Case Material

[jdrichard]

I recently was buffing up a watch case (fake rolex, gift) and the stainless steel ground down to a pinkish metal. And thoughts on what is happening here?

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[Geo]

Sounds like you have buffed through plating not stainless steel.  It will probably be copper plating showing and if you keep going it will probably be brass.

[RyMoeller]

Another reason to not settle for the replica I guess.  The genuine article will be solid- either high grade steel or gold.  

[StuartBaker104]

Copper plate is often used as an intermediate layer before other more difficult plating materials. For the faker, making all your blanks in brass means you can use the same part for a steel effect or a gold effect.

Yours is probably nickel plated. If you want to try some fun chemistry then you can buy nickle plating solution on the internet. If it works then great, if it doesn't, then one more fake can be consigned to the scrap bin 

[oldhippy]

Buffing a cheap watch case when it is coated with a thin coat of plate is a quick and easy way of removal.

[SSTEEL]

316~L is used with the higher end replica watches, and the super replica watches are currently being planned to be built using 904 stainless steel, especially the Rolex models, and prices will be over $1000 per replica watch..

Edited December 31, 2016 by SSTEEL

[jdrichard]

Copper plate is often used as an intermediate layer before other more difficult plating materials. For the faker, making all your blanks in brass means you can use the same part for a steel effect or a gold effect.

Yours is probably nickel plated. If you want to try some fun chemistry then you can buy nickle plating solution on the internet. If it works then great, if it doesn't, then one more fake can be consigned to the scrap bin [emoji4]

Thanks for the advice. What about chrome? It was invented and used in pocket watches starting in the 20ies and 30ies. I have an aluminum guitar that was chromed and they had to add Zinc, Copper and then chrome.

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[StuartBaker104]

Sorry if this is going a little off topic... The zinc is required because the surface of the aluminium oxidizes as soon as it's exposed to the air. Copper adheres nicely to the zinc and the chrome.  As aluminium is relatively soft and chrome hard, this combination is still susceptible to cracking and flaking of the chrome, so treat with care.

[jdrichard]

Sorry if this is going a little off topic... The zinc is required because the surface of the aluminium oxidizes as soon as it's exposed to the air. Copper adheres nicely to the zinc and the chrome.  As aluminium is relatively soft and chrome hard, this combination is still susceptible to cracking and flaking of the chrome, so treat with care.

Build buy a guy who does Motorcycle parts. Should endure. Should do watch cases the same way.


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[MilTimeCan]

8 hours ago, jdrichard said:

Thanks for the advice. What about chrome? It was invented and used in pocket watches starting in the 20ies and 30ies. I have an aluminum guitar that was chromed and they had to add Zinc, Copper and then chrome.

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OMG....they make electric guitars out of aluminum...never seen one.

I have a resonator, but nothing like this.

fascinating. 

[jdrichard]

OMG....they make electric guitars out of aluminum...never seen one.

I have a resonator, but nothing like this.

fascinating. 

Great guitar, plays exceptionally well


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