.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
US$90,000-150,000
With Rolex undated Guarantee, Chronometer Certificate, sales tag, fitted presentation box.
The present reference 6541 is amongst Rolex rarest vintage wristwatches. This watch is an exceedingly rare example of the celebrated Milgauss model introduced in the mid-1950s. It stands out by virtue of its beautiful and sought-after honeycomb dial and the famous flash sweep centre seconds hand. This example has survived in overall original and attractive condition, offering today, most evident to the eyes of the beholder, a light chocolate-brown colored patina. Today, rare are the examples to come up for auction and the present Milgauss is part of these coveted collectable vintage Rolex watches. Considering "completeness" is paramount in today's market, one of the great addition to the present "time only" is the fact that it is accompanied by its Rolex guarantee, chronometer certificate, sales tag, and box, all rarities themselves and would please any discerning collector.
The Milgauss reference 6541 with revolving black was designed for use in areas of high electro-magnetic radiation, such as research labs or power stations. The influence of radiation on the balance work results in losing accuracy. These effects can be reduced by using the principles of a "Faraday Cage", e.g. by placing the movement in an iron inner case shielding the movement.
The Faraday Cage is attributed to the physicist Michael Faraday who, in 1863, built a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from an electrostatic generator to strike its outside. He then used an electroscope to show that there was no excess electric charge on the inside of the room's walls.
In the mid 1960s, the redesigned reference 1019 with blank bezel was launched. Both models are illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, p. 33, and in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 5, 7, 183 & 224.
With Rolex undated Guarantee, Chronometer Certificate, sales tag, fitted presentation box.
The present reference 6541 is amongst Rolex rarest vintage wristwatches. This watch is an exceedingly rare example of the celebrated Milgauss model introduced in the mid-1950s. It stands out by virtue of its beautiful and sought-after honeycomb dial and the famous flash sweep centre seconds hand. This example has survived in overall original and attractive condition, offering today, most evident to the eyes of the beholder, a light chocolate-brown colored patina. Today, rare are the examples to come up for auction and the present Milgauss is part of these coveted collectable vintage Rolex watches. Considering "completeness" is paramount in today's market, one of the great addition to the present "time only" is the fact that it is accompanied by its Rolex guarantee, chronometer certificate, sales tag, and box, all rarities themselves and would please any discerning collector.
The Milgauss reference 6541 with revolving black was designed for use in areas of high electro-magnetic radiation, such as research labs or power stations. The influence of radiation on the balance work results in losing accuracy. These effects can be reduced by using the principles of a "Faraday Cage", e.g. by placing the movement in an iron inner case shielding the movement.
The Faraday Cage is attributed to the physicist Michael Faraday who, in 1863, built a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from an electrostatic generator to strike its outside. He then used an electroscope to show that there was no excess electric charge on the inside of the room's walls.
In the mid 1960s, the redesigned reference 1019 with blank bezel was launched. Both models are illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, p. 33, and in 100 Superlative Rolex Watches by John Goldberger, pp. 5, 7, 183 & 224.