This 1970 Rolex Milgauss Ref. 1019 is a textbook example of the reference at its best—clean, correct, and quietly spectacular. The 38 mm stainless-steel case shows only light, honest wear and retains its original proportions and crisp factory-finish edges. Its silver brushed dial is near perfect, with nicely aged tritium lume and matching handset. Notably, the watch remains fitted with its rare, original Rolex 7836 folded-link Oyster bracelet and 280 end links – an early bracelet style that was routinely swapped out during service but survives here in very good condition with minor stretch. Crown and movement are likewise factory original. Under the dust cap beats Rolex’s automatic Caliber 1530 with 26 jewels with hacking mechanism, that is running strong and keeping perfect time.
The Milgauss occupies a unique niche in the Rolex universe. In the mid-1950s CERN scientists needed a watch that could shrug off intense magnetic fields—conditions that would send most mechanical movements haywire. Rolex responded with the Milgauss, named for its ability to resist up to 1,000 gauss of magnetism. Early models borrowed Submariner styling, but in 1960 Rolex introduced the sleeker, more modern Ref. 1019. Its defining feature is a soft-iron “Faraday cage” inside the case, shielding the movement and creating the larger 38 mm, 12 mm-thick profile that set it apart from the sub-36 mm watches of the era.
Ironically, the very qualities that make the 1019 desirable today—its larger size, scientific purpose, and forward-looking design—kept it from commercial success in its own time. Production numbers remained low through the mid-1980s, especially for the black-dial variant, and many surviving pieces have been diminished by service parts or replacement bracelets. Since Rolex revived the Milgauss in 2007, collectors have rediscovered the reference, and demand has risen for well-preserved examples like this one.
For anyone seeking a vintage Rolex that pairs everyday wearability with genuine horological history, this Milgauss delivers. It’s a rare chance to own an honest example of the brand’s most technically minded creation—one that remains as compelling now as when it was built to keep perfect time in the presence of powerful magnetic fields.
Bracelet fits up to a 7 3/8-inch wrist; an extension link is included.
