2008 Rolex Milgauss Ref. 116400 ‘white dial‘ Full Set

The Rolex Milgauss was never the brand’s most popular watch, but it has a very special place in its history. Launched in 1954, it was the first Rolex watch to shield a movement from magnetic fields.

 

The first Rolex Milgauss models were the ref. 6543 and 6541. They could be easily mistaken for a Submariner immediately, because of the rotating bezel, black dial, and Oyster bracelet.

 

Rolex replaced the first two models in the 1970s with the ref 1019; and the design details of the original Milgauss were changed. The ref 1019 never really found its footing, and in 1988, Rolex discontinued the Milgauss.

 

After 19 years of absence in the catalog, in 2007, Rolex surprised everyone at Baselworld with the return of the anti-magnetic Rolex Milgauss. Known for making small, evolutionary changes to their timepieces, Rolex created a splash with a playful, unexpected design.

 

For the debut of the modern Milgauss ref 116400, Rolex offered three different versions: a white dial version, a black dial version, and an anniversary version with a blue dial. The first two models feature a choice between a white and a black dial. Rolex went back to the unique lightning bolt shape for the seconds hand and replaced what would have been a clinical polished stainless steel with a bright orange hand. The minutes track and hour markers received the same bright orange. The result was a look that’s clean but far from boring. In 2014, Rolex released the Z-Blue dial, named such for its electric blue dial coated with Zirconium.

 

The Rolex Milgauss Ref. 116400 with white dial ran from 2007 until 2016, when it was eventually discontinued, and only kept producing the black and Z-blue 116400GV models, until 2023 when Rolex finally discontinued the whole Milgauss model from their catalog.

This Ref. 116400 offered for sale here is part of the very early batches, dating to 2008.

 

It features a white dial which, in our most humble opinion, it’s the loveliest of them all. It has the same striking colors as the other dial versions, but it has them in the correct ratio. The neutral color, white, dominates the canvas, with the brighter ones bringing the accent, and the black as a subtle border. Simple. Restrained. And yet still exciting.

 

The 40mm stainless steel case with smooth bezel remains in great condition, unpolished, and with very little signs of wear.

 

The case back remains in the same condition, showing just very minor use.

 

It is suited on the original 20mm Rolex Oyster stainless steel bracelet with folding Oysterclasp and Easylink that, again, shows little wear and no stretch.

 

It is running well and keeping time, although service history is unknown.

 

It comes as a full set which includes outer box, inner box, wallet, manuals, reference and serial numbers hang tag, and guarantee card showing it was sold in Italy in 2009.