{"product_id":"rolex-milgauss-as04265","title":"Rolex Milgauss","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy We Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Rolex Milgauss - Reference 6451 - was introduced in 1954 during an age of rapid advancement in engineering, mechanics, and technology. The Milgauss was Rolex's answer to protecting their movements to magnetic fields created in a variety of high-tech industrial applications. The line subsequently saw a variety of iterations released in the 1960s and 70s, before it suddenly halted in 1988 with little notice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs time wore on, however, collectors and enthusiasts became drawn to the Milgauss story and began collecting vintage examples - as collectors are wont to do!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was therefore a welcome surprise to the wristwatch community that Rolex chose to reintroduce the Milgauss for 2007.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike the first Milgauss, the new model (Reference 116400) could be easily distinguished in a line-up. It was available with a white or black dial with a clear crystal, or a black or blue dial with a green crystal, which was a first for the industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular example, a Reference 116400V (V for \u003cem\u003everde\u003c\/em\u003e) dates to circa 2014 features a black dial with green crystal - arguably the most desirable of the current breed. With a professionally refinished case and its distinctive orange 'lightning bolt' seconds hand, this piece has had its bracelet replaced with one of our Italian leather straps, but retains its box and paper set, not to mention its endless charm!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere's a great opportunity to scoop a desirable contemporary Rolex model for a song - don't miss it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Milgauss Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRolex first debuted the Milgauss in 1954, the same year as the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Rolex Submariner Reference 5513\" href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/watches\/products\/rolex-submariner-3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSubmariner.\u003c\/a\u003e As with the Submariner, Rolex intended the Milgauss to be a tool watch for those in a specific profession. Its name indicates the purpose those who designed it intended it to serve: \u003cspan\u003ethe French \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003emille\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1000), and gauss, a unit for measuring a magnetic field. \u003c\/span\u003eIn this case, the Milgauss was meant for scientists--particularly those who work in conditions with high magnetism, such as engineers, radiologists, and researchers in labs like CERN in Geneva. A horological achievement for Rolex, the Milgauss marked the first time the brand produced an anti-magnetic watch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe necessity of developing an anti-magnetic movement became apparent in the 19th Century. Vacheron Constantin experimented with anti-magnetism in 1843, although the brand didn't succeed in developing an anti-magnetic pocket watch until 1915. However, perhaps the most influential discovery in the development of an anti-magnetic movement occurred in 1896, when Charles Guillaume discovered Invar, a nickel-based, antimagnetic alloy. Guillaume followed up the discovery of Invar with the discovery of Elinvar, for which he would gain a Nobel Prize in 1920. Since Elinvar (in turn a contraction for the French\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eelasticité invariable\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor \"elastically invarible\") resisted the changes in temperature that would cause hairsprings made of steel to lose elasticity, thereby decreasing accuracy, Elinvar proved invaluable to the watch industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIWC started to produce anti-magnetic pocket watch movements in 1888. With the introduction of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"IWC Mark XI Pilot's Watch\" href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/iwc-sold\/products\/iwc-mark-ix-pilots-watch\"\u003eMark XI\u003c\/a\u003e, with its revolutionary iron-cased movement, the brand seemed to be on the forefront of this technology. IWC re-appropriated the iron casing of the Mark XI's movement--the Caliber 89--and designed a completely new caliber for the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"IWC Ingenieur 666\" href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/iwc-sold\/products\/iwc-ingenieur-666\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIngeniuer\u003c\/a\u003e, released in 1955. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut with the Milgauss, Rolex beat IWC to the punch. At first glance there's not much to distinguish the first Milgauss (Reference 6541 of 1954) from its fraternal twin, the Submariner: it shared a bezel with the Submariner, as well a modified Caliber 1065 movement. The 1065M of the Milgauss contained anti-magnetic components and, like the IWC Caliber 89, had an iron casing. The Milgauss underwent several design changes throughout the course of its first few years--a new bezel and seconds hand shaped like a lightning bolt--but continued to resemble its more famous brethren. Even the model with which Rolex succeeded the Reference 654, the Reference 1019, resembled the Explorer Reference 1016.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Milgauss, with its rather unglamorous application, never enjoyed as much attention as Rolex's other purpose-driven watches: the Submariner, the Explorer, or the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"Rolex GMT Master Reference 1675\" href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/watches\/products\/rolex-gmt-master-3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGMT\u003c\/a\u003e. Thus, Rolex shelved the Milgauss in 1986, never to be seen again. Or so it seemed, certainly in the minds of vintage collectors, who continue to seek out early examples of the model, often at astronomical sums. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 18.0pt; background: white; margin: 0in 0in 18.75pt 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolex","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39443192905815,"sku":"40920284","price":6750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/AS04265_40920284_ROLEX_MILGAUSS_116400V-7_958e0fd4-1fe4-4d28-a0c9-87a3a3f8e87e.jpg?v=1634667468","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/rolex-milgauss-as04265","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}