The Grönefeld Parallax Tourbillon comes in four versions, all limited, showing excellent watch making with extreme precision
Gold is a highly valued material in watchmaking, prized for its luxurious appeal and versatility. In watches, gold can be used in various forms, such as solid gold, gold-plated, or gold-filled. Solid gold watches, often made of 18-karat (75% pure gold) or 14-karat gold, are prestigious and sought-after due to their intrinsic value and luster.
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Gold plating, where a thin layer of gold is applied to a base metal, is a more affordable way to achieve a gold finish. Gold-filled watches, on the other hand, have a thicker layer of gold bonded to the metal, offering better durability than gold plating. Rose gold, a blend of gold and copper, has become particularly popular in modern watches for its unique pinkish hue.
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Use and hardness of gold
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Gold is used not only for cases but also for components like bezels, bracelets, and even watch movements in some luxury pieces. It adds weight, value, and aesthetic appeal, making gold watches symbols of wealth, craftsmanship, and style.
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The Hardness Vickers for gold varies. 24 carats, not often used for watches, has hardness of 60 to 80 HV. The more used 18-carat gold has a hardness of about 120 to 200 HV, and 14-carat gold reaches 150 to 200 HV. White gold is a little harder in general.
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Compare case materials on the Hardness Vickers scale (from hard to hardest):
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| Carbon | 20-50 HV |
| Platinum | 40 HV (950 platinum: 80-135 HV) |
| Silver | 70-90 HV |
| Bronze | 60-150 HV (100-200 HV treated) |
| Aluminium | 120-200 HV |
| Gold | 120-200 HV (18k or 14k) |
| Palladium | 150-200 HV |
| White gold | 150-250 HV |
| Stainless steel | 150-250 HV (special 1200 HV) |
| Titanium | 150-200 HV (grade 2) / 300-400 HV (grade 5) |
| Ceramic | 1200-1400 HV (1500-2000 for alumina) |
| Sapphire | 2000-2300 HV |
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Watches in gold, either yellow, rose or just gold gold (not gold plated)
The Girard-Perregaux Bridges Constant Escapement LM 2017 comes in three new models: wtih pink or white gold case or carbon & titanium
The Rolex Sky-Dweller 2017 is now available as Rolesor model, in steel and yellow gold or in steel and white gold
Ferrari is about 70 years old and Hublot celebrates that moment with this Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph
The Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronometre comes in four versions; either in white or red gold with either a white or a black dial
Chopard uses ethical gold for the Chopard L.U.C XPS Twist QF Fairmined and it is heavily tested to underline its extreme high quality
Already in 1944 Breitling launched their first rattrapante, but this new Breitling Navitimer Rattrapante is the first with in-house caliber
This Graham Geo. Graham Orrery Tourbillon is a homage to George Graham who invented the orrery (together with Thomas Tompion)
The Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis is a real Hublot: unconventional, big and expensive. But the view on the tourbillon is great
This Rolex Cellini Moonphase Everose (reference 50535) is the first Rolex with moon phase in almost seventy years