Have you ever seen tiny rust spots around the edge of the case when you take the back off? Rolex does deserve credit for being recognized as the first brand to make cases out of 904L steel, and this has lead many to think that 904L was a Rolex invention or a material exclusive to Rolex. This is why. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. the only two benefits about titanium is the weight reduction and it dissipates heat like ceramic. As for Rolex being the first on record or the first to market their use of 904L, yes, they were first. In French, the word for “stainless” is inox or inoxydable. If the cost of a 904L steel watch is significantly higher, it’s probably because of something else, not the steel itself. Rolex protective watch cases are back in stock >>. } A. I believe Ball watch company also uses 904L steel in some of their RailRoad watches. http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2382 316L appears to be more widely used and readily available in various sizes and quantities. 304 304L Stainless Steel Instrumentation Tubing; 316 316L Stainless Steel Instrumentation Tubing; Stainless Ornamental Tubing. Ultra 904L was originally developed for handling sulfuric Titanium SS904L 2205 Duplex Steel 6Mo (Super Austentic Stainless Steel) Alloy 400 SS316L (just as a convenient reference price) ... Incidentally - Rolex became, in 1985, the first watchmaking brand to use 904L steel due to it's corrosion resistance that … 904L is an austenitic alloy designed for a middle to high level of corrosion resistance. Glashutte Original Sport Evolution GMT Manual. Equally important in terms of design, though, is its lightness. Case 1:1 high quality 904L stainless steel. Type 904L is a high alloy austenitic stainless steel that is known for its corrosion properties. A. Hi Bill. The EcoDrive titanium watch by Citizen is one of the best titanium watches and is a top contender in this titanium vs. stainless steel watch comparison. 3. With watch brands like Ball starting to use 904L stainless steel, taking the bragging rights away from Rolex, we thought now is the perfect time to explore the differences between 316L and 904L – at least when it comes to watches. This suits titanium to applications that need the strength of steel in a lighter package and lends titanium to be used in aircraft parts and other weight-dependent applications. Manufacturing of a Rolex Oyster Case, using the 904L Steel. As you can see, the biggest difference when it comes to using 316L/904L for steel case and bracelet material in watches, is that 904L has a higher percentage of nickel and chromium, as well as the addition of copper. They claimed it was because the threading on the caseback of 316L was capable of corroding, which would allow water to get into the case and pose a potential issue to the folks using the watches as actual tools. 904L steel vs. 316L in watchmaking industry. 316L is the most corrosion resistant of the common grades, which means it shouldn't be going into solution as soluble nickel, but it contains 8 to 10% nickel. AISI 316L stainless steel belongs to the iron alloys classification, while grade 2 titanium belongs to the titanium alloys. Its popularity in these areas comes from the properties which make it resistant to rust and corrosion. Steel is magnetic and corrosive when compared to titanium … To appreciate the difficulty in guessing, consider that the more expensive 904L stainless is used in Rolex watches to increase corrosion resistance and decrease susceptibility to sweat, but it contains about 25% nickel rather than 8 to 10%. All information I have seen simply refers to the case as being made of stainless steel; I have seen no reference to grade. Even the Wikipedia entry for 904L has been edited to include a Rolex mention (well done, Rolex! SPQR, can you cite a source for this information? A discussion started in I am unable to confirm that the PloProf was made of 904L steel. General corrosion of Stainless Steel Otherwise it's a difficult question because it's not 100% clear that nickel leaches out of stainless steel. Because 904L is 25% nickel it's probably easy and quick to determine with a scrap-sorter portable x-ray fluorescence machine. 904L also has an advantage when it comes to corrosion resistance, thanks to the copper and extra molybdenum: “The addition of copper to this grade gives it corrosion resistant properties superior to the conventional chrome nickel stainless steels, in particular to sulphuric, phosphoric and acetic acids. 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