Ref. 6541An extremely well preserved and highly scarce amagnetic automatic stainless steel wristwatch with honeycomb dial, "lightning" hand and bracelet
Manufacturer: Rolex
Year: Circa 1958
Reference No: 6541
Movement No: N872855
Case No: 412'024
Model Name: Milgauss
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1066, 25 rubies, butterfly rotor
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster riveted bracelet stamped "65" to the endlinks, max length 200mm
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped "2 59"
Dimensions: 38mm Diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signedExquisite and exceedingly rare — the present watch is indisputably a representative of one of the scarcest and finest Rolex models to ever grace the market. Released in 1956, reference 6541 represents the very first iteration of the Milgauss. The model targeted at a very specific - albeit at the time novel and growing - market: scientists, engineers and technicians working with high magnetic fields in electro-industrial environments or scientific facilities; indeed its iconic “lightning” seconds hand is an obvious nod to electromagnetism.
Most impressively, the Milgauss was guaranteed to resist magnetic fields up to 1,000 oersted. The name Milgauss is derived from the Latin word mille, which means 1,000, and gauss, the unit of a magnetic field. The Milgauss overcomes the effects of magnetic fields by using anti-magnetic alloys and an iron movement cover to create a Faraday cage.
It might well be one of the scarcest Rolex models as the intended market was indeed extremely restricted. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Rolex would not first produce the watches and then ship them to retailers, but rather the other way around: given demand for the watch was so low, Rolex would wait for retailers to place an appropriate amount of orders, and then would go on and produce the batch.
The present example, created in 1958, is one of the earliest reference 6541 produced and is offered in simply spectacular condition. The most prominent feature of the watch is its unusual and awe-inspiring seconds hand in the shape of a lightning bolt. Giving the watch an unmistakable appearance, the present watch is fitted with a wondrously beautiful and exceedingly rare black “Honeycomb” dial, with circular hour markers and faceted triangular indexes at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock.
Its case number 412’024 is consistent with other examples of the reference, as most appear to bear a 412’xxx serial number. An intriguing detail of the case can be found between the lugs at 6 o’clock: the hand-engraved number “27253”. While extremely unusual to find such a mark on the outside of the case (normally, watchmakers etch the inside of the caseback), other examples of the reference are known with such a peculiarity - sometimes with many such engravings to the back of the lugs. A possible explanation could lie in the fact that such a professional timepiece might have been serviced locally at the institution where the owner worked, with the number to the outside coding some service (or regulation) information for quick reference.
Such a thesis is boosted by the fact that this is a non-luminous version of the model. Ref. 6541 is known with and - such as in this instance - without luminous hands/dial. Considered the intended operational environment of the piece (scientific laboratories and such) and the high radioactivity of radium-based luminous material of the time, it is speculated that no-lumes version were reserved for technicians which needed no outside source of radiation during their work - such as CERN technicians.
