Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Nov 12, 2006

LOT 322

Ref. 6541 "Milgauss" Black Dial Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, Milgauss, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, Ref. 6541. Case No. 412279. Made in 1958. Very fine and extremely rare, antimagnetic, water-resistant, center seconds, self-winding, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with ?lightning flash? seconds hand, ?honeycomb? dial and the origional stainless steel riveted Rolex Oyster bracelet dated 1957. Accompanied by the original fitted box.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

EUR 38,000 - 50,000 / USD 48,000 - 65,000

Sold: CHF 106,200

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, revolving graduated black bezel(later insert), anti-magnetic soft iron protection cap. D. Black soft iron flinqué "honeycomb" with round indexes and steel triangular markers. Polished aluminium "Dauphine? hands, polished aluminium ?lightning flash? seconds hand. M. Cal. 1066M, rhodium-plated, 25 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock-absorber, free-sprung selfcompensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm. Thickness: 13 mm. Property of an Asian Collector


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

A similar watch is published in ?Rolex, Collecting Modern and Vintage Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore, 2005, vol. I, pp. 402-404. Ref. 6541 was produced from 1958 to 1960. In the Rolex spare parts catalogue, this reference of Milgauss was produced with either a polished bezel or a revolving bezel. Milgauss The name 'Milgauss', combines 'Mil', meaning (a thousand), and 'Gauss', for the unit of measure of magnetism. A normal movement can withstand up to 70-80 Gauss; over that its working order is compromised. Most good watches resist magnetic fields of 60 to 70 Gauss, but the 'Milgauss' keeps its astounding precision in magnetic fields up to 1000 Gauss. Yet with its dial, ring and the cover of its movement in soft iron forming a Faraday cage, Rolex created a model which brilliantly solved the problem. Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777 - 1855) German astronomer, mathematician and physicist. Author of important works on celestial mechanics, geodesy, magnetism, electromagnetism and optics. Michael Faraday (1791-1867) English chemist and physicist, known for his pioneering experiments in electricity and magnetism. Many of his concepts, derived directly from experiments, such as lines of magnetic force, have become common ideas in modern physics. Gauss A magnetic induction unit, symbol g in the C.G.S. system. A similar watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, p. 351.