Is the Rolex Milgauss Coming Back in 2025? (Rolex Predictions 2025)

In 2023, Rolex quietly discontinued the Milgauss, ending its run as the brand’s dedicated anti-magnetic watch. Since then, speculation about its return has only grown. With Rolex’s history of reviving discontinued models—and recent patents pointing to new advancements in anti-magnetic technology—a Milgauss comeback in 2025 is entirely possible.

But here’s the thing: Rolex doesn’t need an anti-magnetic watch anymore. Modern Rolex movements already offer strong resistance to magnetism, thanks to advancements in hairspring and escapement materials. If the Milgauss returns, it won’t be about solving a problem—it’ll be about honoring one of Rolex’s quirkiest, most distinctive designs.

So what could a new Milgauss look like? And will we see one in 2025?

Rolex and Anti-Magnetism: The Milgauss Legacy

The original Milgauss debuted in 1956, built for scientists, engineers, and professionals working around strong magnetic fields. The name—mille gauss, meaning 1,000 gauss—referred to its ability to resist magnetism through the use of a soft-iron inner cage.

That internal shield remained a signature feature through the modern Milgauss, which Rolex last updated in 2007 before discontinuing it in 2023. But over time, Rolex developed better solutions.

Image Source: Perpetual Passion

Today, nearly every Rolex movement offers strong resistance to magnetism without needing a bulky "Faraday" cage. The Parachrom hairspring, introduced in 2000, is made of a niobium-zirconium alloy that resists magnetism and temperature fluctuations. In 2015, Rolex introduced the Chronergy escapement, a nickel-phosphorous alloy component that further improves magnetic resistance. The brand has also used Syloxi silicon hairsprings in select models, which are inherently amagnetic.

These advancements mean that every modern Rolex is already highly resistant to magnetism. If the Milgauss returns, it will need to stand out in other ways.

Rolex’s 2023 Anti-Magnetic Balance Wheel Patent

Text in image translated from French. Original Image Source:  database.ipi.ch

Rolex isn’t done innovating in this space. In 2023, a newly published Rolex patent detailed a breakthrough in anti-magnetic balance wheels. Instead of using traditional copper-beryllium alloys, Rolex tested a lead-free brass material, referred to as "Eco-brass," which significantly increased magnetic resistance.

The results showed up to 40,000 gauss of resistance, nearly double that of current Rolex sports models, which withstand 22,500 gauss. If Rolex is preparing to roll out this new material, the Milgauss would be the perfect model to debut it. That said, this technology will likely trickle into the broader lineup, meaning a new Milgauss wouldn’t be Rolex’s only ultra-resistant watch.

A New Rolex Milgauss: What Could It Look Like?

Digital rendering of potential new Milgauss with rotating bezel.

Since function isn’t the selling point anymore, a revived Milgauss would need to lean into design. The model has always been one of Rolex’s quirkiest, and there are a few directions Rolex could take.

The original Milgauss 6541, released alongside the first Submariner, featured a rotating bezel. While later models abandoned this feature, bringing it back would add to the watch’s versatility. While a rotating bezel Milgauss isn’t impossible, Rolex may hesitate to make it feel too similar to the Air-King or Explorer II.

Image Source: Watch Affinity

The green-tinted sapphire crystal and lightning bolt seconds hand were signature elements of the last Milgauss, setting it apart from the rest of Rolex’s catalog. These details were fan favorites, and Rolex rarely backtracks on successful design choices. It’s likely that a modern Milgauss would retain these quirky design elements while refining the overall case and proportions.

Image Source: WatchPro

Another possible approach would be borrowing the case from the Air-King, which was redesigned in 2022 with crown guards and a more squared-off profile. Some have speculated that a new Milgauss would use this case, offering a modernized look while keeping the dial and color accents of its predecessor. Given Rolex’s history of sharing case architecture across models, this wouldn’t be out of the question.

Will We See a New Milgauss in 2025?

If Rolex is bringing back the Milgauss, it will likely be a design-driven release rather than one focused on anti-magnetic technology. It could serve as the showcase for Rolex’s new anti-magnetic balance wheel, though this innovation will likely extend to multiple models over time. More than anything, the new Milgauss would need to embrace the personality that made it stand out in the first place—whether that’s the green crystal, the lightning bolt seconds hand, or a surprise throwback to the 6541’s rotating bezel.

Whether it happens in 2025 or later, a new Milgauss feels inevitable. Rolex doesn’t abandon its icons for long.

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