Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 163

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

HKD 112,000 - 140,000

EUR 13,000 - 15,000 / USD 15,000 - 18,000

Sold: HKD 109,250

C. three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, gilt metal anti-magnetic protecting cap forming a Faraday cage. D. satiné silver with tritium-coated steel baton indexes. Tritium-coated steel "Bâton" hands. 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.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 37 mm.Approx. overall length 180 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3

Good

Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Ref. 1019 The name 'Milgaus', combines 'Mil', meaning (a thousand), and 'Gaus', for the unit of measure of magnetism. A normal movement can withstand up to 70-80 Gaus, but 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, which, until its creation, were intolerable conditions for any watch. 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, is known for his pioneering experiments in electricity and magnetism, considered the greatest experimentalist who ever lived. Many of his concepts, derived directly from experiments, such as lines of magnetic force, have become common ideas in modern physics. Gauss - magnetic induction unit, symbol g in the C.G.S. system. A similar watch is published in 'Collezionare Orologi da Polso Rolex' new edition, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore Genova, p. 263.