Rolex Gold Content And Metals Used

Ever Wondered How Much Gold Is Really In Your Rolex

The solid gold Rolex watch is really a thing of beauty.  The typical gents Rolex President looks rather impressive due to its obvious mass and weight not to mention the price tag that goes with it.  But did you ever really wonder what the actual gold value is in a Rolex President?  Below we have taken an 18kt. gold Rolex and have removed the movement, the crystal and other non-gold parts.  We weighed each part using a laboratory grade scientific balance.  We are sure you will find the results very interesting.  All values were based on the spot price of gold at $400.00 per troy ounce.

All precious metals are weighed using the troy system.  One troy ounce contains 31.1 grams of a particular precious metal.  There is 480 grains in one troy ounce.  If the spot price of gold is $400.00 per troy ounce, the value per gram would be $12.86.  Using these standards, the actual gold value in the Gents Rolex President would be $963.27.

Following are pictures of each Rolex part and the gold weight of each item.

  This is the complete Rolex President.

  This shows a close-up view of the dial and the complete watch with the crystal attached.

  These are the basic component parts of the Rolex.  The band, the bezel ring that holds the crystal in place, the main case, and the case back.

  Inside of the case back you will see that it is marked as being 18kt.  It also has the decimal value of .750.  This means that 75 percent of the weight is pure gold.  Pure gold is 24kt.  The pure gold is alloyed with silver, copper, and zinc.  Also notice the official Rolex markings on the inside of the case back.

  The clasp is also marked with the gold content as well as being marked with the Rolex logo.  There is also a number that is the official part number for this band.  This band has the bark finish.

  This is the head or case ring of the Rolex.  It is also marked 18kt.  A genuine Rolex case will also have a Registered Design number engraved between the lugs at the 12 position.  In this case, the number is 1803.  Between the lugs at the 6 position you will find the serial number of the case.  If you look close at this picture, you can see how Rolex machines out the lug ends and the case walls to reduce the amount of gold used to manufacture the case.

  Using these parts the actual gold value of this Rolex can be determined as follows.

•   Case ring weights 18.5 grams.  Contains 13.875 grams of pure gold.  It has a value of $178.43.

•   Case back weighs 7.21 grams.  Contains 5.41 grams of pure gold.  It has a value of $69.57.

•   Bezel weighs 5.30 grams.  Contains 3.98 grams of pure gold.  It has a value of $51.18.

•   The bracelet weighs 68.85 grams.  Contains 51.64 grams of pure gold.  It has the most value at $664.09.

•   The total value of the pure 24kt. gold in this Rolex President is $963.27.

Rolex Registered Design 15238
This case uses the popular Rolex 3135 movement

The pictures above show the markings located inside of the Rolex case back as well as the Rolex Registered Design number that is found between the lugs at the 12 position of the case.  The serial number of the case is located at the 6 position.

More pictures of the Rolex 15238 case with sapphire crystal

The Rolex President
Registered Design 18238

The pictures above show the 18kt. gold Rolex case and band for the Rolex 18238 Registered Design.  The band weighs 73.18 grams, the case weighs 22.8 grams, the case back weighs 10.87 grams and the bezel weighs 5.18 grams.

RETURN TO ROLEX WATCH MAIN PAGE

EMAIL YOUR ROLEX REPAIR REQUEST
OR
ROLEX QUESTION TO US