Singer Vasco Rossi spotted wearing a Rolex

Vasco Rossi, the rock singer from Zocca, near Modena, who has sold more than 35 million records and routinely fills Italian stadiums, keeps his wrist understated with a Rolex Milgauss ref. 116400 on an Oystersteel bracelet — a watch that rewards those who know what they are looking at.

The Rolex Milgauss ref. 116400 was introduced in 2007 as the modern reinterpretation of a model Rolex first produced in 1956 for scientists and engineers working in high-electromagnetic environments. The name derives from 'mille gauss' — a thousand gauss — the magnetic-field threshold the watch is certified to withstand. Rolex achieves this through a soft-iron inner cage that shields the calibre 3131 movement, a self-winding manufacture movement with a Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers, beating at 28,800 vph with a 48-hour power reserve. The black dial version pairs with a smooth Oystersteel bracelet and retains the iconic orange-tipped lightning-bolt seconds hand — one of the most recognisable details in the Rolex catalogue.

Among collectors, the Milgauss occupies a distinct niche. It is a genuine tool watch with a credible scientific heritage rather than a sport or dress hybrid, yet it remains one of the more accessible references in terms of secondary-market availability compared to the Submariner or GMT-Master II. The ref. 116400 was discontinued in 2023, when Rolex quietly retired the entire Milgauss line without a successor — a decision that immediately sharpened collector interest and pushed grey-market prices upward on all variants.

Rossi's choice is not a new acquisition. Reports indicate he has worn this piece for a considerable period, suggesting a genuine affinity rather than a fashion moment. For a musician whose career spans five decades of Italian rock history, a watch defined by its resilience and technical purpose feels like a coherent statement.

With the ref. 116400 now discontinued, retail availability has effectively ended. Grey-market prices for the black-dial Oystersteel version have firmed since the discontinuation announcement, making what was once a relatively attainable Rolex a quietly appreciating asset. Buyers who overlooked the Milgauss in favour of sportier references are now revisiting it.