Last weekend, I was able to try a Rolex Milgauss with a Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) finish. Watch-Site had both this Rolex Milgauss and the Deepsea Sea-Dweller DLC’ed, where the Milgauss is ready for sale and the Deepsea needed to be assembled again. I took some pictures of the Deepsea to show the difference in color with the DLC Milgauss and to show how thick the crystal is, since the bezel was not re-attached yet.

When the the new Milgauss ref. 116400(GV) just came out in 2007, I was very impressed with it (as you can read here) but noticed that the watch didn’t get picked-up as I thought it would be (as I wrote here). Along the way, this watch really grew on me and I already decided that this new Milgauss could be a perfect alternative for the Rolex Explorer 114270, as 36mm is a bit too small for my wrists. The Rolex Explorer always attracted me for being the cleanest sports Rolex around, but just not for me due to its size.

Now, when I noticed that Watch-Site had this Rolex Milgauss DLC up for sale, I immediately asked them if I could try it for a few hours and make some pictures of it (since they are located nearby). The color of the Milgauss DLC isn’t black as most DLC watches, it has more of an anthracite color where the center links are still having that polished look and the rest of the bracelet kept the brushed finish.

Pictures can be a bit misleading when it comes to the DLC color of this Milgauss. To show you that it actually is quite dark in comparison to stainless steel, I took a picture of my wife’s Rolex Explorer 114270 next to the Rolex Milgauss 116400. Please don’t mind the dust specks on these watches, as I didn’t notice them till only later when I loaded the pictures into my computer. The picture also shows the differences in size between the Explorer and the Milgauss, but also demonstrate the clean and readable dial of both.

Although I could see myself adding a Rolex Milgauss to my modest collection of timepieces, this DLC was yet another confirmation that I am not very into DLC or black watches. I tried a (black) Sinn 142St.S a few years back and it didn’t last very long, I guess the same would go for this Milgauss. Personally, I do love the look of DLC watches, but they’re just not for me as I feel they are not as all-round usable as ‘plain’ stainless steel watches.

In the picture above, you can clearly see the difference between the center links and the outer links of the bracelet. The Milgauss is quite thick, probably due to its inner case which makes it anti-magnetic / protected against magnetic fields. It wears very differently from my GMT-Master II 16710 and Sea-Dweller 16600. I love the sapphire crystal sticking out, like the Sea-Dweller’s crystal. The matt dial is very clean and in combination with DLC, very militarish. The orange flashing bolt hand refers to the vintage Milgauss models, to people who do not know this, it might look a bit awkward

Below you’ll see two pictures of the Deepsea Sea-Dweller 116660, in parts…  just came back from the workshop where they applied the DLC technology to this Dipsy. Since the bezel was removed for the operation, it gives a good view on how thick the sapphire crystal of the Deepsea really is. THICK!

The DLC coating on this Deepsea is matt black and very different from the glossy looking Milgauss. The Deepsea is a heavy duty watch and the matt black DLC looks appropriate on it, being a tool watch pur sang.

Where I concluded earlier that the Milgauss or DLC (in general) is not for me, I did become even more enthusiastic about the Milgauss than I was before. Let’s see what 2010 has to offer for my watch collection!

Price of the Milgauss DLC (BNIB) is 5750 Euro. Thanks to Watch-Site for letting me handle these DLC timepieces.

On the 10th of August, I wrote this post about the (new) Rolex Milgauss ref.116400, almost a year after its introduction during Basel 2007 (which I covered here). The post wasn’t very positive, because it seemed to me that the Milgauss wasn’t the immediate hit Rolex had hoped for. However, fast forward to 2009, it seems that the hype regains a bit. The availability of the Milgauss improved (you can even find the green sapphire version quite easily) and the prices dropped to an interesting level.

My watch friend John Chan has traded his Date-Just for a Milgauss (black dial) and after trying his and one at the airport, the watch doesn’t let me go. Last week, I ran into JK, owner of JKWatchStore.nl, and he showed me the Milgauss on his wrist. He had never been more enthusiastic about a time piece. Almost all sponsors / advertisers of this blog who sell Rolex or used watches, have one in stock at the moment. The price for a non-green sapphire model is approx 3500 euro. In the near future, I want to write a review on the green sapphire model, which I am hopefully able to borrow for a day or so.

To be honest, one of the nicest Rolex models in my opinion is the Explorer. I bought one for my girlfriend last year, which I documented on the Rolex forum of my friendly neighbours in Germany, you can view the pictorial by clicking here. However, at 36mm, this watch is simply too small for me. Although I don’t mind wearing smaller watches, this one is simply looking awkward on my wrist.

Picture by Pelue. You will find the most interesting Explorer pictorial here on the R-L-X forum. Coverage on both new & vintage Rolex Explorer watches.

Anyhows, I am drifting off again, the Milgauss seems to be (after a second try and thought) a perfect alternative for the Explorer. The dial of the Explorer is not as clean as the Milgauss dial, but it doesn’t get ‘broken’ by a date window and the smooth bezel gives the watch a ‘quiet’ and understated look. Almost sophisticated.

At first I was afraid the second hand would bore me, although I liked the idea from the start, but I don’t think it will hold me back from buying one in the future. I can always have it removed by my watchmaker anyway The next picture is taken by R-L-X member Tony, and he wrote an interesting review on the Milgauss including a lot of history on this anti-magnetic predecessors.

Besides the refreshing look of the Milgauss, the watch also features a great bracelet. Even though I like the – often called – flimsy bracelet that Rolex used (and still does on some models), the slight adjustments that Rolex introduced are very refined. This 40 mm watch also feature the Rolex movement caliber 3131 with the new Parachrom hairspring which J.Peter of watchmaking blog Tick Talk has covered already.

Photo by Hugo @ R-l-X

Although my next time piece isn’t going to be a Milgauss, my next Rolex will probably be one. It is a great alternative for the Explorer to me (the Explorer II is more or less the same as my GMT-Master II ref.16710, dial and case-wise), and offers a lot of bang for the buck. Especially when buying a young occasion or new at one of the advertisers of FratelloWatches. However, I am afraid it is not going to happen this year…

Have a nice weekend all!

Sometimes, a watch has more than one face or ‘look’. It is all in the eye of the beholder ofcourse, but the photos below support this comment really well

If you look at your watch from different angles or when being in different locations, it can become a watch with a totally different look. The first photo below show the Ingenieur being this raw, rugged tool watch and the second photo shows this fine shiny sophisticated timepiece that refers to the first GG designs from the mid-1970s. To me, these photos demonstrate that this watch is suited for casual as well as more formal occasions. A Rolex Sea-Dweller (or Milgauss? ) and Yacht-Master in one so to speak. The photos have been taken by Cinq, visitor of the IWC forum at TimeZone.

I remember being very enthusiastic about the re-invented Rolex Milgauss watches in 2007. I am a regular visitor of several Rolex forums, and most active on the Dutch Rolex forum, as writing/reading posts in your mother language still works best. It occured to me that only few forum visitors/members have a Rolex Milgauss in their collection (or as their only watch). When I just visited the sales corner of ‘das R-L-X’ forum, I noticed quite a few for sale, including those with the green saphire crystal called Rolex Milgauss GV.

Although the odds were different one year ago, the Milgauss doesn’t seem to be an immediate hit as I expected it would be. The period where prices were over the list price is long gone already, except for the green sapphire model I guess. The regular models (white and black dial) start below 4000 euro. Although I don’t care much about block buster watches, I was clearly wrong about the future of the Rolex Milgauss. If you look at watches as an investment, it might be a good bet anyway. Rolex watches that do no sell very well at this moment, are probably the most sought-after watches in the (far) future. Think former Milgauss, 1960s and 1970s Daytona and (more or less) the Rolex Oyster-Quartz models. That is at least what I hope for with respect to my precious Yacht-Master Oh, anyway… for those who have a modern Rolex Milgauss, enjoy your watches!

Rolex Milgauss 116400, a LNIB for sale at Bernard Watch Co for less than list..

Interesting book on this subject: