Join us for another edition of Watch Talk, featuring the evolution of the recently discontinued Rolex Milgauss. Shop the collection: www.bobswatches.com/rolex-mil...
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00:00 INTRO
00:12 Wrist Check
00:45 The Rolex Milgauss
01:40 Rolex Milgauss ref. 6541
02:55 Rolex Milgauss ref. 1019
04:56 Rolex Milgauss ref. 116400
06:20 Milgauss Discontinued in 2023
07:03 Will the Milgauss Ever Return?
08:50 All-Time Favorite Milgauss
09:27 What Would a New Milgauss Look Like if it Returned?
09:45 OUTRO
Join our vintage specialist, Brandon Frazin, and renowned watch writer, Ripley Sellers, for a comprehensive overview of the Milgauss.
This video will cover every facet of the beloved “Scientist’s Watch,” from its unique inaugural model that somewhat resembled the Submariner to the charming 6-digit collection that recently rounded out the collection.
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What is the Rolex Milgauss?
Each Rolex professional series watch caters to a different niche. The Submariner was meant for diving, the GMT Master for flying, and the Explorer II for spelunking.
The Milgauss is Rolex’s standard anti-magnetic watch. The Oyster case is outfitted with a soft-iron Faraday cage, protecting the movement within from up to 1,000 gauss, hence the name “Milgauss.”
“Mille” is French for one thousand, and “gauss” is a unit of measurement of magnetic induction.
When it came to market in the 1950s, the Milgauss was an invaluable tool for anyone working around high electromagnetic fields, such as powerplant workers, scientists, medical professionals, and railroad workers.
Today, it is coveted by collectors of all professions for its unique place in Rolex history and its distinctive design set.
Milgauss ref. 6541
Reference 6541 was the inaugural Milgauss, featuring a design that somewhat resembled the beloved Submariner with a similar rotating bezel.
What distinguishes it from its diving cousin is the dial decorated with a honeycomb pattern, a striking red Milgauss logo, and the collection’s signature lightning bolt seconds hand.
This edition of the Milgauss is unique because Rolex would swap the rotating bezel for a smooth bezel on each model that followed.
Milgauss ref. 1019
That brings us to the second-generation Milgauss, ref. 1019, introduced in the 1960s. While ref. 6541 was akin to the Submariner, ref. 1019 was more similar to the Oyster Perpetual. The dot hour markers on its successor were swapped for index-style hour markers, and the lightning bolt seconds hand was replaced with a red arrow hand.
Rolex produced ref. 1019 in stainless steel and with either a black or silver dial. While ref. 1019 commands a premium on the secondary market. It wasn’t as popular during the end of its production by the late 1980s because it had relatively outdated features, and the collection was ultimately discontinued.
Milgauss ref. 116400
Rolex revived the scientist’s watch in grand fashion in 2007 via ref. 116400. The 6-digit generation was inspired by both vintage models, featuring a smooth bezel and index-style hour markers like ref. 1019 and a variation of the lightning bolt seconds hand on ref. 6541.
Initially, Rolex released three editions of ref. 116400 featuring a white or black dial outfitted with a clear crystal and the polarizing ref. 116400GV outfitted with a black dial and a green-tinted sapphire crystal.
As of 2023, the Milguass remains the only Rolex to sport a green sapphire crystal.
Milgauss ref. 116400GV Z-Blue
Rolex released the Z-blue edition of the Milgauss in 2014, pairing the striking Glace Verte sapphire crystal with a vibrant blue dial. With this release, Rolex stopped producing the Milgauss with a clear crystal, keeping only the black or Z-blue dial models with green sapphire crystals in their catalog.
Each edition of ref. 116400 is accompanied by a bright orange seconds hand.
2023:
In 2023, Rolex again said “goodbye” to the charming Milgauss by removing it completely from their current lineup. Considering the collection’s past, it is entirely possible that Rolex might one day revive the Milgauss again with an even more exciting design set.
Could we one day see a Milguass with increased anti-magnetism or the return of a rotating bezel? One can only hope. However, it is also possible that the Milgauss will be discontinued for good this time, making room in the brand’s catalog for other innovations.