Gold SS Series 4 - Doesn't Look Like Yellow Gold

[LD Curb]

I have always loved that first gold Edition watch and was so glad to see that Series 4 included a gold plated SS version.

I went to look at it yesterday and was disappointed to see that it is not a yellow gold color but rather is bronze.

I had on gold jewelry and put it next to this watch and the watch looked brown.

Could it have been the lighting? Is it just "me"?

Your thoughts ?

 

[musicpenguy]

So just for clarification - there is no gold plating done. It is a process I believe called PVD which colors the watch, similar to how the black is colored (no plating there either).

And yea you are right its not a pure yellow gold, but a more subtle darker gold which I rather like, but can understand if you are looking to match pure gold jewelry how that might not look the best.

 

[tromboneaholic]

I believe it matches the gold iPhone XS which is more of a copper-gold color.

 

[Kermit262]

I've seen some people comment that they are disappointed that it's not a traditional yellow gold (like the OP's comment) while others really like the bronze-gold look, AKA "Bro's Gold." Put me solidly in the latter category - if it were yellow gold I would not be interested, but I love the color Apple created for the stainless steel gold.

 

[rugmankc]

I really like the bronze-gold. Goes great with the new black sport loop.

 

[staggerlee41]

I've mentioned in a few threads that I prefer stainless steel or black as opposed to any other watch finish both in Apple and traditional watches. I saw the SS Gold this year and love the way it looks, it has an antiqued finish to it or as others have mentioned a bronze/copper tone vs what we might expect with 24k gold. Sorry it didn't appeal to you, here's hoping you have an option that does.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

Definitely not a bright yellow gold. My brother was an engineer in Saudi for a few years. I have a couple 18K gold rings he brought me back (they do more gold content there). The AW gold SS looks more like 18K gold than 10K or 14K....

 

[LD Curb]

Thanks so much for your perspective, everyone. I have the gold Xs but even though my case is clear, the color doesn't show up very much. I just wish they would have called it "bronze" as the color just isn't what one thinks of as traditional gold. I got the white ceramic just a few months before the gold was introduced and was feeling guilty getting another watch so soon, so ... Apple has save me a few bucks for now!

 

[techno-Zen]

So just for clarification - there is no gold plating done. It is a process I believe called PVD which colors the watch, similar to how the black is colored (no plating there either).

And yea you are right its not a pure yellow gold, but a more subtle darker gold which I rather like, but can understand if you are looking to match pure gold jewelry how that might not look the best.

The black is a DLC not PVD

 

[musicpenguy]

The black is a DLC not PVD

Well aware - trying to explain the process done to black is similar in that it is not plated. PVD and DLC to my understanding are related processes rather than plating which is something entirely different.

 

[Kermit262]

Here's what Daring Fireball said about the gold coloring process:

"The gold finish is applied using a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. Apple tells me this process is very similar to the process that applies the diamond like coating (DLC) to the space black watches. One thing about both of these processes is that they take several hours to apply per watch, according to Apple."