Important collector's watches, wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Apr 13, 2002

LOT 108

Rolex Oyster Perpetual "Milgauss", Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, Ref. 1019. Production of this reference started in 1966. Very fine, water-resistant to 50 m., center-seconds, self-winding, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with a stainless steel Oyster bracelet.

CHF 17,000 - 21,000

EUR 11,500 - 15,000 / USD 10,000 - 13,000

Sold: CHF 20,700

C. three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, anti-magnetic protecting cap. D. matte silver with steel and black bâton indexes. "Dauphine" tritium-coated steel hands. M. Cal. 1580, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 37 mm. Approx. overall length 205 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

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. Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777 - 1855) German astronomer, mathematician and physicist. Author of important works on celestial mechanics, geodesy, magnetism, electromagnetism and optics. His modern conception of the abstract nature of mathematics allowed him to extend the field of the theory of numbers. He was the first to discover non-Euclidean hyperbolic geometry. Gauss - magnetic induction unit, symbol g in the C.G.S. system.