Rolex has long been associated with “tool” wristwatches, which originally were designed with a functional purpose in mind, but today they have become icons amongst watch connoisseurs, both for their modern masculine design and innovative mechanical performance. From their collaboration with Pan American Airways and the GMT-Master dual time zone wristwatch, to the Submariner watch for professional deep-sea divers, these timepieces have captured the imagination of collectors and are today highly sought after in the international market. The Milgauss, reference 1019, is another example of a Rolex sports model that today enjoys considerable prestige beyond its original intent, but is a watch that due to its niche target market, was not considered a commercial success. Originally released in 1954, the Milgauss reference 6541 was designed to meet the needs of scientists and engineers working in a magnetic environment. Rolex worked in collaboration with the Conseil Européen de Recherche Nucléaire, or CERN, to develop a watch that could withstand strong magnetic fields. The timepiece’s name derived from the Latin word “mille” for 1000, and “Gauss” the unit of measure for magnetism, it was a watch that could withstand 1000 Gauss of magnetism with no effect on timekeeping precision. Typical watches of the era could only withstand up to 70-90 gauss. Along with its companion piece the reference 6543, the two remained in production until the beginning of the 1960s when Rolex released the reference 1019 to replace these models.

The reference 1019, likes its predecessors, featured a soft iron cage surrounding the movement. The new model was thinner and produced in stainless steel only. It remained in production until 1990. The present example is well-preserved and checks all the boxes savvy collectors look for in vintage timepieces. The unpolished case has strong proportions and sharp clean lines with a smooth polished bezel. The silvered dial has luminous plots and luminous dashes at the 3-6-9, with the model name boldly printed in red below the Rolex signature. The present wristwatch has a sophisticated mid-century modern aesthetic and when compared to better known Rolex “tool” watches, offers great value while being a pleasure to wear.