Description

The present watch is the Rolex Milgauss, reference 116400GV, a modern icon defined by its scientific purpose and instantly recognizable design. Originally conceived for engineers and researchers working around strong magnetic fields, the Milgauss name itself—mille (1,000) gauss—signals the model’s anti-magnetic mission and its special place within the Rolex professional family.

Crafted in stainless steel, the 116400GV features the robust Oyster architecture and a matching steel bracelet, combining everyday durability with the crisp, purposeful lines that distinguish the Milgauss from other Rolex sports references. Its defining hallmark is the green-tinted sapphire crystal (“GV” for Glace Verte), a rare Rolex signature that adds depth and a subtle green aura over the dial. Technically challenging to produce, this crystal gives the watch an unmistakable character that changes beautifully with different lighting.

The dial is clean, high-contrast, and highly legible, with luminous hour markers and the Milgauss’ emblematic lightning-bolt seconds hand—a playful yet historically rooted detail that nods to electricity and scientific instrumentation. The overall aesthetic strikes a unique balance: part professional tool watch, part design statement, and entirely Rolex in its execution.

Powered by a self-winding Rolex movement and protected by the Milgauss’ anti-magnetic construction, the 116400GV is prized by collectors for its combination of real-world robustness, unconventional flair, and relative individuality within the Rolex lineup. It remains one of the most distinctive steel Rolex references of the modern era—recognizable at a glance, and rewarding in the details.

Rolex – bio

Founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, initially as Wilsdorf & Davis Ltd. Renamed Rolex by 1908 and moved its base of operations to Geneva, Switzerland in 1919.  Their success is due to their innovation namely the legendary “Oyster” case – first water resistant watch and their extremely reliable movements.
The most famous models are Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, Explorer, GMT-Master, Submariner and many more.
The company is owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a family private trust.
One story, never confirmed by Wilsdorf, recounts that the name came from the French words “horlogerie exquise”‘è, meaning “exquisite clockwork”.