We are working with a UK based collector who has asked us to market a selection of his watches. As part of the offer each watch has had a full service and refurbishment by the UK’s leading watchmaker, Steven Hale Watch Restoration. Each watch will come with a 2 year guarantee from Steve Hale and a lifetime guarantee on the authenticity by Sonning Vintage Watches.
The Rolex Milgauss built on their reputation of creating tool watches for a specific market that went on to become design masterpieces. Launched in 1954/55 for scientists working in highly magnetic environments and was able to withstand 1000 Gauss and became the watch of choice at CERN. It’s also one of the few watches with only 2 dial options, black and silver. It was discontinued in 2023 but it’s expected to be re-introduced at some point. Over the years they have become extremely collectible and valuable..
This example was made in 1970/71 and is in remarkable condition. The solid steel case is in overall excellent condition with only minor signs of surface scratching. The stunning silver dial was replaced during a Rolex service but the owner was shrewd enough to retain the original dial. The ‘protected’ movement is in excellent condition and has been fully serviced by SHWR – the cross of steel in the caseback and brass movement cover are with the watch. The original Oyster ‘light’ steel bracelet is again in excellent condition and carries the references of:
End Pieces – 580 and 7836
Deployment Clasp – 1/71 dating it to 1971
In terms of provenance we have:
- The original Rolex punched papers
- The original Rolex swing-tag with the matching serial number
- The original brochures – Milgauss and Your Rolex
- The original completed Rolex guarantee (first time we’ve ever seen this)
- The original Milgauss dial
- The original red chronometer chip
- The original Rolex box – inner and very rarely outer. The watch stand has come loose from the inner box.
This is the most complete provenance we’ve ever seen on a watch of this quality. If the box and brochure were sold separately they would be worth around £4,000 which is why many collections are broken up. Whilst we cannot guarantee future prices there are few watches in the Rolex range that have shown such growth. If history is any judge it will provide an excellent investment as well as a genuinely important watch.
