Dr. N.
Il Rolex Milgauss is one of the most nonconformist watches by Rolex. Its blue dial, green glass, lightning-shaped orange second hand certainly make it a Rolex anomalous, little in line with the aesthetic conservatism of many other models of the House. Why is it so different from the others? What's special about it?
Let's see it together in this article.
Rolex Milgauss: the origins
In 1954, Rolex decides to make a watch specifically intended for a very restricted category of professionals: we are talking about those who spend a lot of time remaining exposed to magnetic fields, whether they are electronic engineers, laboratory technicians or scientists who use high voltage equipment.
Magnetic fields are capable of compromising the functioning of mechanical watches. The most delicate part of it is undoubtedly the spiral spring of the balance wheel, which plays the same role towards it as the force of gravity towards the pendulum: in fact, it ensures the return to the initial state after an oscillation, while limiting the excursion swing itself. The spiral spring is made with a very thin metal tape wound on itself. If magnetized, the coils can stick together, making the spiral stiffer and making the watch run faster. In extreme cases, magnetization can irreparably damage the watch.
Il Rolex Milgauss It was conceived in 1954, the same year in which the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland. Rolex has become an almost obligatory choice to turn to the newly established laboratories for testing the prototypes of its new antimagnetic timepiece, which are located in the same city where the maison. A curiosity: the few Milgauss produced from 1954 to 1956 are marked with the reference 6543, while the series model that sees the light in 1956 bears the numbering 6541. Evidently, in the XNUMXs, Rolex still has not adopted the system of progressive numbering of references that today characterizes its production.
After passing the tests of functionality on the wrist of CERN scientists, the Rolex Milgauss, acquired in 1956 the reference 6541, is presented to the general public. This timepiece has a decidedly practical aspect: it basically looks like a Rolex Submariner equipped with an internal soft iron outer casing, which makes it resistant to magnetic fields up to one thousand Gauss, hence the name The aesthetics however differs from the Submariner of the time for some details: the rotating bezel integrates the ten-minute counters, the dial has different indexes and the red writing "MILGAUSS", but above all the seconds hand has the lightning bolt shape that today everyone associates with the Rolex Milgauss. The watch is quite successful, but always remains confined to the technical and specialist field.
The second series of the Rolex Milgauss it is not particularly successful. This model, launched in the 1019s with the reference 1988, loses the rotating bezel and sees the winding crown shrink, perhaps in an attempt to make it more suitable for formal situations. The iconic lightning bolt shape of the seconds hand is also eliminated. The result is a watch that, perhaps due to the lack of aesthetic traits capable of distinguishing it from the “basic” Oyster Perpetual, does not meet the public's favor. Rolex therefore decided to stop production in XNUMX.
The new Rolex Milgauss
In 2007, Rolex decides to revive the Milgauss, which had not produced for over twenty years. To do so, he chooses to completely revolutionize both the aesthetics and functionality of the watch.
As for the external appearance, in addition to the increase in size of the case, in line with current trends, Rolex decides to reintroduce the lightning seconds sphere, which strongly characterizes the Milgauss original. He also chooses to mount a sapphire crystal with a green tint, on which he does not register any patents as, in his opinion, it is made with such advanced technology that he does not fear that some competitor might try to copy it. The dial has an orange seconds scale, which recalls the lightning bolt seconds hand, also painted in this brilliant color. The shades of the dial are classic black, white, and a particular blue, with iridescent shades which, combined with the green glass and the touches of orange on the spheres and dials, makes this watch unique in production. Rolex.
From a functional point of view, antimagneticity is no longer sought after, as it once was, by including movement in an internal soft iron outer casing. This solution, which ensures that the magnetic fields are distributed on the surface of the outer casing without passing through the delicate movement, while it certainly has the advantage of simplicity and cost-effectiveness of construction, does not however allow to withstand magnetic fields with a range greater than 1.000 Gauss. Of course, in everyday life, as in specialized applications, magnetic fields of such great magnitude are quite rare. But a characteristic of watchmaking is to always look for new solutions, more advanced than the previous ones, so it is not surprising that a house like Rolex has chosen to improve the antimagnetic nature of its model by making use of innovative technologies.
Il Rolex Milgauss 116400 it guarantees a resistance to magnetic fields superior to that of its predecessors, thanks not only to the internal outer casing in ferromagnetic material, but also to the presence of the Blue Parachrom Spiral, a particular Rolex innovation consisting of a balance wheel spiral in non-magnetic alloy, which gives to his watches a resistance to magnetic fields higher than normal.
The Rolex Milgauss: a particular watch
It is not for everyone to wear a Rolex so different from the “classic” models of the House. The Rolex Milgauss combines an undoubted functionality, given by the anti-magnetic, from the comfortable Oyster bracelet, from the easy reading of the dial, a particular charm, due to the undoubtedly unconventional aesthetics for a Rolex.
And you, what do you think of Milgauss? Tell us in the comments!
