Milgauss Replica Review: First Pick, Then Options
Rolex sold the Milgauss 116400 from 2007 to 2023. The case measures 40 mm across and 13 mm thick. Lug width is 20 mm. The movement, caliber 3131, sits inside a soft iron cage rated to 1,000 gauss. Replica makers copy the case, the dial, and the orange lightning bolt second hand. Prices run from $95 to $520. Three parts set the price: the crystal, the movement, and the case steel.
how to spot fake rolex milgauss
First Pick: 116400GV Build With Green Sapphire and ST2130
Start here. The GV is the version with the green crystal. A $380 to $450 build uses a green sapphire crystal, a 316L steel case, and a Seagull ST2130 movement at 28,800 vph. Power reserve is about 40 hours. The dial carries applied orange markers with lume. The rehaut has engraved text. Bracelet weight sits close to the steel original. This build gets the crystal right, and the crystal is the hard part.
Fake Rolex Milgauss Price: What Each Tier Really Costs
Option Two: 116400 White Dial, $220 to $280
Same 40 mm case and 20 mm lugs. Mineral glass with a clear coat. Movement is a Hangzhou 6460 or a DG2813 at 21,600 vph, which is 6 beats per second. The second hand sweep looks stepped next to the 8 beats per second of an ST2130. Crown threads are cut fine. Water resistance is claimed at 100 m and not tested.
Option Three: 116400 Black Dial, $95 to $150
Plated case, mineral glass, quartz or a low grade automatic. A quartz build ticks one beat per second. Crown threads strip with use. Case weight drops to about 110 g. Sold with a hollow end link bracelet.
Genuine vs Replica: Points to Compare
- Green crystal: genuine is green sapphire. Low tier copies use clear glass with a green edge tint.
- Movement: caliber 3131 with a paramagnetic escapement. Copies use ST2130, 6460, DG2813, or quartz.
- Magnetic shield: genuine has an inner soft iron cage. Copies use a steel case back and no cage.
- Case back: genuine is smooth steel. Copies add engraving that does not match.
- Second hand: genuine lightning bolt is flat and orange with a squared tip.
How to Test the Green Crystal
Hold the watch at an angle under a white light. A green sapphire crystal reads green across the whole edge and the dial reads green at every angle. A coated mineral crystal reads green from the front and clear from the side. Look at the chamfer. Sapphire has a sharp bevel. Glass shows a softer bevel and a visible band where the tint stops.
Rehaut engraving is a second test. Use a 10x loupe. Genuine laser etching has clean letter edges. Copies show a shallow, dotted line.
Price Bands and What You Get
- $95 to $150: plated case, mineral glass, DG2813 or quartz.
- $160 to $280: 316L case, mineral glass, ST2130 or 6460.
- $300 to $520: 316L case, green sapphire, ST2130, better dial print.
US Legal Facts
19 U.S.C. § 1526 covers trademarked goods at import. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy a counterfeit watch shipment. Selling a counterfeit watch is trademark infringement under the Lanham Act. Rolex has filed civil suits against sellers. Risk sits with the importer and the reseller.
Bottom Line
The $380 to $450 GV build with green sapphire and an ST2130 is the pick. It matches the case size, the lug width, and the beat rate. Buyers who want a black or white dial at a lower price can take the $220 option and accept mineral glass. Skip the $95 tier if the crystal matters.