Why is there no gold watches?

[achuke]

Ah he’ll, maybe I should just order that DD. Cant be a true Rolex guy without one in the collection.

Lol!! That's what im saying!

I'm looking through some of the TD's for a nice gold Daytona, the googledoc says Clean provides the best reps for them at current time, but there's like hundreds of versions of them on the TD's websites, any of you guys got any recommendations? I have a feeling some of you are wiser than I am when it comes to good color matching and the best models

 

[Abi74]

Thank you for this thread. Also a noob and was thinking about getting a Daytona 116518LN in YG and Black Dial or a Daytona Pikachu. After the tarnishing comments, i'll have to search some more for a more reliable gold model.

 

[achuke]

Thank you for this thread. Also a noob and was thinking about getting a Daytona 116518LN in YG and Black Dial or a Daytona Pikachu. After the tarnishing comments, i'll have to search some more for a more reliable gold model.

That's awesome! Let me know if you cross any nice models! I'd be interested in looking it up as well!

 

[Kerbus]

I’m slowly dipping my toes back into the world of full gold I have an old 18238 rep that I’d like to put back in service and so I’m going to get a new bracelet for it. I really don’t need a rep of the newest model. We will see how this goes and then I’ll take it from there

 

[Foomanstu]

I too am contemplating a yellow gold Daytona 116518 or a 126508 from the QF. They are so attractive but am wondering about the longevity of the plating. However, even if it does wear off in some small area it will unlikely be noticed as most people don't get close enough to my wrist nor can they get a long enough look to likely notice any wear. The rare astute observer might pass it off as a light reflection. I have a very attractive gold Speedmaster Moonwatch, VSF that I've worn in my rotation for 6 months and still looks new. I will likely make the purchase and not worry about the plating wearing off. It is after all a $930 rep and not the $35K to $50K gen and we can't expect perfection. This would be the most expensive rep I've purchased so hopefully QF makes a good product.

 

[achuke]

I too am contemplating a yellow gold Daytona 116518 or a 126508 from the QF. They are so attractive but am wondering about the longevity of the plating. However, even if it does wear off in some small area it will unlikely be noticed as most people don't get close enough to my wrist nor can they get a long enough look to likely notice any wear. The rare astute observer might pass it off as a light reflection. I have a very attractive gold Speedmaster Moonwatch, VSF that I've worn in my rotation for 6 months and still looks new. I will likely make the purchase and not worry about the plating wearing off. It is after all a $930 rep and not the $35K to $50K gen and we can't expect perfection. This would be the most expensive rep I've purchased so hopefully QF makes a good product.

Sorry who's QF? I'm not that good with everyone yet, I know of Clean, VSF and Noob.
I love the 126508, that's what I had in mind too! And yeah I agree with your take on the wear honestly, it's kindof what I'm thinking.

 

[ward1991]

ahhh gold plated reps the only replicas that actually feel dirty to wear.

 

[Foomanstu]

I purchase most of my reps from Chazingtime and the QF Daytonas look fantastic. I'm not an expert on all the factories, I just read what they post on their sites.

 

[TheBigJS]

I've not had any full gold from Clean,

Not mine unfortunately,but gen bezel on a Clean "gold" Daytona, in m2m now, not cheap (duh, solid gold gen Rolex bezel!)
That is spot on.

 

[EarlOfBacon]

Not mine unfortunately,but gen bezel on a Clean "gold" Daytona, in m2m now, not cheap (duh, solid gold gen Rolex bezel!)
That is spot on.

Pretty nice, no difference of colour noticeable for me ...

 

[pengu]

very rarely the plating is accurate to gen. The closest ones I've seen is CF's yellow gold which seems to be spot on with gen, and the weighted APSF/Gold Factory rose gold models. But then again, there are also labs that you could send your watches to for replating.

 

[achuke]

very rarely the plating is accurate to gen. The closest ones I've seen is CF's yellow gold which seems to be spot on with gen, and the weighted APSF/Gold Factory rose gold models. But then again, there are also labs that you could send your watches to for replating.

Yeah I've heard the same. I was thinking about it but getting a 900 usd watch just to replate it seems a bit expensive. Perhaps i'm being stingy.. Shame theres no good reps thats cheaper at the gold color

 

[jumper01]

Hi, I've had a gold rep Rolex day date 36mm for a few years now. I've now stop wearing it because the bracelet has faded. The case still looks good and it holds good time. Can anybody suggest to me the best gold rep bracelet to replace the worn bracelet. Thanks.

 

[DurbanPoison]

The OCD freaks would put protective films over their gold reps but the real OCD freaks would stay away from them because of the subconscious thought that the gold can or will fade any moment.

That does not go to say that u shouldn’t buy a gold rep. Factories like clean does the rose gold wrap on the Daytonas pretty spot on. Yellow gold tends to look abit off across all factories. If u want extra plating u can ask ur TD for the service or modders to do it, perhaps even consider gold wrapping but that’s niche costly.

But as u can see from the rest of the comments earlier there are tons of reasons why many avoid gold watches. I am personally a fan of yellow gold watches. I did start a forum post long time ago on whether TDs will one day sell reps or factories will produce reps that sell genuine gold reps. But seems like the raids and the risk/reward for these factories and TDs are not worth them entering the market for genuine gold reps. Plus many who are in the rep world unfortunately can’t afford gen gold reps. The volume for the sale of gen gold reps will not be good too.

So I guess at the moment this is the position of the rep world. But we are advancing fast and might see full gold reps one day. Heck back then nobody expected a clone RM, clone AP 4302 movement, clone DD4130 movement. When I started out with reps in 2022 I was wearing Miyota 15500, I’ve seen amazing progress in the rep world. Ok I’m detailing abit but u get my point.

Gold reps will just get better, plated technology and wrap technology. U can try using protective films if ur OCD. But for the ultra OCD like me and many, we stay away from it

 

[torontotbr]

too hard to imitate; won't look real.

 

[Kerbus]

I ought to just order . I have some new Silvo just sitting. I have scrap cases and links to practice on Even champagne dials, like the one on my Franken Datejust in my avatar to the left here,vary.

I just used the Silvo on some scrap jubilee bracelets. Interestingly,I polished one for up to 30 seconds and it came out maybe a bit paler. I polished another one and I really knocked down the color. It looked a bit like a gold watch that has fading of the gold. These bracelets must’ve been of two different qualities

I would recommend not to polish straight, stop and inspect your progress frequently lest you over polish and get a watch thats just too faded. Silvo can be potent!

 

[BlossomboofyBoofystewie2]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the weight difference between gold plated s/s and 100% gold? (Tungsten can help here).

Plus, to me, the real gold ones feels "chunkier"? i.e. feels more "solid"?

 

[Dave2302]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the weight difference between gold plated s/s and 100% gold?

Probably because the only folks who would be remotely concerned about weight difference will be the ones trying to pass the replica off as a Gen for whatever of many reasons.

 

[Andrew_watchlist]

a lot of the gold reps look like some kind of base metal in colour. Which is why i steer clear, but i am very new to reps so my opinion is my own. not to be taken as legal advice.

 

[Repmaster1337]

I have two gold watches, just afraid it wears off by using. But i really love them, think the 116618LN is my grail.

VSF 116618LN
VSF 116618LB