The Exclusive Green Sapphire Crystal On the Rolex Milgauss

Rolex fitted the green sapphire crystal to the Milgauss reference 116400GV. It soon became one of the defining features of the brand’s anti-magnetic watch collection.

Although Rolex introduced the Milgauss in 1956, the brand equipped the now-signature and the exclusive green sapphire crystal in 2007. The fact is that:

The manufacturer crafted the green-tinted sapphire crystal to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its Milgauss collection.

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Rolex Milgauss and The Green Sapphire Crystal

Interestingly, Rolex has not used a green-tinted or other coloured sapphire crystal on any watches in the brand’s current catalogue. Today, all Rolex Milgauss watches currently in production, feature green sapphire crystals.

Rolex could master and devise the green sapphire crystal precisely after many years of research and development. The manufacturer typically patents all its in-house technologies. However, the interesting fact is that:

The brand claims that the Milgauss’ green-tinted sapphire crystal is not patented. The process of developing the crystals is challenging and takes several weeks. Thus, no other manufacturer would ideally try to venture.

The Secret Procedure of Producing Green Sapphire Crystal

Rolex has always been tongue-tied regarding the specific formulas and secrets behind manufacturing the green sapphire crystals. While there are many ways to make synthetic sapphire, Rolex is believed to use a hydrothermal process.

• The hydrothermal method is slow and expensive.
• It uses pressure and heat to emulate the conditions prevailing under the earth’s surface that lead to the formation of natural crystalline gemstones.
• However, the synthetic green sapphire’s chemical composition includes aluminium and copper.

Overall, the process of producing synthetic sapphire is an exacting and expensive one. During the manufacturing of synthetic sapphire, the component has to build-up for many weeks.

While particles allure one another, they form layers that merge to make a dense and superiorly hard substance. This ultimately results in the production of a solid synthetic sapphire known as ‘boule’.

Shaped like a bulky cylinder, the ‘boule’ is cut as well as moulded to its required dimensions.

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Other Rumours

Maximum watch crystal makers are known to cut the synthetic boules perpendicularly because of higher costs of production.

However, Rolex is alledged to cut the synthetic sapphire along a diagonal axis. This increases the strength and clarity of the finished crystal. But:

When the synthetic sapphire boule is cut along the diagonal axis, it significantly maximises the amount of waste. It eventually adds cost to the expensive production process.

Although the green sapphire crystal is one of the explicate features of the Milgauss line, it does not have any functional advantages over a clear, conventional sapphire crystal.

So, what makes the Rolex Milgauss coveted among collectors?

The green sapphire crystal fitted to the Milgauss 116400GV is one of the significant reasons why people seek for this specific reference.

Indeed, the green-tinted crystal is exclusive to the Milgauss collection.

If you choose to sell a Rolex Milgauss, you are likely to obtain a good resale value from any potential watch buyers in London or anywhere in the UK.

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