Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Monaco, Jan 19, 2023

LOT 202

ROLEX
REF. 1019, SELF-WINDING, CENTRE-SECONDS; "MILGAUSS", "CERN DIAL"; STAINLESS STEEL

EUR 15,000 - 25,000

USD 16,100 - 26,800 / HKD 126,000 - 210,000 / CHF 14,900 - 24,800

Sold: EUR 26,000

Very fine and rare, stainless steel, self-winding, "tonneau"-shaped, anti-magnetic, gentleman's wristwatch, with silver dial and centre-seconds.

Image Image

Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched

Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-01-05

Very good

HANDS Original

HANDS Luminous material reapplied

Brand Rolex, Geneva

Model "Milgauss", "CERN Dial"

Reference 1019

Year circa 1979

Movement No. M 23 991

Case No. 6 159 084

Material stainless steel

Bracelet stainless steel Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp (Ref. 78360; dated F)

Diameter 37 mm.

Length 160 mm. (approx.)

Caliber 1580, 26 jewels

Weight 107.8 gr. (approx.)

Signature dial, case and movement

Accessories original fitted box and outer box, hang-tags, service guarantee, service invoices and original Rolex advertisement and price list from 1977

Notes

The "Milgauss" was introduced in 1956. It was designed for use in areas of high electromagnetic fields which can be found in laboratories.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world’s pre-eminent particle physics laboratory, was one of the first scientific labs in the 1950s to confirm the "Milgauss" could resist magnetic fields up to 1 000 Gauss.

The reference 1019 was in production from 1966 to 1990, the model was only available in stainless steel. Its name is derived from the Greek "Mil" for thousand and "Gauss," the unit to measure magnetism.

A normal watch movement can withstand to 70-90 Gauss whereas the "Milgauss" keeps its incredible precision in a magnetic field up to 1 000 Gauss.

Rolex had made some of these "Milgauss" reference 1019 for CERN and these feature a non-luminous dial and hands, like the current example.