Gold Hamilton

[retroleds]

Bet it was a bum crystal - swap it again, seems like 1 out of 50 is just barely up to snuff.

[LEDluvr]

Well, I still have one left so I'll give it a go and let you know.

(I know, I'm a poet and I don't even know it.... )

[retroleds]

Well, I still have one left so I'll give it a go and let you know.

(I know, I'm a poet and I don't even know it.... )

Possibly your feet show it...are they Longfellows?

[LEDluvr]

No.... they are Wadsworths...

[LEDluvr]

Well, I swapped the previous q.c. with another new one and all I'm getting is a "O" again.

To recap: It had the original q.c. and only gave me a "0".
I swapped it with a new q.c. - it ran for maybe 15 minutes then died out. Then I replaced the q.c. again this morning and .. back to the "0". I guess it must be a fault in one of the microchips?

[holly35]

My bracelet says its 10k 1/40 gold overlay, is this the same as the rgp trim or the 10k gf top caps?
Seams there are a few variations,the case on my qed also is in 10k rgp bezel .

Hi guys,
I have a question about gold plating......

I recently bought a gold Hamilton LED watch and noticed that the case is a slightly different color than the other gold Hamilton I have - both the same model.
They look like this one but with only one command button (I can upload pics if it helps). http://www.ledwatches.net/photo-pages/hamilton1.htm


Hamilton #1
The lighter 'yellowish" Hamilton says; "14k Gold Electroplated Bezel" on the case back and "1/4 10kt. RGP" on the band clasp. The band is slightly darker gold than the case, not really a good match.

Hamilton #2
The slightly darker, more 'golden' Hamilton says; "10k Gold Rolled Plate Bezel" on the case back and "10k GF Top Caps" on the band clasp and this band
matches the case very well. This band is slightly darker than the band for Hamilton #1.

Both are Champion bands BTW.

What is the difference between the gold plating of Hamilton # 1 vs. #2 ? Electroplating vs. Rolled Gold Plate - 1/4 10kt RGP vs. 10k GF (Gold Fill I presume)Top Caps. Is # 2 the 'higher end' product?

BTW - neither of these are working but one of them gives me a crisp, bright "O", I'm hoping a q.c. swap is all it needs.

[retroleds]

Awesome -an 18 month old thread that is being revitalized. But seriously, kind of cool that instead of a new thread, a thread on gold Hamillton's continued on.. "40 years and still ticking"

Obviously your one watch is going to be hard pressed to match, since the gold content (k number) is different.

Plating will look differnt because it's crystalline structure is much different - as metal is elctroplated on, the gold atoms are very gently deposited, in about the loosest bond they can have. With RGP or gold fill, the metal, even if it was a layer of electroplated gold, wouldn't look the same because it has been rolled, crushed!! How any metal has been processed changes it's qualities a lot.

A quick, boring example of how metal changes on slight processing. I do stained glass art as a hobby. If you do the traditional method(no copper foil stuff) you are using solid straight formed pieces of lead "came". Anyway, the lead comes in 2 meter lengths, and is very floppy - even a one foot(.3 meter) piece can not stay erect horizontally. Before you use the lead you put one end ion a vise, grab the other end with plier and gently pull. After a few minutes it is about one foot longer(.3 meter) and can generally maintain an erect status over that entire length! Same metal, molecules tensioned differently, And the color is slightly changed too.

I'm thinking a rolled gold case is going to wear much better than electroplate just due to the pre-tensioning of the gold layer. The tensioning of metals to create surprising strengths is interesting - I read an article a while back how chips of pure copper, if shaved off a billet(large chunk) in the right size and with the right tension and temperature, can be only marginally below diamonds in hardness. Incredible! It's Sunday evening....sorry I went long...been relaxing.

[holly35]

Thanks for the informative answer Ed,
however it doesn't quite answer my question,i have no problem with the colour match of the case and bracelet,both are 10k.they are a perfect match. my question refers to the type of gold plating on a bracelet that says 1/40 10k overlay trim.Is it electro plated ,rgp,or g/f?(as described on another hamilton bracelet in this thread), seams a strange description as its not entirely clear.
I also have a QED 2 with exactly the same combination,and is a perfect match also.

[retroleds]

Thanks for the informative answer Ed.

!douh! I answered the stuff in the quote......LedLuvr's thread from way back.

Ok - gold overlay is the same as rolled gold or gold fill. Harder and better than electroplate. ! Good morning.

[holly35]

Thanks again for another helpful and informative answer,luckily my qed is the "higher" grade version.
I now have a stainless qed (thanks Ed) and a g/f version located from a jeweler's inventory. Unused and in new condition , i really like the qeds,very impressive watches,to rival the best leds

[LEDluvr]

holly35 wrote:

Unused and in new condition , i really like the qeds,very impressive watches,to rival the best leds

Yes, I must agree. I have one SS and two Gold QED's, but only one functioning module between the three of them. I like their looks, both band and case but I feel they are bit top-heavy as compared to it's cousin, the Pulsar P2.