The Rolex model designed to resist magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss is the Milgauss. Its name combines the French word mille, meaning “thousand,” with gauss, a unit used to describe magnetic-field strength.
Rolex introduced the Milgauss in 1956 for scientists, engineers, and other professionals working around strong electromagnetic fields. The original model was associated with CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, where protection from magnetic interference was especially relevant. Its movement was protected by a ferromagnetic inner shield that helped prevent magnetism from disrupting timekeeping.
The Milgauss is not simply a dive or aviation watch with extra resistance. Its defining feature is anti-magnetic construction, while models such as the Submariner emphasize water resistance and the GMT-Master II provides multiple time zones. The Milgauss also became recognizable for its lightning-bolt seconds hand and, in modern versions, an unusual green-tinted sapphire crystal. Rolex discontinued the model in 2023.