...Studio Shot Of The Day... Elmar's Rolex Milgauss

...Studio Shot Of The Day...

Elmar's Rolex Milgauss

1955 Rolex Milgauss: Christies Sets Another Auction World Record

1955 Rolex Milgauss

Christies Sets Another Auction World Record

I usually don't get that excited about the Geneva Spring Auctions, but this Spring seemed to have brought with it a sea-change in the world of collectable vintage Rolex watches. In other words, the premium collectors paid this spring shot through the roof, like I have never witnessed. Especially for very high-quality vintage Rolex watches like the 1955 Rolex Milgauus Reference 6543 pictured below, which set an all-time record when it sold a few days ago, on May 15, 2017 for $272,500 in Geneva!!!!

So what exactly is going on with these crazy, over-the-top auction prices? I think it has a great deal to do with the fact the collectable world has been seriously catching onto the intense beauty and timeless nature of vintage Rolex watches. I believe the auction houses are also contributing to this intensity by holding special Rolex only auctions, which shines a strong light on the majesty of vintage Rolex. It's interesting to note that for many decades Rolex has been almost a watch company that had very little to do with the broader marketplace in the sense that Rolex is almost like it's own country, with its own unique form of currency—literally and figuratively. 

This is a seriously beautiful and timeless Rolex watch, and it is is superb condition, as seen in the photos above and below. You can learn more about this model by reading my story preview named, "The Complete History Of The Rolex Milgauss."

Christies Lot Essay

ROLEX MILGAUSS

One of the most fascinating models made by Rolex starting from the 1950s is the Milgauss, a watch made to withstand magnetic felds of up to 1000 Gauss.

Rolex’s ethos was to devote some of its production to the manufacture of watches for scientifc professionals working out in the feld. The most highly specialized watch devised for this purpose is the Milgauss, it works on the principle of the Faraday cage – a soft iron band bracing the movement on reference 6543 and a soft iron container enveloping the entire movement in the near contemporary reference 6541.

Lot 200 is an example of the very rare frst Milgauss reference 6543 – in production for three years from 1955 to 1957. Lot 201, shows the progression of the Milgauss design with reference 1019, the fnal vintage model originally launched in 1963.

The Milgauss was only ever sold in very small numbers, fnally being discontinued in 1988. Rolex reintroduced the model in 2007 to critical acclaim, the new model quickly became highly collectible. A rarer “green glass” version is ofered here as Lot 202.

In the 1950s, Rolex began to actively and intensively pursue the market for professional watches. Possibly the most specialized of the timepieces devised over that time is the Milgauss, dedicated to the extremely rarifed market of professionals working with high magnetic felds. Reference 6243 – in production for three years from ’55 to ’57 - is the frst Milgauss model released. It will be joined the same year by the longer-lived reference 6541.

Reference 6543 achieves very high anti-magnetic properties thanks to a very thick case back and a soft iron band bracing the movement. This is a diferent approach than the nearly contemporary reference 6543, which instead achieves the faraday cage efect (magnetic isolation) through an inner soft iron container enveloping the entire movement. The case features the typical Rolex revolving bezel. Early examples mounted a black insert with “Submariner-style” graphics, which will soon be modifed with the dagger markers typical of the Milgauss models.

A curious detail of this reference is the lugs width: it is slightly narrower than the canon 20 mm., thus preventing the attachment of a bracelet.

Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day Philippe's Milgauss Magnificence

...Rolex Macro Shot Of The Day...

Philippe's Milgauss Magnificence

This is a great photo of the first generation Rolex Milgauss from the mid 1950s. It really is magnificent!!! SHAZAAAAM!!!!!!!

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day: Rolex Milgauss

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Rolex Milgauss

John Goldberger Vanity Fair Article

...Rolex Coolness...

John Goldberger

Vanity Fair Article

For The Love of the Rolex Milgauss

My good pal, John Golberger, who lives in Italy, wrote this article for Vanity Fair, where he discusses the appeal of the Rolex Milgauss. John Goldberger is the author of many amazing horological books, including 100 Superlative Rolex Watches.

Rolex Lume Shot of the Day: Milgauss...

Milgauss Two-Tone Lume

Henk Hoving from Gronigen in Holland (Netherlands) took this superb lume shot of his white dialed Rolex Milgauss with two-tone lume.

Rolex Coolness: Ashton Kutcher Rolex SEA-DWELLER

Rolex Coolness: Ashton Kutcher

Replaces Charlie Sheen on 2 and a Half Men

White Dial Rolex Milgauss

CBS and Warner Brothers announced today that Ashton Kutcher would be replacing Charlie Sheen on its hit show Two and a Half Men. Ashton Kutcher will not be playing the Role Charlie Sheen played, of Charlie Harper, but he will be playing a new character.

Kutcher is replacing Charlie Sheen, who basically made a complete Jackass out of himself and in doing so gave up lost $2 million per episode he was earning by playing Charlier Harper on 2 and a half men. Charlie Sheen had demanded $3 Million per episode, because he wanted to make $100 Million per year, and CBS passed.

Ashton Kutcher is pictured above wearing his white dial Rolex Milgauss on the Piers Morgan Tonight show recently, and we see Charlie Sheen below, also on the Piers Morgan Tonight Show, when he had one of his meltdowns, wearing a stunningly beautiful Patek Philippe Moonphase.

Charlie Sheen is pictured below, wearing his 3/4 Stainless and Platinum Yacht-Master that he used to wear on the show.

Ashton Kutcher is pictured below with his beautiful wife, Demi Moore

More Rolex Milgauss Love!!!

More Rolex Milgauss Love!!!

A few weeks ago, Tommy from Italy wrote in and said:

Dear Jake, I’m an Italian fan of your blog and I visit it every day. I’m worried about my GV Milgauss. When I bought it, I was very happy, but today I see (maybe I’m wrong) that the Milgauss doesn’t receive any words from you and from the specialized reviews. Milgauss is dying «again»? This is my question to your blog… Bye! Tommy

Today, I received the following email with the photo below attached from Anders who said:

Hi Jake,

I'm from Denmark, but I live in London today, and I just love your blog and the fascinating stories you publish!

Recently, a fellow reader of Jake's Rolex World, Tommy, dropped you a note saying he was worried about the lack of attention the Rolex Milgauss gets.

Here in London you see them every day! It's only 9am and I've already seen two!

Anyway, I've attached a shot of my GV for the GV Picture thread.

Keep up the great work my friend!

Best,

Anders

Alright Tommy and Anders, I just updated the GV Picture Thread by adding a bunch of Daniel Craig (James Bond) photos of him wearing his GV Milgauss!!!

Studio Shot Of The Day AAKViper's Rolex Milgauss...

Studio Shot Of The Day

AAKViper's Rolex Milgauss

This is a really profound image because we see second generation Rolex Milgauss watches side be side with a black and a silvered dial. This would kind of be like putting together a modern white dial and black dial Daytona.

Joe's Vintage Rolex Milgauss...

Joe's Vintage Rolex Milgauss

[Reference 1019]

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day Stainless Rolex Milgauss from Champ The Kid

Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day

Stainless Rolex Milgauss from Champ The Kid

Wrist Shot Of The Day: Blacked Out Milgauss

Wrist Shot Of The Day

Blacked Out Milgauss

On A Blacked Out NATO

Milgauss Madness

[Reference 6541]

Philipp, the great Dutch vintage Rolex collector and dealer took this incredible shot of his vintage anti-magnetic Rolex Milgauss on a textured strap which matches the black honeycomb dial. The watch also features dauphin hands and the red "0" bezel marker. Amazing photo and amazing watch Philipp!!!

Rolex Ambassador–Roger Federer: Australian Open

Rolex Wrist Shot of the Day: Rolex Milgauss...

Rolex Milgauss Up Close

Photo Credit: Sol168

White Dials...

Another superb shot from Hannes...

Photo Credit: Hannes

Dynamic Duo: Milgauss Black and White Dials Side By Side...

Here we have a great comparison shot of the GV Milgauss with the green synthetic sapphire crystal with the black dial next to the white dial version.

I wonder what the white dial version would look like with the green crystal? If anybody has one please send in a picture to rolexblog@gmail.com.

The Milgauss family and the Captian Marvel family one in the same? All I have to say is Shazaaaaaaam!!!!!!!

Shazam Second Hand Vintage Milgauss...

If you were wondering where the Shazam, lightning bolt second hand came from on the new Milgauss, here it is:

Beautiful Vintage Rolex Milgauss

This Rolex Milgauss is unrestored and in flawless mint condition. It belongs to Pascal (Rolex1970) on the R-L-X-de German Rolex Forum.

Photo Credit: Pascal (Rolex1970)

Early Rolex Milgauss Design Language similar to new Rolex Day-Date II

I kept looking at the new Day-Date II, thinking I had seen that wide bezel somewhere before and I just figured it out.  

The design language of the new Day-Date II is somewhat reminiscent of this early Milgauss.  I like the Duaphine hands better.  I think Rolex should bring them back.  They look so precise and sharp–like a sword.