My Milgauss 1019 journey

[MilPauS]

Hi all,

I've been obsessed with the Milgauss range since the 116400GV came out. It was the first Rolex that caught my attention and I currently have the black dial GV and the non GV in my collection and I'm definitely hoping to add the white dial version at some point, too. (Username probably also a clue to my obsessive madness regarding the Milgauss).

I've been researching and obsessing over the 1019 for a couple years now, but there seems to be a lot less information about it online than most of other models. I've only had the chance to see one in the flesh once and it was in a pretty rough state... overall I am quite scared about pulling the trigger on one of them and thought I'd open this thread in case there are any owners or enthusiasts who want to chip in.

Any thoughts, comments, pictures and buying experiences will be much appreciated!

My grail piece would be a birthyear (88) MG (which I'm not even sure exists... I've read they were sold until 89 but Ive never actually seen one dated after 87)

Thank you all and I look forward to learning and sharing this joirney with you guys!

[Haywood_Milton]

The 1019 is a great watch, its large size not realised by many until they try it on.

I have three, all with silver dials and all slightly different.











....and about ten of the English language Milgauss booklets, which are probably rarer still !

Main agents and former Rolex UK staff would speak of them being in stock for years, unloved and unwanted 40-50 years ago.

Good luck in your search.

Insta : haywood_milton_rolex

[Dan S]

That's a special reference, no doubt. Good luck!
[Such beautiful examples from @Haywood_Milton, thanks for adding those to the thread.]

[1William]

Nice watch. Good luck.

[MilPauS]

Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton

The 1019 is a great watch, its large size not realised by many until they try it on.

I have three, all with silver dials and all slightly different.

....and about ten of the English language Milgauss booklets, which are probably rarer still !

Main agents and former Rolex UK staff would speak of them being in stock for years, unloved and unwanted 40-50 years ago.

Good luck in your search.

Insta : haywood_milton_rolex

Blimey what a collection! Thank you so much for ypir post and the amazing pictures.

The size is one of my main paranoias as I have a fairly large wrist (20cm). Would you say it wears somewhat similar to a preceramic 40mm Sub/GMT then? Also, is it possible the silver dial wear bigger than the black dial?

Thank you so much everyone! This is gonna be fun! :)

[Goochy]

Here’s mine. 6159XXX serial number but papers dated 1990. These were not popular and sat around for ages. They seem to be have been made in batches. The movements are unique and the cases are a unique size neither is used in any other model. I used to be quiet chatty with the “quick service tech” at Bexley and he said they made the initial batch which sold ok but had some cases left over, they made a batch of movements to use up the cases but made more than they needed. The extra movements were then used in a final batch with “R” serial numbers but there’s not many of these and the cases of the “R” serials are very subtly different, almost imperceptible but slightly larger. Not sure how true it is but it sounds plausible.

[MilPauS]

Originally Posted by Goochy

Here’s mine. 6159XXX serial number but papers dated 1990. These were not popular and sat around for ages. They seem to be have been made in batches. The movements are unique and the cases are a unique size neither is used in any other model. I used to be quiet chatty with the “quick service tech” at Bexley and he said they made the initial batch which sold ok but had some cases left over, they made a batch of movements to use up the cases but made more than they needed. The extra movements were then used in a final batch with “R” serial numbers but there’s not many of these and the cases of the “R” serials are very subtly different, almost imperceptible but slightly larger. Not sure how true it is but it sounds plausible.

I must say, I do have a soft spot for matte dials and the black one looks absolutely phenomenal! Thanks for sharing mate. Do you mind me asking how big of a wrist you have?

That is absolutely wild re: serial v date on papers. Do you know where it was originally sold? That's an astonishing amount of time ha!

Well I guess that means there's hope for me to find that 88 somewhere! :)

[Goochy]

Originally Posted by MilPauS

I must say, I do have a soft spot for matte dials and the black one looks absolutely phenomenal! Thanks for sharing mate. Do you mind me asking how big of a wrist you have?

That is absolutely wild re: serial v date on papers. Do you know where it was originally sold? That's an astonishing amount of time ha!

Well I guess that means there's hope for me to find that 88 somewhere! :)

My wrist is quite large at 7.5”. My watch was sold in Switzerland and was supposedly “dead stock” and part of a batch of 1019’s that Rolex supplied very cheaply to Swiss authorized dealers in 1989. Here’s a bit of research I did, these are all the 1019’s I could find that sold recently at auction with serial numbers listed. The ones with dated papers are shown in the “date sold” column. All the auction info listed is already out there on the web.

[MilPauS]

Originally Posted by Goochy

My wrist is quite large at 7.5”. My watch was sold in Switzerland and was supposedly “dead stock” and part of a batch of 1019’s that Rolex supplied very cheaply to Swiss authorized dealers in 1989. Here’s a bit of research I did, these are all the 1019’s I could find that sold recently at auction with serial numbers listed. The ones with dated papers are shown in the “date sold” column. All the auction info listed is already out there on the web.

This is amazing mate... so so interesting! Absolutely wild how there are 6.16s sold from 84 to 90!!!

Thanks for sharing!