Exquisite and exceedingly rare — the present example is indisputably one of the scarcest and finest Rolex models to ever grace the market. Rolex released the very first Milgauss, the ref. 6541, in 1956. As a matter of fact, the Milgauss was the manufacturer’s response to the increasing demand for wristwatches that could resist high magnetic fields in electro-industrial environments.

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.

The present example, created in 1958, is one of the earliest reference 6541 produced. 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.

Adding another element of collectability, the watch also includes a rotating bezel with a red-colored triangle and a honeycomb-patterned dial. The present example features an extremely well preserved case with sharp lines and beveled edges, and is by all means a superb example of this highly coveted reference.