Material Notes · No. 02

316L STAINLESS STEEL

316L is a stainless steel alloyed from iron, chromium, nickel, and molybdenum.

Chromium, at 16 to 18 percent, forms a thin protective layer on the surface—one that renews itself when scratched. Molybdenum strengthens resistance to salt, including sweat and seawater.The “L” stands for low carbon. Limited to 0.03 percent or less, the reduced carbon helps 316L hold its corrosion resistance through high-temperature processes such as welding.

These qualities have made 316L a long-standing choice for watch cases, bracelets, and marine equipment—wherever corrosion resistance matters.

SAME GRADE. DIFFERENT RESULTS.

The name 316L does not mean every piece of steel is the same.

The standard allows nickel to range from 10 to 14 percent and molybdenum from 2 to 3 percent. Within that range, differences in composition, cleanliness, and internal structure change how the steel behaves—and they surface during machining and polishing.

So we looked beyond the grade to its origin. The steel in R01 is produced by POSCO and sourced directly from the mill.

BUILT FROM THE MATERIAL UP

Material is one of the least visible parts of a finished product. Yet the grain of the surface and the feel of the metal begin with the steel itself.

From the metal we chose to the final finish, every step in R01 was considered as part of a whole.
An object made to stay with you for years begins with a considered choice of material.