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Timeless Welding

Rolex has been the face of wealth and sophistication since before most of us were even born. No matter where you are in the world, it seems everyone understands the language of "Rolex". Celebrities, including actors like Harrison Ford, are known to be "iconic duo[s]" with their Rolex watches.^[1] It's no wonder that collectors and watch-enthusiasts covet these timepieces with pride.

Watches, like everything else, are subject to time and wear. To quote Harrison Ford's famous line, "it's not the years, it's the milage." Sometimes watches, yes, even Rolex watches, need repair.

Rolex watches include many materials to assemble. The most commonly used metal for the case and band is stainless steel. More recently, Rolex has moved to using Oystersteel or 904L stainless steel.^[2] 904L is an austenitic stainless steel that is manufactured to be more corrosion resistant and avoid rusting or pitting. It's sometimes used in aerospace applications.

However, even Oystersteel can't survive every direct hit with a doorway or the parking lot asphalt. Damage to a watch can come in many forms. One of the common forms is what the industry refers to as a "shark-bite". Shark-bites happen when the watch has taken a significant enough hit to create a crater in the watch case or band link. Unfortunately, there isn't enough polish in the world to fix this damage, so additional material is necessary to fill this area back in.

Photo provided by Rolliworks.

 

Recently, the world of welding has evolved in ways to help repair these injuries. Through the art of laser-welding, watch repair clinics have the ability to precision-repair these shark-bites and restore the Rolex back to pristine condition. These areas of damage are built back up and then polished to seamlessly blend and hide any signs of previous damage.

Many Rolex owners are very cautious of altering their watches in any way, and rightfully so! It is vital to know the filler metal used on the damage is the right material, and that nothing less than 904L stainless steel is actually used.

Photo provided by Precious Fine Jewelers.

 

That's why HQA Wire Products manufactures chemically-tested MicroWire™. Our laser welding wire is provided with certifications to computer-checked specifications, ensuring that you know exactly what elements are being used to repair your treasured timepiece.

Your Rolex is an investment. MicroWire™ keeps it timeless.

If you have any questions or want to learn more, please feel free to contact us for more information.

A big, special "Thank You" to Rolliworks and Precious Fine Jewelers for providing the photos for this article. Keep up the good work!