Rolex Milgauss 1019

The Rolex Milgauss 1019 is the longest-running and best-known reference from Rolex’s line of anti-magnetic professional watches, in production from 1960 until around 1988. Designed for scientists, engineers, and technicians working in high-electromagnetic environments, it featured a 38mm stainless steel Oyster case housing the automatic Caliber 1580 movement, protected by a soft iron Faraday cage that enabled resistance to magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss. Unlike its predecessors, the 1019 abandoned the lightning bolt seconds hand in favor of a straight, understated version, reflecting its clean, utilitarian design ethos. It was available with either a silvered or matte black dial, each with luminous baton markers, subtle “MILGAUSS” text in red, and a smooth fixed bezel for a refined, professional look. The dial’s minimalist style, combined with its specialized engineering, made it unique among Rolex sports watches of its era. With relatively low production numbers and a cult following among collectors, the Milgauss 1019 has become one of the most coveted vintage Rolex tool watches, valued for both its technical heritage and its understated sophistication.

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