What is the Difference Between 904L and 316L Stainless Steel?
April 26, 2016
Rolex is the only watchmaker that uses 904L stainless steel instead of the industry standard 316L stainless steel in their wristwatches. While many on Rolex forums claim that this is simply a way for Rolex to differentiate themselves from competitors, it should be noted that there are differences between the two.
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| Rolex 904L Stainless Steel (photo: Rolex) |
In terms of chemical composition, 904L stainless steel has a lower amount of carbon and a higher concentration of nickel and chromium and copper added in comparison to 316L. Rolex melts this stainless steel alloy twice to purify it and ensure that it will polish well.
The polish and the resistance to scratching are the selling points that Rolex uses to promote 904L stainless steel alloy that they manufacture in-house. Although the process is more rigorous and expensive, the watchmaker insists that it is superior to 316L.
Some claim that higher amounts of nickel in 904L steel could lead to allergies on contact, but anyone with a nickel allergy would have a similar reaction when coming into contact with 316L as well.
For more information on 904L stainless steel, check out my post in the Tech section.
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1 comments
People whe experience an allergic reaction to 904l steel rarely have the same reaction to 316l steel. This is simply a fact. The best advantage to a watch owner for having a 904l Steel is the slight improvement to scratch resistance. All other arguments are purely subjective.
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