Watch Paparazzi

Model Nicky Hilton spotted wearing Rolex

Nicky Hilton's birthday tribute from Rome-based trusted dealer Conte Orologi and Mondani Web put a spotlight on a Rolex reference that rarely gets the celebrity treatment it deserves: the Milgauss 116400 in stainless steel with a white dial. While most celebrities gravitate toward Rolex's sports crown jewels, Hilton's choice signals a collector's sensibility rather than a trophy purchase.

The Rolex Milgauss ref. 116400 was reintroduced in 2007 at Baselworld, ending a production gap that stretched back to the early 1980s. Rolex built the original Milgauss in 1956 to meet the demanding requirements of scientists and engineers working in high-electromagnetic environments — most famously at CERN in Geneva. The reference 116400 carries that legacy forward with a specially constructed movement shield: the caliber 3131, a self-winding manufacture movement featuring a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring and a soft-iron inner cage that deflects magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss (hence the name, derived from 'mille' and 'gauss'). The 40mm Oyster case is water-resistant to 100 metres, and the watch is certified as a COSC chronometer.

The 116400 comes in three dial variants — black, white, and the famous orange-lightning-hand 116400GV with a green sapphire crystal — but the standard white dial with the distinctive orange seconds hand and Z-shaped lightning bolt hand remains the most restrained and arguably the most elegant of the trio. The white dial ref. 116400 occupies a sweet spot for collectors: recognizably Rolex yet genuinely different from the usual grail pieces, making it a marker of someone who knows the catalog thoroughly.

Nicky Hilton, married to James Rothschild and long associated with high-end fashion and lifestyle, has demonstrated consistent taste in fine jewelry and accessories. Wearing the Milgauss rather than a more ostentatious Rolex is a deliberate and informed choice — one that positions her comfortably within serious watch collecting circles rather than pure celebrity status dressing.

On the market, the Rolex Milgauss 116400 was discontinued alongside other references during Rolex's 2023 catalog refresh, which has tightened supply and pushed grey-market prices modestly above retail. The standard steel white-dial example now trades at a slight premium over its last official list price, making it an increasingly attractive proposition for collectors who missed it during its production run.