Daytona4me Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 As promised, I have purchased this Rolex Milgauss Black Dial to do a review. Model: Rolex Milgauss 116400V Movement: ETA 2836-1 Sapphire: Genuine Green Crystal with AR coating (coating has a green/blue hue) Bracelet: Oyster w/Easylock system Extras: Faraday Cage Anti-Magnetic Shielding System Measurements as taken by a digital caliper are as follows: Case w/crown: 42mm Case w/out crown: 39.75mm Case Back to Sapphire top thickness: 12.60mm Lug Width: 20mm Bracelet at Clasp: 16mm This Limited Edition Milguass 116400V M-Series watch has been called one of the most collectible modern watches ever. It's French name suggest high resistance to magnetic fields (with magnetic flux density up to 1,000 gauss) and (The Genuine) a perfect choice for someone who works in close proximity of high magnetic fields, the replica... not so sure what that surround is made of. The stainless steel case is 40mm (actually measured at 39.75mm) in diameter with the aforementioned green sapphire crystal and with text on the caseback. The case also features the desirable smooth bezel, and polished center links on the Oyster bracelet. The genuine case is water resistant to 100 meters, the replica.. you try first and report back.. lol This watch is a pleasant surprise to someone who is not thrilled with the idea of owning a Rolex (that's me!). It does not emanate that flashy jubilee look at me sparkle and will not likely be the first watch in the crowd called out as a replica. As far as accuracy goes, the coronet seems accurately placed on the dial and the fonts are all pretty accurate except for the "Milgauss" where the lettering is too thick, the spacing of the swiss made is spot on as well. I think that the second hand is just a little too short but only by around 1mm. The color of the second hand is pretty close but could be just a tad darker imo. The model number is accurately stamped between the lugs "116400", what I do not know is if the genuine says "Orig Rolex Design 116400" maybe someone can confirm this wording on a genuine for me. What is glaringly inaccurate is the case back. I have not seen a genuine with a holographic sticker (not in any of the pictures I have found thus far) and the model stamped on the holographic sticker says 116200 which is not a model number for a Milgauss. I do not know if all of these have this error, it may just be a mistake on mine, but as previously noted, the case is accurately stamped between the lugs. Now for some pictures: Please be sure to look at the genuine and replica comparisons. GENUINE: REPLICA: GENUINE: REPLICA: GENUINE: REPLICA: GENUINE: REPLICA: Some additional pictures for your viewing pleasure.. Here's an interesting picture I took... I wanted to catch the AR reflection in the black glass table that I shoot on because I thought it would show a saturation of the blue and green hue that I said was present in the AR coating, the black defused the green in the AR and with the incorrect position of my lighting you can see a green AR feathered across the sapphire.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patinga Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Great Review and pics. You should commission from the Collectors for making us want to own one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 great review D4M btw, how is the green cyrstal on the gen compared to the rep? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cableguy Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 i bought one of these when they 1st came out, but the watch was too small it was using the datejust case. I'm glad they fixed it. I would love to own one of these again with the normal crystal. maybe one day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 not bad, thanks for sharing of course the crystal crown etch and rehaut engraving has the typical problems (almost ruins it). the "milgauss" font appears a little thicker than the gen and the green crystal looks a slightly different green. However the crystal color may just be the in the photo and lighting/white balance related. is that a gen eta it looks a little odd? good stuff tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Very interested to see the true comparison between the rep and gen crystals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrandazzo Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 is that a gen eta it looks a little odd? It has written "2836-1" Maybe the chinese run out of "-2" Weird anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceberg1459 Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 what i see from pics, the actual crystal doesnt seems to be green but the plastic rehaut ring is colored which is holding the crystal in place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertieng Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 what i see from pics, the actual crystal doesnt seems to be green but the plastic rehaut ring is colored which is holding the crystal in place No, no, no. The gen. crystal does has a green hue in real life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 No, no, no. The gen. crystal does has a green hue in real life. Yup...that's the big Milgauss thing. Nice pics. I like this watch as well. Thanks for the write-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 It has written "2836-1" Maybe the chinese run out of "-2" Weird anyway... HA! well that explains it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daytona4me Posted November 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 I mistyped in my original post obviously... but ETA does make a 2836-1 , I was going to find the difference last night but simply was to tired.. will look for it today unless someone gets to it before me. edit: also, it appears as though I may be wrong on the 116200, I dont think it's a white dial milgauss but a datejust model. sorry for the mixup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Nice review D4m of a very intriguing watch. Thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 I mistyped in my original post obviously... but ETA does make a 2836-1 , I was going to find the difference last night but simply was to tired.. will look for it today unless someone gets to it before me. edit: also, it appears as though I may be wrong on the 116200, I dont think it's a white dial milgauss but a datejust model. sorry for the mixup. the 2836 predates the 2836-2 movement design. 2836-2 was its successor in the early 80s. funny you'd see it used here. so it's either a refurb'd base OR a clone that has a "typo"...sort of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youpmelone Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 is it me, or is the hour hand fatter on the gen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbh Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 the 2836 predates the 2836-2 movement design. 2836-2 was its successor in the early 80s. funny you'd see it used here. so it's either a refurb'd base OR a clone that has a "typo"...sort of. It's my understanding (and I could be wrong) that the 2836 and 2824 were earlier low beat movements before the 2836-2 and 2824-2 came out. And the 116200 is a Datejust with white gold bezel. That's what my gen case and dial are telling me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 @G Thanks for taking the time... Wonderful review & pics... TT . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guanaco Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Awesome review my friend! Now I want one! Dammit, see what you did there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefcook Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Would you be so kind to give us a lume shot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southcoast68 Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 not bad, thanks for sharing of course the crystal crown etch and rehaut engraving has the typical problems (almost ruins it). the "milgauss" font appears a little thicker than the gen and the green crystal looks a slightly different green. However the crystal color may just be the in the photo and lighting/white balance related. is that a gen eta it looks a little odd? good stuff tho The genuine Milgauss green crystal has NO coronet etching at 6:00, only the clear crystal version has the etching. Apparently, Rolex had troubles with the etching vs. the green coating on the crystal. So the rep is inaccurate in that its not supposed to have an etching if it is a green crystal. Picture below from timezone, used without permission. Other than that, its a nice piece, and a great review. Thanks D4M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilty Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 nice write up. interesting where they position the case clamps. @kbh: 116200 is a smooth stainless bezel. The last two digits in the case number are coded. 0=smooth and 0=stainless. WG code number is 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daytona4me Posted November 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Not that this website is any authority on movements but form your own conclusion with regards to the 2836-1 Movement. From my research, it does look like an older movement, I wonder if these makers found a surplus of old stuff ?? http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi...&ETA_2836_1 But according to this site, the specifications are: ETA 2836-1 Features automatic sweep second day: quickset, 2 languages date: quickset hack feature Data 11.5''', Dm= 25.6mm, H= 5.05mm 17/21/25 jewels f = 28800 A/h power reserve 40h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo35 Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Although I'm a vintage guy, I find this watch is intriguing. Thanks for taking the time and the great write up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 Pretty interesting about the 2836-1. One of my first CN reps has the same movement (4 yrs old). Back then it would be surplus, and I guess it's the same these days- surplus or recycled. The '79-'82 dates of manufacture would make it almost 30 yrs old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted November 5, 2008 Report Share Posted November 5, 2008 maybe someone was smart and bought 50,000 of these movements 5 years ago and held onto them.. haha.. wouldnt it be nice to have a time machine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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