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Gold springbars
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M'Bob
·To add fuel to the fire: the debate about weak bars/watch loss from gold bars vs. ovalized lug holes from stainless bars is nothing new, and is a topic that appears on many watch forums.
In general, it seems that the consensus is that ovalized lug holes on a watch that’s used regularly on a case that’s 18K with stainless bars appears as a greater issue than watch loss due to weak 18K bars on an 18K case.
But let’s examine this latter issue a bit: bracelets are certainly more secure due to their end links, with less torque imparted to the spring bar with twisting, but what about on a strap? Is the fear the spring bar tip popping out of the hole under normal use? I would guess not, as most of us have to exert some effort removing the strap from the case when we intend to do so.
So, what are we talking about here? The watch head leaving the strap when the head or strap gets caught on something, and the gold bar set-up breaks more easily due to its lower tensile strength than steel? In reality, how often does that situation occur? And maybe even better if it lets go sooner, to spare your wrist?
In general, it seems that the consensus is that ovalized lug holes on a watch that’s used regularly on a case that’s 18K with stainless bars appears as a greater issue than watch loss due to weak 18K bars on an 18K case.
But let’s examine this latter issue a bit: bracelets are certainly more secure due to their end links, with less torque imparted to the spring bar with twisting, but what about on a strap? Is the fear the spring bar tip popping out of the hole under normal use? I would guess not, as most of us have to exert some effort removing the strap from the case when we intend to do so.
So, what are we talking about here? The watch head leaving the strap when the head or strap gets caught on something, and the gold bar set-up breaks more easily due to its lower tensile strength than steel? In reality, how often does that situation occur? And maybe even better if it lets go sooner, to spare your wrist?
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Pastorbottle
·To add fuel to the fire: the debate about weak bars/watch loss from gold bars vs. ovalized lug holes from stainless bars is nothing new, and is a topic that appears on many watch forums.
In general, it seems that the consensus is that ovalized lug holes on a watch that’s used regularly on a case that’s 18K with stainless bars appears as a greater issue than watch loss due to weak 18K bars on an 18K case.
But let’s examine this latter issue a bit: bracelets are certainly more secure due to their end links, with less torque imparted to the spring bar with twisting, but what about on a strap? Is the fear the spring bar tip popping out of the hole under normal use? I would guess not, as most of us have to exert some effort removing the strap from the case when we intend to do so.
So, what are we talking about here? The watch head leaving the strap when the head or strap gets caught on something, and the gold bar set-up breaks more easily due to its lower tensile strength than steel? In reality, how often does that situation occur? And maybe even better if it lets go sooner, to spare your wrist?
They're more likely to be scraped before wear is an issue these days!
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M'Bob
·Realistically how many solid gold watches are likely to be used often enough for wear to the lugs from spingbars to be an issue?
They're more likely to be scraped before wear is an issue these days!
Enough to when this topic comes up on multiple venues, people caution against steel spring bar use on gold watches because of ovalizing the lug holes.
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Pastorbottle
·Enough to when this topic comes up on multiple venues, people caution against steel spring bar use on gold watches because of ovalizing the lug holes.
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M'Bob
·Nah.....I get that in theory softer gold will wear away against harder spring bars, but most of us here wilh have multiple watches, so the actual amount of wrist time will be very limited, so in reality it would take geological time scales to make any difference to any of us. Even "normal" people wouldn't wear a solid goldie enough to notice and appreciable difference........not that they would have a clue in the first place!
What’s your working theory, then, why manufacturers like Patek and Rolex specify solid gold spring bars for many of their solid gold cased watches? For aesthetics? They can’t really be seen in normal use. Because they are complicit in a conspiracy to place them on their high-end watches knowing that they will eventually fail, and their well-heeled customers will simply blame themselves and fork over the money for a new watch?
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Pastorbottle
·Wank factor!
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Evitzee
·I always felt Patek Philippe used gold springbars to reinforce the idea that their products deserved gold to keep with the luxury status of their product. I don't think it was due to possible hole wear over years of use. Many gold springbars were stolen by unscrupulous jewelers when an owner would bring his Patek in for a new strap, he would have no idea that the gold bars were replaced by cheap generic steel ones.
Edited:
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M'Bob
·I always felt Patek Philippe used gold springbars to reinforce the idea that their products deserved gold to keep with the luxury status of their product
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Pastorbottle
·As soon as sales and marketing get involved the bullshit starts bubbling to the top, hence the wank factor!
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YY77
·As soon as sales and marketing get involved the bullshit starts bubbling to the top, hence the wank factor!
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YY77
·Looks from pictures on the website that they’re steel.
https://omegaforums.net/posts/2532341/
Omega still uses gold springbars on the A11 Moonshine
YY77 ·
The only Omegas where I ever heard of gold springbars being used
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M'Bob
·From our AI friends, regarding the issue of steel vs gold plating over steel, as it might relate to spring bars for use on a solid gold case:
Abrasion with steel: When solid gold and steel rub against each other, the steel's superior hardness will inevitably scratch and wear down the softer gold surface. This makes steel an unsuitable companion for solid gold in applications where regular contact and friction are expected.
Abrasion with gold plating: A gold-plated object has a thin outer layer of gold. When this layer rubs against solid gold, the two surfaces have a similar hardness. This means the wear caused by friction will be minimal and much less damaging compared to the harsher abrasion from steel. While wear will still occur over time, it will not be as destructive as contact with a harder metal.
Abrasion with steel: When solid gold and steel rub against each other, the steel's superior hardness will inevitably scratch and wear down the softer gold surface. This makes steel an unsuitable companion for solid gold in applications where regular contact and friction are expected.
Abrasion with gold plating: A gold-plated object has a thin outer layer of gold. When this layer rubs against solid gold, the two surfaces have a similar hardness. This means the wear caused by friction will be minimal and much less damaging compared to the harsher abrasion from steel. While wear will still occur over time, it will not be as destructive as contact with a harder metal.
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