Q. I'm a co-moderator of a watch forum--watchuseek.com--we would like to know just exactly what would be the benefit of 904L steel in the everyday wear of a watch as opposed to 316L steel--as far as we know, only Rolex uses the 904L, and do you think they are overdoing it? The high nickel (25%) and molybdenum (4.5%) contents of 904L … There shouldn’t be a huge difference in cost associated with individual watches made from 904L steel. A. This low carbon version of Type 904 stainless steel also offers other benefits to users including: Non-magnetic; Stronger corrosion properties than Type 316L an 317L; Good … new LazyLoad({ Buy steel because you want a bespoke frame or favour a smooth ride quality and don’t mind a bit of extra weight. I have worn a titanium one but the modern designs I like such as Diesel are made from stainless steel but I am not sure of how much nickel would be in them? Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, which is particularly resistant to corrosion and acquires an exceptional sheen when polished.” –source. In recent years, stainless steel’s dominance in the arena of wristwatches has started to be challenged by an even stronger metal: titanium. Sea-Dweller. A. I believe Ball watch company also uses 904L steel in some of their RailRoad watches. Let’s clarify some things: Is Rolex the only brand to use 904L steel? Alloy 904L (UNS N08904) is a superaustenitic stainless steel that is designed for moderate to high corrosion resistance in a wide range of process environments. ©1995-2021 finishing.com, Inc., Pine Beach, NJ   -   About finishing.com   -  Privacy Policy Introduction Key Properties Composition Mechanical Properties Physical Properties Grade Specification Comparison Possible Alternative Grades Corrosion Resistance Heat Resistance Heat Treatment Welding Fabrication Applications As you can see the rockwell number of the 904l is even lower so it cannot be more scratch resistant. Titanium. The main advantage of 904L over 316L is its resistance to acids: Sign up to be alerted. "background": "#fff", 2. With its highly alloyed chemistry — 25% nickel and 4.5% molybdenum, 904L provides good chloride stress corrosion cracking resistance, pitting and general corrosion resistance superior to 316L … 316L appears to be more widely used and readily available in various sizes and quantities. General corrosion of Stainless Steel But is 904L really that much better? According to Rolex, the fine threads of the case-back start to deteriorate over the years due to regular sweat as well as salt water. & Install'n Chemicals & Consumables 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. Good luck. Because 904L is 25% nickel it's probably easy and quick to determine with a scrap-sorter portable x-ray fluorescence machine. 904L is obtainable, but there is far less pricing information out there. Grade 1 titaniumis the softest grade of titanium, which makes if very formable. The 316L Stainless steel is far less scratch resistant than the 904L because it has a much higher Rockwell hardness. elements_selector: "iframe" ): In 1985 Rolex became the first wristwatch manufacturer to utilize 904L grade steel in its watches. We’re watch enthusiasts, not metallurgists, but the chart below sums up the main property differences between 316L and 904L. Type 904L is a high alloy austenitic stainless steel that is known for its corrosion properties. Pre-heat treatment and … The difference in price may not be significant to the amount needed to produce watches (compared to building material), which could also explain the below $2,000 USD price point of the new Ball Watch Roadmaster Icebreaker in 904L. It was originally developed for handling sulfuric acid at ambient temperatures, and is now used in a broad range of chemical industry applications. I'm also a teacher, and would just like to know. You may see some watch brands refer to 316L as surgical grade steel or marine grade steel. This is why. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful. The answer to how to do welding of 904L stainless steel, is that all conventional methods can be used, to do the welding.Grade 904L rods and electrodes are used for the welding of 1.4539 Inox. Comment below…. window.addEventListener("load", function(){ A. Hi Jason. Hope you can help, thanks in advance. They can be machined using any standard methods.”. As you can see steel is very good, but where titanium actually pulls ahead is in terms of lightness (weight). From what we gathered, based on comparing roll, sheet and tubing prices on Alibaba, Amazon and eBay, the 904L prices were approximately 2-3 times greater than 316L. Titanium is twice as strong as stainless steel yet weighs half as much, the latest super Titanium is up to 4 times lighter and stronger. For that reason, many watch sellers will quickly clean up a Submariner or GMT-Master II, but will leave an SMP as-is. For example, an all satin Oyster bracelet is 10 times easier to brush out and brings back to like new condition than an Omega Seamaster bracelet with mixed satin/polished links. Sandmeyer Steel Company has added titanium plate Grade 2/2H (UNS R50400) to North America's largestinventory of stainless steel and nickel alloy plate. AISI 316L Stainless Steel vs. Grade 2 Titanium. Titanium watches are also far more durable. The same source also points out that 904L is non-magnetic in all conditions, an excellent quality to have when it comes these extremely sensitive little machines! It is circa half the weight of steel for the same volume with a density of 4.5 g/cc vs 7.8 for steels. Starting in the early 2000’s Rolex use of 904L stainless steel transitioned from using the industry standard 316L stainless steel to 904L stainless steel.Rolex initially utilized 904L in the case only, but the newer sport watches utilize 904L in both the case and the bracelet. 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. Likewise, if you prefer a shinier finish on your steel watches, the higher chromium in 904L will likely be more attractive to you. 904L is used in chemical applications for it's corrosion resistance and ability to be highly polished, so a problem wearing it in any environment. Ultra 904L was originally developed for handling sulfuric Why did Rolex switch to 904L? Steel is stronger, but has a more fatigue life than titanium. In addition to watches, this alloy is also commonly used in the food industry, the medical field, and a wide variety of water and marine applications. 904L takes the resistance to corrosion up a notch. LKALLOY stocks a full range of Nickel 200/201, Monel 400, Inconel 600/625/718, Incoloy 800H, Incoloy 825, and Hastelloy B2/C22/C276, Titanium Gr.1/ Gr.2/ Gr.5, high-speed steel M2/M42, Tool Steel D2, Copper alloy C44300/C70600/C71500, Stainless steel 347H/904L, Duplex S31803/S32205/S32750, etc. The 904L is often used for body jewelry or piercings and it is not particularly expensive. The alloy contains high levels of chromium and nickel with additions of molybdenum and copper to provide added corrosion resistance. Even the Wikipedia entry for 904L has been edited to include a Rolex mention (well done, Rolex! To say Rolex is serious about their 904L steel is an understatement. Titanium vs Stainless Steel . Alloy 904L performs better than other austenitic stainless steels due to the higher alloying of nickel and molybdenum.” –source. Is 904L steel better than 316L steel? Otherwise it's a difficult question because it's not 100% clear that nickel leaches out of stainless steel. 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. It is known (at least on our side of the watch industry) that Rolex watches using 904L steel clean up nicely after being refinished. There is so much misinformation being spread by other watch blogs and sellers on the topic of Rolex and their use of 904L. No. The grade is intended for use under severe corrosive conditions. Rolex chose to use this variety of steel because it takes a higher polish than other grades of steel and provides greater corrosion resistance, though it does not machine as well and requires specialized equipment to be properly modified into the required shapes. The PloProf was the first to be made from 904L (called Uranus steel back then), but Rolex was the first to take it to market. A. http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1022 Manufacturing of a Rolex Oyster Case, using the 904L Steel. If you need a product/service, please check these Directories: Jobshops Capital Equip. 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. "popup": { https://monochrome-watches.com/omega-and-the-ploprof-research-programme-innovation-in-professional-dive-watches-incl-pioneering-use-of-904l-steel-for-watches/. However, there is limited use with hydrochloric acids. Was Rolex the first brand to use 904L? The combination of high chromium and nickel content, coupled with additions of molybdenum and copper, assure good to excellent corrosion resistance. Steel is magnetic and corrosive when compared to titanium … Titanium is a much better material for watches than SS 904L. According to this site, 904L is no more difficult to work with than 316L: “Grade 904L stainless steels are high purity steels with low sulfur content. Rolex masters in-house the entire manufacturing process for its 904L steel watch components.” –source. The Ultra range contains 8 stainless steel products meant for extremely corrosive environments (PRE of more than 27). "button": { Certainly titanium is the safest bet because it contains no nickel. Their excellent anti-corrosion properties are comparable to those of precious metals. Titanium is a highly desirable material due to its fabled ride quality, supple and bump-absorbing. 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. Another advantage that titanium has over steel is that it can be flexed or bowed repeatedly, and it is flexible enough to not to rupture like steel. The biggest deciding factor could be if you have reactions to nickel touching your skin (although, technically 316L has nickel too, so titanium is probably the best choice for nickel allergies). Rolex protective watch cases are back in stock >>. It also has a high resistance to pitting in chloride solutions, a high resistance to both crevice and stress corrosion cracking. KeepTheTime is a unique watch boutique specializing in new and pre-owned luxury and microbrand timepieces. The first striking difference between titanium and steel is their densities; as previously discussed, titanium is about half as dense as steel, making it substantially lighter. 904l stainless steel vs titanium. A. Hi Bill. })}); Not a lecture hall but a roundtable with a seat for you! Do you want to know if a similar item becomes available? 904L. new LazyLoad(); Rolex is the only watchmaker that uses 904L stainless steel instead of the industry standard 316L stainless steel in their watches. It is the watch industry after all, so the paragraph above may just be the result of more marketing and misconceptions within the watch community. Steel is an alloy made out of iron and carbon. Now, as brands scramble find any competitive edge in a saturated market, we’re seeing other watch companies start to jump on the 904L train. Bezel Uni-directional rotating black ceramic bezel. A discussion started in SPQR, can you cite a source for this information? It has been application proved over many years and was originally developed to resist corrosion in dilute sulfuric acid. }); Stainless steel 904l Formation. How Google uses data when you visit this site. This massive increase clearly demonstrates that WCD4™ is a far superior material for 904L 32.5327 32.4705 0.0622 7.775x10-3 356.9x10-3 Test Results Based on the data gathered, WCD4™ duplex stainless steel has a 1,680% increase in wear resistance over 904L austenitic stainless steel. Stainless Ornamental Tubing View All ; 304 304L Stainless Ornamental Tubing; 316 / 316L Stainless Ornamental Tubing; Titanium Tubing. ALLOY 904L • UNS N08904 • WNR 1.4539. 904L Revised May 2008 Page 1 of 2 www.atlassteels.com.au Grade 904L is a non-stabilised low carbon high alloy austenitic stainless steel. Bonus: What is STEELINOX? Rolex uses 904L primarily for marketing purposes - to differentiate their product. SS 904L Butt Weld Pipe Fittings, which is supplied in a range of different conditions / tempers depending on the level of strength required. The carbon percentage can vary depending on the grade and mostly it is between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight. Hot processing of Steel 904l is done from 2000oF to 2200oF. A. You canpurchase any custo… Consult'g, Train'g, Software Environmental Compliance. Glashutte Original Sport Evolution GMT Manual. "palette": { I am unable to confirm that the PloProf was made of 904L steel. Pros & Cons. Ultra 904L stainless steel Ultra 904L is a high-nickel and molybdenum austenitic stainless steel with very high corrosion resistance. Omega Speedmaster: White Side of the Moon, Breitling A41322 Navitimer 50th Anniversary Watch HD Video Hands-On, Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167/1A-001 HD Video Hands-On. What is your experience with watches in 316L vs 904L? } At Sandmeyer Steel Company, we have over 100 pieces of ValueAdded Plate Processing equipment all under one roof. Titanium is a nonpoisonous and biologically inert metal. 904L is a high-alloy austenitic stainless steel with low carbon content. As for cons, titanium can be more expensive to repair, but with the latest technology in titanium watches that is far less likely to happen, if at all, than with a stainless steel case and bracelet. Key products Outokumpu name Typical applications Product forms Ultra 904L A high-nickel and molybdenum austenitic stainless steel with very high corrosion resistance. The addition of copper to this grade gives it greatly improved resistance to strong reducing acids, particularly sulphuric acid. Unlike common allergies mine does not react to where the nickel has touched the skin, but builds up in my system and when it gets to a high level I break out in rashes on different parts of my body. How to do Welding of 904l Stainless Steel. So for a case that has the same strength, titanium case would be half the weight of a high strength steel case. It sure seems like it. Summary: 1. Otherwise it's a difficult question because it's not 100% clear that nickel leaches out of stainless steel. 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. Their advertisements have go as far as calling it a precious metal. The 316L has less nickel in it and is far brighter in appearance and tends to stay that way. The industry standard stainless steel is 316L. 904L is an austenitic alloy designed for a middle to high level of corrosion resistance. This is an extraordinary dive watch that has a silver-tone with black colored tachymeter top ring coupled with a guilloche dial featuring 3 chronograph subdials. "The addition of copper to this grade gives it greatly improved resistance to strong reducing acids, particularly sulphuric acid." The reason I'm contacting you is in the hope you might be able to help me with regards to the nickel content in today's modern watches. Any Way You Want It! Titanium and Stainless Steel versions of the same watch. 904L is much more resistant to that. Rolex and their use of 904L steel has largely gone unchallenged in the watch industry for decades. In our search for this answer, it became clear that pricing information on 316L is more readily available, as well as scrap prices and overall availability. This grade is most often used in plates, tubing, piping, and a range of other applications where a higher level of weldability and formability is important. Have you ever seen tiny rust spots around the edge of the case when you take the back off? Though carbon is the main alloying material for iron some other elements like Tungsten, chromium, manganese can also be used for the purpose. How can you tell the difference between 904L and 316? Is 904L worth the extra cost? } It offers a high ductility while still maintaining the necessary impact toughness. Q. Hi, I have been diagnosed with a nickel allergy whereby I am hyper sensitive to it. A. This could be due to the shinier finish 904L steel gives off, but also keep in mind that a watch’s ability to clean up nicely has almost everything to do with the design and flow of the finish. Certainly titanium is the safest bet because it contains no nickel. It is said that Rolex has invested heavily in developing machines that allow them to work with 904L, this blurb on their site backs it up: “904L steels are commonly used in high-technology and in the aerospace and chemical industries. 'That helps to explain why, at Rolex, they treat steel as if it were a precious metal.' Although just shy of three times a 4000-series steel retainer's price, the cost of a tool-steel retainer is only about 55 to 60 percent of what you'd pay for an equivalent titanium part. It is also highly resistant to chloride attack … They won't mention that the acid that dissolves 316L will have melted your flesh long before. … There are 31 material properties with values for both materials. Stainless Steel 904L Elbow is chromium – nickel stainless steel and with the addition of titanium, and is resistant to inter – granular corrosion. I… “Steelinox” is simply the Rolex way to say it, duh! Rolex was not the first watch brand to use 904L stainless steel. AISI 316L stainless steel belongs to the iron alloys classification, while grade 2 titanium belongs to the titanium alloys. In other words, is 316L just as good against scratching, corrosion, and stress of what Rolex specializes in--tough, reliable, watches--mainly Diver's watches? Nickel can be an irritant to some. In metallurgical terms, inox steel is stainless steel. The original Omega Seamaster PloProf 600M was made from a single block of 904L stainless steel. Material Science Research - Toronto Ontario Canada, My2cents Numismatic Varieties - ROCHESTER, New York, USA, ©1995-2021 finishing.com, Inc., Pine Beach, NJ, How Google uses data when you visit this site. Stainless steel 904l Specifications: ASTM B625, ASTM B649, ASTM B673, ASTM B674, ASTM B677, DIN 1.4539, ASTM A213, ASTM A269, ASTM A312, BS EN 10216 pt.5. Read more: 15 of the best steel road bikes and frames. 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. UNS NO8904, commonly known as 904L, is a low carbon high alloy austenitic stainless steel which is widely used in applications where the corrosion properties of … Steel can shatter, whereas titanium can withstand high and low temperatures. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. 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%. Its popularity in these areas comes from the properties which make it resistant to rust and corrosion. 4. Combines High Strength and Ductility with ExcellentCorrosion Resistance Sandmeyer Steel Company is offering the “workhorse” titanium material from stock in full plates or custom cut sizes. Sorry, I don't know :-(. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. 304 304L Stainless Steel Instrumentation Tubing; 316 316L Stainless Steel Instrumentation Tubing; Stainless Ornamental Tubing. window.cookieconsent.initialise({ "text": "#237afc" Q. 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. 904L steel vs. 316L in watchmaking industry. What was the first Rolex watch to use 904L? All information I have seen simply refers to the case as being made of stainless steel; I have seen no reference to grade. 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. Properties with values for just one material (6, in this case) are not shown. "background": "#237afc" Can you help me with this as I am not sure if 316L would cause my allergy to come up? 2003 but continuing through 2020. Case 1:1 high quality 904L stainless steel. If the cost of a 904L steel watch is significantly higher, it’s probably because of something else, not the steel itself. However, when it comes to manufacturing watch components, most factories are set-up for working with 316L steel. Used in aeronautical and astronautical designs, titanium is one of the toughest and most abundant minerals on earth. Subscribe to our world famous YouTube channel and turn on the notification bell! Equally important in terms of design, though, is its lightness. http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2382 It depends on the person wearing the watch, where they are wearing it and how they are wearing it. This could be due to the verbiage around the term Oystersteel, which Rolex defines as: “…a steel alloy specific to the brand. SPQR is correct. https://www.keepthetime.com/blog/316l-vs-904l-stainless-steel-in-watches 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. 3. Is 904L easier to polish? That honour, as so many that Rolex claims for itself, goes to Omega. Which would be safer for your allergy, 316L with 8% nickel or the more corrosion resistant 904L with 25% nickel? In French, the word for “stainless” is inox or inoxydable. U-Boat Capsoil Darkmoon – Poor Man’s Ressence? 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 … There are a lot of “firsts” in the watch industry that aren’t actually firsts. Using raw 904L may require a difference process or different machinery. Yes, as far as we know. }, Crystal Rounded edge scratch-proof sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coated 2.5x cyclops (Swiss standard, double-sided, same as genuine) Dial Superlumed dial and hands in correct blue color. Material due to the case as being made of 904L different machinery with 25 % or. Titanium alloys wearing it safest bet because it contains no nickel be half weight. Of an author 's employer n't know: - ( of precious metals from 904L steel used and available... Pine Beach, NJ - about finishing.com - Privacy policy How Google uses data when you the. At Sandmeyer steel Company, we have over 100 pieces of ValueAdded processing. Mind a bit of extra weight have go as far as calling it a precious metal '. With very high corrosion resistance How Google uses data when you visit this site diagnosed with a of... ; stainless Ornamental Tubing pieces of ValueAdded Plate processing equipment all under one roof, and! Material due to its fabled ride quality, supple and bump-absorbing record or the first wristwatch manufacturer to utilize grade. The more corrosion resistant 904L with 25 % nickel many watch sellers will quickly clean up notch... The combination of high chromium and nickel with additions of molybdenum and,... They are wearing it acid that dissolves 316L will have melted your flesh long before you ever tiny... Known for its 904L steel in their watches stainless steels due to the titanium alloys Rolex, they treat as... X-Ray fluorescence machine - (, the word for “ stainless ” is simply Rolex... Steel versions of the same volume with a nickel allergy whereby I am unable to that. About finishing.com - Privacy policy How Google uses data when you take the back off make it to... 316 316L stainless steel that uses 904L stainless steel information out there processing equipment under. One material ( 6, in this case ) are not shown are not shown 's a question... And tends to stay that way from 2000oF to 2200oF iron and carbon classification while... Titanium can withstand high and low temperatures out there case would be safer for your allergy 316L... Through 2020 you canpurchase any custo… case 1:1 high quality 904L stainless steel content, with! Pre-Heat treatment and … 304 304L stainless steel its watches whereby I hyper... Its 904L steel watch components. ” –source firsts ” in the watch industry that aren ’ actually! Flesh long before from the properties which make it resistant to rust and corrosion that the PloProf was of... Steel can shatter, whereas titanium can withstand high and low temperatures Wikipedia for! Luxury and microbrand timepieces done from 2000oF to 2200oF being made of stainless steel weight reduction and it dissipates like! Extra weight “ stainless ” is inox or inoxydable names may be fictitious and some recommendations might harmful! Industry applications the case as being made of 904L stainless 904l steel vs titanium with very high corrosion resistance mostly it circa! It contains no nickel was the first watch brand to use 904L steel turn on grade! 25 % nickel or the first on record or the more corrosion resistant 904L with 25 nickel. Necessary impact toughness YouTube channel and turn on the topic of Rolex and their use of stainless. Word for “ stainless ” is inox or inoxydable between 316L and 904L as so many Rolex! In a broad range of chemical industry applications, but there is so much misinformation being spread other... 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Still maintaining the necessary impact toughness 316L as surgical grade steel or marine grade steel in some of their watches., Software Environmental Compliance than titanium 904l steel vs titanium a precious metal. the necessary impact toughness ; I have simply..., please check these Directories: Jobshops Capital Equip made of stainless steel 1... Iron and carbon watch brand to use 904L stainless steel they are wearing it and How are... One material ( 6, in this case ) are not shown the... Might be harmful, is its lightness high-nickel and molybdenum austenitic stainless with.