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Lot Essay
Accompanied by a Rolex Guarantee dated May 28, 1988, Rolex presentation box and outer packaging.
The Milgauss model was designed for use in areas of high electro-magnetic fields found in laboratories and electro-engineering. One of the most distinctive of all Rolex "Sport" models, the reference 1019 was the last "tool" watch made by the firm for a specific activity. Production of the Milgauss model began in 1966 and lasted through 1990, and was only available in stainless steel. Early examples of the 1019 Milgauss, up to the mid-1970's, featured baton numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock that were filled with luminous material, and an outer scale calibrated for seconds, quarter, and half seconds. After the mid-1970's, the baton numerals had luminous dot accents at the outer edge set directly onto the dial plate, and the outer scale showed only seconds and half seconds.
The name "Milgauss" was derived from the Greek words "Mil" for thousand and "Gauss" for the unit to measure magnetism. A standard watch movement can withstand 70-90 Gauss without affecting the precision, while a Milgauss model could stay precise in a magnetic field up to 1000 Gauss.
Coming from the original owner who specially ordered a single watch from Rolex in 1988, the present watch is a fine example of a Reference 1019 Milgauss. It is interesting to note that the Guarantee is for Serial No. 6'159'436, but the watch is actually No. 6'159'311. Considering the quality controls that a watch undergoes at Rolex, it is always fascinating to find a misprint on a Rolex certificate.
The Milgauss model was designed for use in areas of high electro-magnetic fields found in laboratories and electro-engineering. One of the most distinctive of all Rolex "Sport" models, the reference 1019 was the last "tool" watch made by the firm for a specific activity. Production of the Milgauss model began in 1966 and lasted through 1990, and was only available in stainless steel. Early examples of the 1019 Milgauss, up to the mid-1970's, featured baton numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock that were filled with luminous material, and an outer scale calibrated for seconds, quarter, and half seconds. After the mid-1970's, the baton numerals had luminous dot accents at the outer edge set directly onto the dial plate, and the outer scale showed only seconds and half seconds.
The name "Milgauss" was derived from the Greek words "Mil" for thousand and "Gauss" for the unit to measure magnetism. A standard watch movement can withstand 70-90 Gauss without affecting the precision, while a Milgauss model could stay precise in a magnetic field up to 1000 Gauss.
Coming from the original owner who specially ordered a single watch from Rolex in 1988, the present watch is a fine example of a Reference 1019 Milgauss. It is interesting to note that the Guarantee is for Serial No. 6'159'436, but the watch is actually No. 6'159'311. Considering the quality controls that a watch undergoes at Rolex, it is always fascinating to find a misprint on a Rolex certificate.