Watch reference library
Rolex Milgauss 116400GV “Glace Verte”
Produced 2007 to 2023. Discontinued.
Specifications
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case material
- Oystersteel
- Bezel
- Smooth, polished
- Dial
- Black or Z-Blue, with an orange lightning-bolt seconds hand
- Movement
- Rolex calibre 3131, automatic
- Power reserve
- About 48 hours
- Water resistance
- 100 meters
- Crystal
- Sapphire, tinted green (Glace Verte)
- Bracelet
- Oyster, three-piece links
The story
Rolex introduced the original Milgauss in 1956 as a tool watch for engineers and scientists working near strong magnetic fields, with the name referring to its resistance to roughly 1,000 gauss. The line was discontinued in the late 1980s and stayed out of the catalog for about two decades before Rolex revived it in 2007 as the ref. 116400, a 40mm steel watch with a distinctive orange lightning-bolt seconds hand. At launch in 2007, the 116400 was offered with a black or white dial under a standard clear sapphire crystal, alongside a special anniversary version with a black dial and a green-tinted sapphire crystal, the ref. 116400GV, with GV standing for Glace Verte, French for green glass. In 2014, Rolex added a second GV variant with a blue dial, quickly nicknamed Z-Blue by collectors, sold alongside the black-dial GV. Rolex discontinued the clear-crystal 116400 in 2016, leaving the green-crystal 116400GV, in both black and Z-Blue dial options, as the only Milgauss models in production. The entire Milgauss line was then discontinued in 2023, announced at Watches and Wonders that year, without a direct successor introduced since.
What to check before you buy
Since the whole Milgauss line is discontinued, buyers should expect to shop the secondary market exclusively, and full sets with box and papers carry a meaningful premium given the model's small remaining production window and cult following. Because the green tint in the Glace Verte crystal is a manufacturing characteristic rather than a coating, it does not fade or wear off, so an inconsistent or missing green tint is a sign the crystal has been replaced with a non-original part. Buyers should also confirm which dial color they are looking at, since the black-dial and Z-Blue-dial versions share the same 116400GV reference number and are distinguished only by the dial itself on the case documentation.
Buying or selling a 116400GV?
Moda is always buying. Text photos to (605) 521-2821 for a fast offer, or start on the Moda Watches page. For any deal with a stranger, Moda's middleman service inspects the watch before money changes hands. For live market pricing on this reference, Moda-lytics tracks real Rolex sales data.
Common questions
Is the Rolex Milgauss still in production?
No. Rolex discontinued the entire Milgauss line in 2023, and the 116400GV is only available on the secondary market.
What does GV mean on the Milgauss reference number?
GV stands for Glace Verte, French for green glass, referring to the green-tinted sapphire crystal used on this version of the Milgauss.
What is the difference between the black-dial and Z-Blue 116400GV?
Both use the same reference number and green sapphire crystal, but the black-dial version was part of the original 2007 launch while the Z-Blue dial variant was added in 2014.
Does the green crystal fade over time?
No, the tint is part of the sapphire crystal itself rather than a surface coating, so it does not fade with normal wear.
What movement powers the Milgauss 116400GV?
It uses the Rolex caliber 3131, a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring designed for resistance to magnetic fields, with about 48 hours of power reserve.