At the time, most watches were resistant to about 50 to 100 gauss – about the strength of a refrigerator magnet. As scientists, engineers, and technicians worked around magnetic fields, they often found that the movement of their watches were bent or snapped; or damaged altogether. Rolex sought to solve this problem and created the Milgauss.

Tested by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world’s pre-eminent particle physics laboratory, the Milgauss was found to be resistant to magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss. Its name was derived from French mille meaning thousand and gauss, the unit of a magnetic field.

The first Rolex Milgauss models were the ref. 6543 and 6541. They could be easily mistaken for a Submariner at a glance, because of the rotating bezel, black dial, and Oyster bracelet.

ref 116400

In 2014, Rolex released an even more colorful version of the modern Milgauss – the Z-Blue dial, named such for its electric blue dial coated with Zirconium. Unlike classic blue watches made by Rolex, the metallic blue dial tends to veer towards green depending on how the light hits it.

It keeps all the same elements as the previous GV model but with the blue dial, this became one of Rolex’s most colorful modern models to date.

Dial design aside, the modern Rolex Milgauss models run on the same caliber 3131 movement, a COSC-certified movement with anti-magnetic features such as the Parachrom hairspring and a paramagnetic escape wheel.

Rolex eventually discontinued the non-GV Milguass models and currently produces the black and Z-blue 116400GV models. The non-GV Milgauss models are still available in the pre-owned market. Just like the current models, they are very much in demand for those who seek a Rolex, with a “wow” factor.