Yellow gold, rose gold, or white gold? Which gold variant is the most popular among watch collectors?

Five reasons why a Gold watch belongs in every Watch collection

“How many karat is it?” The question about the karat content often arises when it comes to the purity of gold in luxury Watches. Although the karat number does not necessarily fully reflect the quality of a Watch, it still provides information about its weight and stability. But more on that shortly!

Additionally, Gold watches offer a wide variety of color nuances and tones. Combinations of two different tones, so-called Two-Tone or Bicolor Watches, are also not uncommon. For example, the combination of silver and gold, black and gold, or gold and Swarovski stones is very popular.

In this almost limitless spectrum of gold tones, one can almost get lost: Roségold, White gold, or perhaps Yellow gold? With this abundance of gold colors, the question arises which shade suits one best. All these color variations are created by mixing gold with another complementary metal as an alloy.

What the karat reveals

As a rough rule of thumb, Gold watches with a karat number of 24 karat consist of 99.9% pure gold. This variant is also the purest form you can get. It also has the properties of being particularly soft and therefore unfortunately sensitive to scratches.

18 karat gold is most commonly used in watchmaking: Watch cases thus consist of 75% gold and 25% other metals. The 18 karat makes the Watch the most common and durable variant.

The 14 karat variant is more affordable. It consists of slightly more than half gold and the rest other metals. 585 Watches in the Watch world are those with a karat content of 14 karat – that is, 58.5% gold.

The result of the different Rolestors

Depending on the gold-metal alloy, the gold tone of a Watch varies slightly. In Rolex jargon, these mixed alloys of gold and another precious metal are called Rolestor. This term is explicitly patented by Rolex. For example, Rolex Watches feature gold tones such as Everosegold or Roségold, White gold, or Yellow gold: Roségold is usually mixed with copper. To obtain white gold as an alloy, gold is mixed with palladium, silver, or nickel. This special gold tone consists of 18 karat gold. Since some people are allergic to nickel, skin sensitivities should be considered with this alloy. Yellow gold, on the other hand, is mixed with copper or silver and has the highest gold content of all gold tones.

Various Watch models in Gold watches

1. Rolex Day-Date (also known as President): This is one of the most iconic Rolex models. It is available in various Gold watch tones, including yellow Gold watches, white Gold watches, and rose Gold watches. The Day-Date is known for its President bracelet and the date window at 3 o'clock.

2. Rolex Daytona: The Rolex Daytona is a popular chronograph model. It is available in various materials, including rose Gold watches. The Daytona is characterized by its tachymeter scale on the bezel.

3.     Rolex Submariner: Although the Submariner is mainly associated with stainless steel cases, there are also versions in Gold watch tones. These are available in both yellow Gold watches and white Gold watches. The Submariner is one of the most famous diving Watches.

4. Rolex GMT-Master II: Like the Submariner, the GMT-Master II is also available in various Gold watch tones, including yellow Gold watches and white Gold watches. This Watch is known for its ability to display multiple time zones.

Five reasons that speak for buying a Gold watch

What speaks in favor of a Gold watch in one's own collection?

1. Diversification of the collection

A Gold watch in your Watch collection undoubtedly brings variety and sets accents: Especially in the golden season of autumn, brown tones are in vogue. A Gold watch brings more "warmth" to the wrist and harmonizes particularly well with your autumn outfit.

2. Timeless classic

Gold watches are timeless, they are increasingly fashionable, yet always remain on trend. Moreover, Gold watches present a fascinating contrast to modern and experimental materials like carbon, titanium, and others, which are gaining more importance in the Watch industry. While carbon and titanium offer many advantages due to their hardness and lightness, Gold watches on the wrist appear almost exotic and bring a warm elegance to the world of Watches.

Some well-known Watches models that skillfully use these materials are: The "Rolex Submariner" with its timeless design and a case made of stainless steel and Gold watches. The "Omega Speedmaster" in a titanium version, perfectly combining functionality and lightness. The "Audemars Piguet Royal Oak" with its iconic stainless steel case and bold design language. The "Panerai Luminor" with its distinctive titanium case, which sets a strong contrast to the golden elegance. These models show how materials like Gold watches, titanium, and stainless steel are cleverly integrated into the world of luxury Watches.

3. Innovation

Brands like Rolex and Omega manage to use gold innovatively. They experiment with gold tones or details on the watch – creating different shades of gold. Gold combined with rubber straps, as in the Omega Speedmaster Special Edition or Rolex Daytona, breaks with the classic look of Gold watches.

4. Status and Prestige

Famous U.S. statesmen have worn them on their wrists: The Rolex. Whether Dwight D. Eisenhower, London B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, or even John F. Kennedy. They acquired a Rolex Datejust or Day-Date to celebrate their office. The so-called Datejust is the "President" among luxury watches and embodies wealth, success, and prestige like no other. A Gold watch is naturally a bit more extravagant and eye-catching. At the same time, it shows social status, not just the time. Looking at pop culture, it quickly becomes clear that artists and performers as well as many famous actors swear by the luxury watch on their wrist: it emphasizes a goal one has achieved in life. The mirror of society is clearly reflected in films – in the blockbuster "The Wolf of Wallstreet," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the Rolex stands as the must-have among luxury goods like no other. The message behind it is somewhat questionable, as the Roli also stands for wealth, consumption, and excess. In the 1990s, the financial sector boomed, and the film shows how stockbroker Jordan Belfort – based on true events – was involved in fraudulent business practices. Nevertheless, this film represents social ascent, where the sky is the limit, and immense success, but it also places a socially critical perspective at the center of the narrative.

5. Availability

Gold watches are very special timepieces and usually have a higher purchase price. This also means that they are often more readily available than their counterparts in stainless steel, especially for watches from some renowned Swiss brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Cartier.

Check the availability of many different Gold watches on our shop from Zeitauktion if you want to complete your collection with one of the coveted Gold watches.

Rolex

Oyster Perpetual

Rolex Oyster Perpetual steel automatic men's watch 124300 [2506414] Sale price7.550€

Rolex

Submariner

Rolex Submariner steel automatic men's watch 14060 [2505557] Sale price7.650€

Rolex

Oyster Perpetual

Rolex Oyster Perpetual steel automatic women's watch 67230 [2505846] Sale price3.450€

Rolex

Daytona

Rolex Daytona chronograph steel / gold automatic men's watch 126503 [2506781] Sale price22.750€

Rolex

Yacht-Master

Rolex Yacht-Master steel / platinium automatic men's watch 16622 [2507035] Sale price7.850€

Rolex

Yacht-Master

Rolex Yacht-Master steel / platinium automatic men's watch 116622 [2506998] Sale price11.150€

Rolex

Datejust Turn-O-Graph

Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph steel / white gold automatic men's watch 16264 [2506539] Sale price5.550€

Rolex

GMT-Master II

Rolex GMT-Master II steel automatic men's watch 116710LN [2506754] Sale price9.850€

Small disclaimer: These five reasons are not meant to encourage an investment in Gold watches, but merely to mention some aspects that make Gold watches special.