The Milgauss was introduced in 1956. It was designed for use in areas of high electromagnetic fields which can be found in laboratories. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world’s pre-eminent particle physics laboratory, was one of the first scientific labs in the 1950s to confirm the Milgauss could resist magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss. The reference 1019 was in production from 1966 to 1990, the model was only available in stainless steel. Its name is derived from the Greek "Mil" for thousand and "Gauss," the unit to measure magnetism. A normal watch movement can withstand to 70-90 Gauss whereas the Milgauss keeps its incredible precision in a magnetic field up to 1000 Gauss. Rolex had made some of these Milgauss reference 1019s for CERN and these feature a non-luminous dial and hands, like the current example.
Related Articles
Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.
You have agreed to be bound by the Conditions of Sale and if your bid is successful, you are legally obliged to pay for the lot you have won. The purchase price for a successful bid will be the sum of your final bid plus a buyer’s premium, any applicable taxes and any artist resale royalty, exclusive of shipping-related expenses.
Condition report
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.
The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
The case is in good condition, light wear. The case seems unpolished with full shape. The inside metal dust cap with some small scratches. The numbers are visible between the lugs with some pitting. The case back has with light scratches. The case back has been lightly polished. The inside of the case back is marked '1019' and also 'II.70' indicating its production in the second quarter of 1970. The inside of the case back has watchmaker's marks. The dial appears to be original. The seconds hand is missing its red triangle and is possibly a later replacement. The dial with marks around the edge, especially around the right side. The Rolex Oyster bracelet is marked '78'. The bracelet with light wear and some small scuffs. The movement is in working order at the time of cataloging, consistent with the age of the watch. The movement has not been tested for accuracy. A service is recommended given the age of the watch.