The Story Behind the Rolex Milgauss

Rolex watches are tool watches, so it comes as no surprise that the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Milgauss was also designed and developed for a purpose. Introduced in 1956 with the reference number 6541, the Milgauss was designed for the scientific community.

The original model looked very similar to the Rolex Submariner featuring an oversized case and bezel, a Twinlock crown, and a riveted Oyster bracelet. Rolex launched the second version in the 1960s with reference number 1019, which looked completely different than the 6541. The Milgauss 1019 was discontinued in 1988.

But, in 2007, Rolex brought back the Milgauss with reference number 116400.The 116400 Milgauss is made of 904L stainless steel which is extremely resistant to scratches and corrosion. The most unusual aspect of the Milgauss is its lightening bolt second hand which was originally introduced in the 6541 model.

But, why was the Milgauss actually created? The scientific community working around electromagnetic fields needed a watch capable of withstanding magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss. The name “Milgauss” is from the French word mille which means one-thousand and gauss, the unit of a magnetic field.

The Milgauss was a first of its kind and was worn by scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva. A shield inside the case made of ferromagnetic alloys protects the movement from magnetic interference. The shield has two parts - one that is screwed to the movement and the other one is screwed to the case. The case houses the Calibre 3131 which includes paramagnetic materials.

With an intriguing history and colorful combinations, the Rolex Milgauss is a beautiful timepiece. You can shop watch band for your Milgauss here.