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Lot Essay
Accompanied by Bureaux Suisse de Contrôle Officile de la Marche des Chronomètres Watch Rate Certificate No. 1038964, Rolex Guarantee, original fitted presentation box and later stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet. It is furthermore delivered with the copy of a letter from Rolex Geneva dated 29 January 1970, addressed to the father of the present owner and confirming receipt of the amount of SFr. 78 for overhaul of the watch.
The present watch is thought to be the first Milgauss model from the first series offered at auction with complete accompanying paperwork, e.g. Bulletin de Marche, Guarantee etc. It has been consigned by a descendant of the original owner and has never been offered in public before.
The Milgauss model with reference 6541 with black revolving bezel was introduced into the market in the 1950s. It was designed for use in areas of high electro-magnetic radiation, such as research labs or power stations. The influence of radiation on the balance work results in losing accuracy. These effects can be reduced by using the principles of a "Faraday Cage", e.g. by placing the movement in an iron inner case shielding the movement.
The Faraday Cage is attributed to the physicist Michael Faraday who, in 1863, built a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from an electrostatic generator to strike its outside. He then used an electroscope to show that there was no excess electric charge on the inside of the room's walls.
The present watch features in addition the very rare and sought after honeycomb dial, consisting of two cross aluminum layers to protect it even further against magnetic radiation.
In the mid 1960s, the redesigned reference 1019 with blank bezel was launched. For an example of this model see lot 21 in this sale.
Both reference numbers are illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, p. 33.
The present watch is thought to be the first Milgauss model from the first series offered at auction with complete accompanying paperwork, e.g. Bulletin de Marche, Guarantee etc. It has been consigned by a descendant of the original owner and has never been offered in public before.
The Milgauss model with reference 6541 with black revolving bezel was introduced into the market in the 1950s. It was designed for use in areas of high electro-magnetic radiation, such as research labs or power stations. The influence of radiation on the balance work results in losing accuracy. These effects can be reduced by using the principles of a "Faraday Cage", e.g. by placing the movement in an iron inner case shielding the movement.
The Faraday Cage is attributed to the physicist Michael Faraday who, in 1863, built a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from an electrostatic generator to strike its outside. He then used an electroscope to show that there was no excess electric charge on the inside of the room's walls.
The present watch features in addition the very rare and sought after honeycomb dial, consisting of two cross aluminum layers to protect it even further against magnetic radiation.
In the mid 1960s, the redesigned reference 1019 with blank bezel was launched. For an example of this model see lot 21 in this sale.
Both reference numbers are illustrated in I Cronografi Rolex - La Leggenda, Pucci Papaleo Editore, p. 33.