Discontinued Rolex Milgauss Unboxing & Review | What's in the Box Ep. 12

Join us as we unbox together a legendary anti-magnetic watch. Shop the pre-owned watches featured in this video: www.bobswatches.com
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Learn more about this week’s featured watch and find links to buy all the watches in this video below.
WRIST CHECK
Ripley’s Wrist: Two-Tone Cartier Tank Francaise
Find the Cartier W51005Q4 for sale here:
www.bobswatches.com/cartier/p...
Emily’s Wrist: Yellow Gold and Diamond Ladies Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 67198
Find the Rolex 67198 for sale here:
www.bobswatches.com/rolex-oys...
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED WATCH: Rolex Milgauss Ref. 116400
Find the white dial Rolex 116400 for sale here:
www.bobswatches.com/rolex-mil...
ABOUT THIS WATCH:
The 1950s were an incredibly innovation era for Rolex. The brand released some of its most iconic professional series watches, including the Submariner, GMT Master II, and the beloved Milgauss.
The watch earns its curious name after its anti-magnetism; “mille” means “one thousand” in French, and “gauss” is the unit used to measure magnetic induction. As you might have already gathered, the Milgauss is anti-magnetic up to 1,000 gauss.
It can largely attribute its anti-magnetism to the soft iron Faraday cage within the case that shields the movement. This innovative design was incredibly important during the technological boom of the era, during which most watches were only resistant to magnetic fields up to 50 gauss.
EARLY ERA:
Early iterations of the Milgauss looked vastly different than the modern 6-digit generation featured in this week’s edition of What’s in the Box. They looked similar to the Submariner, featuring a rotatable bezel, dot hour markers, and a striking lightning bolt seconds hand.
Rolex tweaked the collection’s design just a few years later via ref. 1019, replacing the rotatable bezel with a smooth bezel and equipping the dial with index hour markers. The charming lightning bolt seconds hand on the first Milgauss was replaced with a straight, arrow-tipped hand.
INTRODUCING REF. 116400
The series never really took off and was ultimately discontinued in the late 1980s. However, much to everyone’s surprise, Rolex revived the collection in 2007 under ref. 116400.
This model took inspiration from each of the early Milgauss iterations, featuring a smooth bezel like ref. 1019 and a vibrant lightning bolt seconds hand like the inaugural Milgauss.
Initially, the series hit the market in three different variations: The white dial with orange accents, the black dial with orange accents, and the polarizing “Glace Verte” model outfitted with a black dial and stunning green scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
Rolex introduced another Milgauss variation in 2014 called the “Z-Blue,” which paired a blue dial with a Glace Verte crystal.
Sadly, the collection was discontinued just recently, in 2023. Models like the white dial/clear sapphire crystal Milgauss featured in this video will undoubtedly become prized collector’s items.
Rolex 116400 FEATURES:
This Milgauss is quite unlike the other watches in the vast Rolex portfolio, featuring a crisp white dial decorated with orange Super-LumiNova batons, a matching orange minute track, and an orange lightning bolt seconds hand.
It features a classic 40mm waterproof Oyster case with a clear sapphire crystal and a screw-down crown. The cases on these 6-digit Milgauss watches are slightly thicker than other Rolex sports watches to accommodate the soft iron Faraday cage.
Additionally, it boasts the celebrated time-only caliber 3131 Perpetual movement with automatic winding, Rolex’s Patented Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, and a 48-hour power reserve.
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[@anthonystevens8683]

That Milgauss is gorgeous! If I could justify one I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I've always like the Milgauss from the Rolex range and tried to get on the list over a year ago when it was sadly discontinued, maybe this was a good thing as the white dial had already gone. Who knows maybe one day I'll find a white dial at the right time when I can justify it. On my wrist today is the Omega SMP300M Great White, it's not been on my wrist for a little while but now it is I know why I got it and love it. It's like the umpteenth honeymoon all over again. Sometimes wearing other watches for a time, in my case some Casio models (I'm still a big fan of Casio watches including G-Shock models) at work then returning to something else really relights the fire and this is why we love this diverse hobby. Tomorrow I might wear my Sub or I might stay wearing the Omega for some more days. I've not decided yet. Thanks for sharing.

[@bobswatches]

you've got a great lineup for wrist checks! Loving the choice of your Omega. See you next week!

[@DrJM-us6bl]

Milgauss since 12 years in my collection and I love this stunning timepiece😍 Green Glas and Black dial is so magic👊🏼

[@raylegend808]

Gotta love the hair 😂

[@renaissancedad9190]

I’ve been frequenting Bob’s non stop the last few weeks since I still haven’t gotten a call from any of my ADs. Will probably be making first Rolex purchase here.

[@khoimavlogs5161]

I Bought rhis white Milgauss in 2018 brand new old stock. They gave 25% now looking back what a great deal ot is. I still have it

[@bobswatches]

how awesome!

[@martytse6083]

Love the Milgauss, I have the Z-Blue and it's my daily watch

[@bobswatches]

Awesome daily!

[@jsusna1972]

As a public service announcement, I'd like to remind most everyone who has a calendar function on their watch: today is Feb 31st.

[@goldandsilverman1494]

Great Video 👍

[@bobswatches]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@frankm4129]

Love the migauss

[@bobswatches]

great watch!

[@AndreaDoesYoga]

Great review on this classic timepiece! ⌚

[@bobswatches]

Thanks for watching!

[@kahuhipajae4088]

Nice to see Ripley was able to roll out of bed to make the show.

[@josephmaldonado8099]

I think Ripley may need an episode of, “Comb in a Box.” You’re awesome, brother. But that hair… 😏

[@robm6009]

Would be great with a sporty orange band.

[@bobswatches]

THIS 🧡🧡

[@GrahamKerr.RealEstate]

Love your videos, keep them coming! Also I don’t know why people make negative comments...Don’t watch it if you don’t like it. Ripley keep the fun hair, it’s your signature look. Keep the long format videos. If this was only 3 minutes it wouldn’t be long enough. The unboxing and guessing is fun in the videos too. Currently wearing my BB58 blue on a blue Rubber B strap. Cheers from Canada!

[@oldtimer9305]

Great looking watch folks! I really love this watch, just wish my wrist was big enough to accommodate it. Thanks for sharing. On my wrist is a Nomos Tangente. Cheers!

[@bobswatches]

We love hearing you enjoyed this week's watch. Awesome wrist check too!

[@Idelia412]

Nice video

[@bobswatches]

Thanks for watching!

[@jsusna1972]

Almost 4 years ago I bought a black-dial Milgauss for my son. He works with an electron microscope and other electronic test equipment. After he learned of the green crystal version, he's glad I didn't opt for that one as it wasn't to his liking. I heard that the process for making that crystal is so complex that Rolex didn't even bother seeking a patent for it. It's strange that there is a rumor they have trouble making the Pepsi ceramic dial for the GMT II, but a green crystal isn't a problem. Speaking of the GMTII, my Coke bezel version is on my wrist. I'm going to have to get my Grand Seiko Katana out of the box soon in order to let it get some exercise.

[@bobswatches]

👋 - Another week of the glorious GMT "Coke". We always appreciate your personal perspectives pertaining to our watch of the week.

[@mr.bluenotedoobop]

I have the non - GV version with a black dial, maybe a good time to unload?

[@bobswatches]

We'd be happy to give you a quote if you're curious!

[@lemonlime3197]

When I was deciding on which Rolex to get first, it was either this white milgauss -what I like to call the james may and the 116900 air king.. I still enjoy my air king (wearing it right now) but after watching, I wish I had gotten this milgauss too 😂

[@bobswatches]

Two great watches indeed!

[@reinvestorintally]

Can we go back to the old format (3 co-hosts)? Thanks

[@bobswatches]

Love the suggestion. We're always up for suggestions/updates. Did you enjoy the variety of 3 watches each week or the trio of perspectives?

[@reinvestorintally]

Yes, that was the best part; seeing what 3 different individuals liked. Also, the guessing is tedious to watch.

[@johngentile6814]

Great to see Ripley back. He’s the most knowledgeable Just needs to comb his hair 😏

[@bobswatches]

Happy you enjoy Ripley's knowledge as much as we do!

[@stephenglennan9963]

Two tone Cartier Santos.

[@bobswatches]

Lovely #wristcheck! Thanks for sharing.

[@mikem597]

Way to pack 3 minutes of content into a 9 minute video

[@Lightning546]

I'd love to have that watch but it's got a stupid high price tag, if it was more reasonably priced, at say $1,500 I might be able to afford one.

[@bngr_bngr]

I don’t understand why people love the milgauss.

[@Barbecuejag]

Let me guess - you love the GMT instead?

[@bngr_bngr]

@@Barbecuejag I rather have a Patek at that price point.

[@Barbecuejag]

@bngr_bngr $12k today for my Z Blue Milgauss, if you go gray. Not sure what Patek you can get at that price point.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@Barbecuejag vintage Patek.