Watch Paparazzi

Singer Vasco Rossi spotted wearing 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.