Rolex “Z blue” Oyster Perpetual Milgauss
Baselworld 2014
Press Release
Basel, 26 March 2014
Rolex is presenting a new version of the Oyster Perpetual Milgauss with unique and symbolic aesthetics. Its green sapphire
crystal marked a first in watchmaking when it was introduced
on the Milgauss in 2007. Now this crystal is combined with an
electric blue dial, an allusion to the emblematic lightning-boltshaped
seconds hand and the watch’s technical purpose as a
paramagnetic timepiece designed for engineers and scientists
in the 1950s, a golden age of scientific research. Seen through
the green sapphire crystal, the Z blue dial – a name derived
from its zirconium content – takes on a powerfully attractive
magnetic hue.
AN AVANT-GARDE WATCH
Ever since its launch, the Milgauss has remained an avant-garde watch. It was created in 1956 for engineers and technicians who are exposed in their work to magnetic fields which disrupt the performance of mechanical watches. It was designed to resist strong interference of up to 1,000 gauss, hence its name – “mille” being French for thousand – while maintaining its performance and precision as an officially certified chronometer. A pioneer in magnetic resistance, it became known as the watch worn by scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva and gained a reputation as the ultimate watch of science and technological progress. Several innovations contribute to its resistance to magnetism. The first line of defence is a shield made of ferromagnetic alloys that surrounds the movement within the Oyster case, an invention patented by Rolex in 1954. The second line of defence involves two of the movement’s key components, the oscillator and the escapement, which are made of innovative paramagnetic materials developed by Rolex since the 2000s.
THE OYSTER CASE, SYMBOL OF WATERPROOFNESS AND ROBUSTNESS
The 40 mm Oyster case of the Milgauss, guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), is a paragon of robustness and reliability. The characteristically shaped middle case is crafted from a solid block of particularly corrosion-resistant 904L steel. The fluted case back is hermetically screwed down with a special tool exclusive to Rolex watchmakers. The winding crown, fitted with the patented Twinlock double waterproofness system, screws down securely against the case. The crystal is made of virtually scratchproof green sapphire. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimal protection for the Milgauss’s highprecision movement.
CALIBRE 3131, SUPERLATIVE PARAMAGNETIC CHRONOMETER
The Milgauss is equipped with calibre 3131, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Like all Rolex Perpetual movements, the 3131 is a certified Swiss chronometer, a designation reserved for high-precision watches that have successfully passed the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) tests. It includes Rolex-patented components to guarantee the level of resistance to magnetic interference for which it is named. The escapement of the Milgauss features a paramagnetic escape wheel made of a nickel-phosphorus alloy. This component is produced using a micromanufacturing technology (UV-LiGA) that is entirely mastered in-house. The oscillator, the true heart of the watch, has a blue Parachrom hairspring patented and manufactured by Rolex in an exclusive alloy of niobium and zirconium. Insensitive to magnetic fields, the Parachrom hairspring offers great stability when exposed to temperature variations and remains up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks.
THE OYSTER BRACELET, COMFORTABLE AND SECURE
The Oyster bracelet of the Oyster Perpetual Milgauss is very secure and comfortable to wear. It is equipped with a folding Oysterclasp, designed by Rolex. It also features the ingenious Rolex-patented Easylink rapid extension system that allows the wearer to easily increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, for additional comfort in any circumstance.