Say goodbye to the Rolex Milgauss
Dániel DobaiComing up to Watches and Wonders, many were excited to see a new Rolex Milgauss model or an updated version of the one running since 2007. Rumours even circulated about an all-titanium Milgauss. Watches and Wonders ended, brand new Rolex models came, and the Milgauss disappeared from the brand’s website without a trace. The Yacht-Master was the one to get a titanium case, and with new models coming out, some had to be discontinued. The old Cellini was also taken off the table, but that wasn’t so unexpected.
It was clear that the quirky Rolex model, specifically made for scientists, had to be updated. The latest reference was sold unchanged from the 2007 facelift. Sixteen years ago, the orange lightning bolt appeared on the dial, accompanied by the signature green sapphire crystal that was a first in the industry. As the years went by, the old design and specifications became outdated. While the design is a question of personal taste, the specifications became quite comical over the years. The whole story of the Milgauss revolves around its resistance to magnetic fields. Hell, Milgauss even means 1,000 gauss, referring to how much magnetic energy the watch can withstand. When it was first launched in 1956, that was an impressive number. However, over the years, many, much more casual watches have rolled out from other brands with greater resistance. For example, any run-of-the-mill, modern Omega Aqua Terra has a resistance of up to 15,000 gauss. With competition like this, it was easy to see why many fans expected a Milgauss upgrade.
When the steel curtains lifted from Rolex’s stand on the first day of Watches and Wonders, there was no Milgauss to see through the corner windows, where the new releases are usually placed. Instead, there were fun and colourful dials and a new Yacht-Master in titanium. Not to mention the updated Daytona. Rolex really showed off for the fair; many unexpected new models were announced, but that is a topic for another article. Some quickly noticed that every page regarding the Milgauss had disappeared from the brand’s website. Just like many other manufacturers, Rolex doesn’t communicate discontinued products; they just take them off their site. Word quickly spread about the absent model, which was a call to many second-hand sellers to increase their prices. The Milgauss went from being the only stainless-steel Rolex that sold under retail second-hand to being listed for over US$17,000. It’s the same story over and over again. People are already sick of second-hand prices being higher than retail, and when a reference gets discontinued, prices shoot up immediately. It doesn’t even have to be a popular piece. Before the news, not many wanted a Milgauss. We can hope that prices will normalise after some time, but the watch market is quite volatile these days, so I won’t jump into predictions.
With Rolex being the mysterious brand it is, maybe we will see the reincarnation of the Milgauss in the future. It would be sad to see a watch with such an interesting story go away forever, whatever its magnetic resistance may be.