

[Crjacobs88]

Awesome thanks! Apologies just reading all the new info on the site as we speak.

 

[srhoque]

It means stay away from these models. None of rep gold will last. It is not economically viable to sell good quality gold (plated 5 microns or wrapped 20 microns) at the rep price point. They all cut corners like poor plating, not done in air cleaned environments or missing places in the case or bracelet links.

 

[KJ2020]

It means stay away from these models. None of rep gold will last. It is not economically viable to sell good quality gold (plated 5 microns or wrapped 20 microns) at the rep price point. They all cut corners like poor plating, not done in air cleaned environments or missing places in the case or bracelet links.

Lol, you're right bro but they sure are fun while they last!

 

[Cadows]

Neither, its all PVD. Thats why all of them look “brownish”. If you want real thick gold plating that WILL LAST for 5 years for sure, you have to get SS model and find right people who do that. Prices are around 500-600$. I know one company in US thats trustworthy, high quality AND rep friendly. Or you can buy a kit for electro plating for around 1.5k and plate it your self.

 

[Cadows]

One more thing, its not about wrapping thick layer of “soft gold”, it will fall off even then. Point is in real hard gold plating that is more resistant than factory stainless steel.

 

[KSwatches]

One more thing, its not about wrapping thick layer of “soft gold”, it will fall off even then. Point is in real hard gold plating that is more resistant than factory stainless steel.

You thick this thick wrapping will fall off?

It is around 0.5mm thick. Which is maybe around x100 thicker than plating.

Plating is electro-chemically bonded to steel. The bond can wear off. Even the thickest plating will orders of magnitude less than the wrapping thickens in the pic attached.

Wrapping is a mechanically wrapped around steel. I can’t see how it can fall off. But I am not an expert.

The wrapping material is probably not real gold. But that is irreverent as long as the colour is similar to gold.

 

[Xky]

My experience with RG plated watch has been terrible. My advice is stay well away from any plated, wrapped watches.

Mine turned into a copper colour after six months.

Total waste of money, This has happened to others as well. The last 2 photos are from a post in the, wrapped gold sub guide, thread.

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[Cadows]

You thick this thick wrapping will fall off?

It is around 0.5mm thick. Which is maybe around x100 thicker than plating.

Plating is electro-chemically bonded to steel. The bond can wear off. Even the thickest plating will orders of magnitude less than the wrapping thickens in the pic attached.

Wrapping is a mechanically wrapped around steel. I can’t see how it can fall off. But I am not an expert.

The wrapping material is probably not real gold. But that is irreverent as long as the colour is similar to gold.

Keyword: “similar”.

 

[KJ2020]

RG seems to be much different than YG. I have seen many examples of RG turn ugly shades, or develop dark spots around a rubber wrist band, or wear off pretty quickly. If I ever had any inkling to buy an RG rep, it has long been cast aside. Not so with YG. I've seen examples many years old that still look good. Also I don't beat my watches up or expose them to harsh treatment - they never get wet or dirty or touch anything but my skin. And they get wiped down after every wear. I also put cell phone protective squares on every one, on the clasps and 2 links either side. I am optimistic my watches will look very much like this 2 years from now. We will see.

 

[chocolito]

RG seems to be much different than YG. I have seen many examples of RG turn ugly shades, or develop dark spots around a rubber wrist band, or wear off pretty quickly. If I ever had any inkling to buy an RG rep, it has long been cast aside. Not so with YG. I've seen examples many years old that still look good. Also I don't beat my watches up or expose them to harsh treatment - they never get wet or dirty or touch anything but my skin. And they get wiped down after every wear. I also put cell phone protective squares on every one, on the clasps and 2 links either side. I am optimistic my watches will look very much like this 2 years from now. We will see.

There are custom made 'invisible ' covers systems for Rolex watches to protect them from scratches . I can't remember what the system is called , but they are protect the watch from scratches and are practically invisble to the naked . There was a tiresome argumentative member from the UK who sold are number of Rolex reps with the system on . They use 3D modelling on each model so they fit exactly .
***Edit *** Just Googled and one system is STYX i don't think that was the company he used though .
I have often wondered ( i guess they will ) if they would protect gold plate from scratches/rubbing and enviromental contaminates keeping the colour . The only problem is the tarnish /patina gold plating gets usually comes from the base layers used in the chemical bonding process ( including shoddy work ) nickel and/or copper contaminating the gold top layer . No sticker system or careful use will prevent this .
I have had over the years a couple of gold plated watches ( Swiss not cheap ) and both changed colour and tarnished over a period of time . That's why i AVOID plated watches . I don't expect Chinese replicas made in sheds to fair any better . The evidence of members watches seems to indicate that gold plate isn't going to look good long term .

 

[KSwatches]

My experience with RG plated watch has been terrible. My advice is stay well away from any plated, wrapped watches.

Mine turned into a copper colour after six months.

Total waste of money, This has happened to others as well. The last 2 photos are from a post in the, wrapped gold sub guide, thread.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did you wash off sweat after each use? If not, the salt in sweat will corrode away plating fast.

 

[chocolito]

Did you wash off sweat after each use? If not, the salt in sweat will corrode away plating fast.

Sweat and salt has nothing to do with the colour change on that watch chap . Sweat /salt and contact with certain chemicals (used in hairsray/makeup/deodrants / cleaning products) will tarnish /patina the gold layer in areas and slowly change the colour . However that is just cheap shoddy work during the chemical bonding process . The factory ( i think it's a BP ) have used copper as a base layer which has contaminated the thin gold top layer and begun to show through . That is why the gold know looks like the colour of a copper kettle .

 

[Dizzy]

There’s is no such thing as “wrapping” gold around an object. This has been discussed in detail here before. “Gold wrapped” is simply a marketing term for extra thick gold plating. Yes it will last longer but it’s not worth the extra $400+ that it costs. You could just buy another new watch when it wears off. There is “gold filled” but it’s not generally available on replicas and that would be expensive. PVD plating is harder than gold plating and lasts a lot longer and looks almost the same. I suspect that most new reps are PVD plated and probably don’t actually contain any real gold. It would be interesting to know what the factories are actually going in this regard.

 

[Tonash88]

I have a gold g shock . The gold Color is Super nice and shiny despite washing it many times, or sweating while wearing it. Next, I have a invicta half gold sub , the Color also remains unchanged after 5 years (trust me when I was younger I wore for all types of acitivity). So Just wondering, why they don’t change Color ?


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[Tonash88]

Let me also add on. I actually have a half gold sub and full gold Daytona (both gen) . My half gold sub changed Color, the gold part turned dark, so I went online to find out why (eventually I found out it was due to oxidation of the gold)

So in my mind, I was thinking that if there is no gold in the rep watch, then the gold Color shouldn’t change Color at all?

Anyway for those who wanna fix gold oxidation, There are 2 ways to solve it, 1. Polish (be it real polish or use cape cod both work) or 2. Prevent oxidation by limiting the exposure to moist and sulphur (or sulphuric acid) .






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[chocolito]

I have a gold g shock . The gold Color is Super nice and shiny despite washing it many times, or sweating while wearing it. Next, I have a invicta half gold sub , the Color also remains unchanged after 5 years (trust me when I was younger I wore for all types of acitivity). So Just wondering, why they don’t change Color ?


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Cleaning with a little ph neutral dish soap and thoroughly drying it is actually the way to look after gold plate . With reps the discolouration usually comes from poorly applied gold plate and the top gold layer being contaminated by the bonding agent underneath. The damage from enviromental factors and use take longer to happen . There have been lots of watches on this forum where the gold plate has developed a patina or completely discoloured ( there is one on this thread ) . I have experience of a ' gold' Invicta watch which looked like a bronzo after 3 years of use . All gold plated watches will patina and change colour over time even if they have a thick well applied layer . You may think the colour remains unchanged from day one and it may well look still nice and shiny . However if you had taken a picture of it on day one and compared it today , my guess you'd notice a colour change . My experience is gold plated watches become 'obviously ' not gold very quickly no matter how much you pay for them .

Also 'Gold' G Shocks are not pretending to be real gold, and is OBVIOUSLY not a real gold watch to anybody looking at it on your wrist . The shiny gold colour contains 'NO' gold content as in gold plating . It is an ion PVD coating in yellow/gold colour which is far more resistant to enviromental changes and wear . However it far more expensive than gold plating and looks great but it doesn't look like or try to imitate real gold so it is not use on fake ( or real) watches pretending to be gold .

If you have one of those new ' full metal ' G Shocks by the way the look BOSS , keep meaning to get one myself .

 

[KJ2020]

Here's a Noob TT with that top thin layer of plating removed. Work done and pics by the fabulous Jonj480

 

[FREEWIFI]

Hi guys,

Many thanks for all the info and pictures. I’ve been thru some gold plated/wrapped and never had an issue with them- but never feel comfortable with them at all, so I always wonder about an “upgrade” to a real gold aftermarket bracelet.

Found this from WSO and another from an Italian seller- seen two of those on DD 36 and feel amazing, but really pricey bracelets. I will search the link and share with you,

https://www.ebay.es/itm/164043150170

Does some of you tried this or got any clue if it’s a good purchase of a waste of money?

Cheers