tt sub clasp

[stephengreen]

Does the gold on current tt sub clasp's go all the way through or is plated on one side only?

[rolexredneck]

i have a tt sub and i think it is plated on one side although it appears to be a rather thick coat.

[sparky]

I know it isn't plated, I think it is more of a fused layer to the stainless like the pocket watches with the 25 year cases.....

[harb]

I know it isn't plated, I think it is more of a fused layer to the stainless like the pocket watches with the 25 year cases.....

Correct.

A thin strip of gold is bonded to the SS clasp.

Other companies use electroplating. (Place a piece of gold in one end of a bath of electrolite and a piece of steel in the other end and passing an electrical current between the two metals. This results in gold molecules being carried on the current and fused to the steel) The end result is a very very thin layer of gold, almost just colouring, on the steel. It's so thin that it wears through quite easily. More expensive watches would stay in the bath longer building up a thicker more wearable layer.

However, the method used by rolex is not electroplating. It's the mechanical bonding of a sheet of gold to the clasp. The gold is still very thin but thick enough to withstand more than a lifetime of wear without wearing through.

[Larry*]

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa67/LD_album/Shop/16613_clasp1.jpg

(Nick Hacko Photo)

[harb]

Excellent illustration, Larry.