Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York - The Fuller Building, Jun 14, 2007

LOT 262

?Steel Milgauss" Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Milgauss, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified", Ref. 1019. Made in 1968. Very fine and rare, antimagnetic, water-resistant, center seconds, selfwinding, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with a stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet.

USD 18,000 - 23,000

EUR 13,000 - 17,000

Sold: USD 27,140

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, inclined bezel, gilt soft iron antimagnetic cap forming a Faraday cage. D. Matte black with faceted steel baton indexes and luminous dots, outer minute/seconds divisions. Luminous tapered steel "baton" hands and red-tipped center seconds hand. M. Cal. 1580, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 38 mm. Thickness 12 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-34-01

Good

Restored by the manufacture

HANDS Original

Notes

Milgauss, Rolex "Oyster". The name: "Milgauss", combines "Mil", meaning "mille" (a thousand), and "Gauss", for the unit of measure of magnetism. A normal movement can withstand up to 70-80 Gauss, but over that its working order would be 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, which represent extreme conditions. Yet with its dial, ring and the cover of its movement in soft iron -a true "oyster"- Rolex created a model which brilliantly resolved the problem.