While we love the full steel version of the Rolex Milgauss, wearing it on a leather strap lends it a smart and elegant, yet vibrant style. Read on to find out which Milgauss watch pairs perfectly with a soft light colored leather strap.
The Modern Milgauss
In 2007, Rolex revived the discontinued Milgauss watch. Although it still includes important features of vintage Milgauss models, the current Milgauss ref. 116400 is a thoroughly modern Rolex timepiece.
The Milgauss ref. 116400 sports a 40mm stainless steel Oyster case along with a matching steel Oyster bracelet. Identical to all Milgauss models, it is—as its name suggests— resistant to magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss. This is due to its magnetic shield protecting the Caliber 3131 watch movement within the case. Remember, the original Milgauss was developed for professionals working in high magnetic fields during the scientific boom of the 1950s and beyond. Since magnetism is very detrimental to timekeeping instruments, an antimagnetic watch was a practical proposition indeed.
There are several dial variations of the modern Milgauss ref. 116400, but the one that looks particularly great on a light brown leather strap is the white dial version.
The White Milgauss ref 116400 with a Leather Strap
The white dial version of the Milgauss ref 116400 boasts plenty of bright orange details. First, there’s the unmistakable lightning bolt seconds hand, very different from the typical Rolex Mercedes hands, which is a nod to the scientific community the watch caters to. The orange hue carries on with the baton indexes, as well as, the minute track on the periphery of the dial. Finally, there’s the matching orange “MILGAUSS” label under the Rolex logo at 12 o’clock.
When worn alongside its customary silver Oyster bracelet, the vibrant colors on the dial serve more as accents to the watch rather than the focal point. However, when paired with a light tan calfskin leather strap, it’s a whole different story. The color of the leather complements the orange details perfectly, making them pop. In our opinion, the face of the watch is instantly more alive and dramatic. Leather has always been a traditional strap choice for fine watches, prized for its classic and sophisticated style. And while this tan leather band is certainly elegant, it adds energy too thanks to the way it picks up the colors of the Milgauss dial.
That’s the beauty of alternating watch straps—it can bring a whole new look to the same watch. One watch with infinite styles.
What do you think of this modern Milgauss paired with the tan leather band? Do you ever switch out your Rolex bracelet with different straps? If so, share a picture of your Rolex strap style in the comment section below.
