Meteorite Dials

I recently read an article that @celinesimon had published on the Everest Bands web site and had shared here on WatchCrunch, related to unusual dials. Within that article was a reference to the meteorite dials that Rolex uses, and it really got me thinking about the difference between the meteorite that Rolex and other premium brands use versus the meteorite dials used in less expensive watches.

I've done some quick research, and have uncovered some information that I thought I'd share in the hopes that others may find it useful, and/or may be able to offer additional insights.

It appears that Rolex dials are made from the Gibeon meteorite, found in Namibia in the 1830s. That particular meteorite is described as a group IVA iron meteorite with a fine octahedrite structure, and based on radiometric dating is believed to be 4.5 billion years old.

I recently acquired a Zelos bronze Mako with a meteorite dial, so I'll uses Zelos dials as a comparison. According to the Zelos web site, their meteorite dials are made from the Muonionalusta meteorite, found in Sweden in 1906. It too is a group IVA iron meteorite with a fine octahedrite structure, however it is apparently prone to rusting, and therefore needs to be plated when used in applications such as watch dials. Radiometric dating shows it to be over 4.563 billion years old, making it the oldest meteorite ever discovered. Given that earth itself is thought to be 4.543 billion years old, it means that the meteorite is older than the earth itself.

Iron meteorites such as the Gibeon and Muonionalusta meteorites exhibit what is known as a Widmanstatten pattern which is the characteristic triangular pattern associated with meteorite dials as shown below. I have included some macro photos showing the pattern on my Zelos (please forgive the reflections of light in the photos).

It is my understanding that slices from the Gibeon meteorite are more coveted and more expensive based on their stability. Unlike the Muonionalusta meteorite, they are apparently not prone to rusting and can simply be polished without the need for plating. I personally find the Rolex dials more visually appealing, but given the difficulty in obtaining Rolex meteorite dials, it appears that the cheaper options can act as a very viable substitute. It's really interesting knowing that a dial contains material that is thought to have originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter from a period before our planet even existed.

I'm not sure how accurate this information is, as it was taken from various sources on the internet, but based on what I've found, I feel that it's reasonably accurate. I'd really appreciate any truly knowledgeable comments that would help me understand the reality.

FWIW, Celine's post can be found here:

https://www.watchcrunch.com/celinesimon/posts/the-wildest-rolex-dials-210847