Rolex Milgauss 6541 Honeycomb Dial
Vintage

Rolex Milgauss 6541 Honeycomb Dial

By Philipps · Jun 29, 2009 · 14 replies
Philipps
WPS member · Rolex forum
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Philipps shares his excitement over a rare acquisition, a vintage Rolex Milgauss Ref. 6541, detailing its unique characteristics and provenance. His post highlights the allure of early Milgauss models, particularly those with tropicalizing dials, offering a glimpse into the specialized world of vintage Rolex collecting.

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Got a new baby, it's a 6541 from IV'58 with honeycomb dial, duaphine hands with thunderbolt second reflecting the 1000 Gauss withstanding 165 ft waterproof stainless steel case with soft iron cover over the 1066 M movement. Being one of the first in the known 412.xxx serial, the dial is from iron and when the sun faded the protecting layer/vernisse equaly, the dial will turn a wonderfull tropical dial when exposed to strong UV light & higher humiditie inside the movement as we have in south america / azia. Mine came out a japanese collection where it was last 20 years before he got it from first owner. I think about 100 x 6541 & 6543 are ever made my Rolex....

It came originally with submariner inlay...






and lucky me, i kept the faded correct 6541 inlay to make it historical / advertorial 100 % exact


Together with my transitional black 6541...


Enjoying it with the 'perfect match' Nato..;-)


This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2009-07-02 03:47:55 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-07-09 21:29:14

About the Rolex Milgauss Ref. 6541

The Rolex Milgauss reference 6541 was introduced in the mid-1950s as a specialized timepiece designed for scientists and engineers working in environments with strong magnetic fields. It was one of Rolex's early professional tool watches, developed to withstand magnetic interference up to 1,000 gauss, a significant achievement for its era. This reference is distinguished by its robust construction and unique aesthetic features that set it apart from other Rolex models.

This particular reference typically features a 38mm stainless steel Oyster case, equipped with an inner soft iron Faraday cage to protect the movement from magnetism. It is powered by the automatic Caliber 1080 movement. The dial variations include black or white, often with a honeycomb texture, and a distinctive lightning bolt seconds hand. The bezel is frequently a rotating black Bakelite insert, though steel bezels were also produced.

For collectors, the Milgauss 6541 is highly prized due to its rarity, historical significance as an early anti-magnetic watch, and its distinctive design elements, particularly the lightning bolt hand and Bakelite bezel. Its limited production run and specialized purpose contribute to its desirability on the vintage market, making well-preserved examples particularly sought after.

Specifications

Caliber
1080
Case
Stainless Steel
Diameter
38mm
Dial
Brown (honeycomb), Black, White
Water Resist.
50m
Crystal
Plexiglass

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
DR
DRMW
Jun 29, 2009
Congrats!

Hello Philipps! Congrats on the Milgauss, wear it in good health! -MW

BR
brokenwrist
Jun 29, 2009
yipes!!!

soooo nice looking. unbelievably classic looking. great catch! wear in the best of health. p.s. whats the size on those two models? cheers, kevin

PH
Philipps
Jun 30, 2009
size...

slightly bigger then small crown and smaller then pointed....here you see it better; rgrds.P

DR
DrStrong
Jun 30, 2009
I think that this one will become....

our new masthead picture !

FE
fernando
Jun 29, 2009
I can only stare in amazement!

Must take a lot of patience and searching to find one of these...........congrats! Fernando

PE
Peter
Jun 30, 2009
Great catch!

Congrats!

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