September 2026
The RICH Factory Milgauss 116400GV super clone tested: 40mm 904L case, the iconic green sapphire crystal, orange lightning-bolt seconds hand, and the RF3131 movement.
The Milgauss is the scientist of the Rolex family — a tool watch built for people who work inside magnetic fields, and for that reason one of the most recognizable references Rolex ever made. RICH Factory now replicates it as the Milgauss 116400GV at $698 (list $948), and it is one of the most faithful entries in the catalog. This review covers the case, the Glace Verte crystal, the dial, the RF3131 movement, and how it compares with its 40mm siblings before you approve QC.
Rolex introduced the Milgauss in 1956 for scientists, engineers and medical staff who worked near magnetic fields — the name fuses the French mille (1,000) with the gauss unit, and the original references such as the 6541 were rated to resist 1,000 gauss thanks to a soft-iron inner case. The orange lightning-bolt seconds hand has been part of the identity since those early years. Rolex relaunched the line at Baselworld 2007 as the modern 116400 with the calibre 3131, and the green-sapphire version — GV, short for Glace Verte, or green glass — became the collector favorite. A blue Z-Blue dial variant joined it in 2014, and in 2023 Rolex discontinued the entire family with no direct successor, sending grey-market prices for the black GV to roughly $9,000–$12,000. RICH Factory's interpretation, available now at $698, brings a discontinued icon back at a fraction of that figure — roughly 6–8 percent of the genuine's current grey-market range.
The case is precision-machined 904L-grade stainless steel at 40mm with a 20mm lug width and a fixed, fully polished bezel that is slightly thicker than on other sport models — the same proportions as the genuine 116400, with crown and gaskets built to interchange with original parts. The caseback is solid steel, and every case is pressure-tested to 100m before shipping. Why the alloy matters is covered in detail in our why 904L steel matters article — in short, it polishes brighter and resists corrosion better than the 316L used by most factories. The brushed Oyster bracelet wears the modern Oysterlock clasp, and solid end link fitment on this reference averages under 0.15mm of gap, consistent with the rest of the lineup. On the wrist the 40mm case wears neutral and slightly heavy — closer to a Submariner than to a dress watch, which suits the Milgauss's tool heritage. The solid caseback and the 100m rating cover swimming without worry.
The defining feature of the GV is the green sapphire crystal, and RICH Factory gets the character right: the tint is in the sapphire itself, washing the black dial in a subtle sage green from certain angles while reading almost clear head-on. Cheap clones oversaturate it — a lime-colored crystal is the fastest way to spot a low-tier Milgauss from across a room. The dial underneath is clean: applied polished baton hour markers, a printed minute track, orange Milgauss script above 6 o'clock, and the signature orange lightning-bolt seconds hand with the Rolex crown as its counterweight. The lume is a blue-emitting Super-LumiNova that mirrors the genuine's Chromalight behavior under UV. There is no date window and no cyclops, which keeps the dial symmetrical and removes one of the usual replica failure points — the printing, marker alignment and the hand stack should all be checked against our 12-point QC checklist when your photos arrive.
Powering the Milgauss is the RF3131, RICH Factory's clone of the Rolex 3131 caliber used in the genuine 116400. It beats at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) with a 48-hour power reserve, a free-sprung balance and a Parachrom-style blue hairspring — the same movement we tested in our RICH Factory Air-King 116900 review, where it is also fitted. Timegrapher readings on tested examples land at +3 to +6 seconds per day with amplitude around 285 degrees and beat error under 0.3 ms, genuine-grade regulation for a time-only caliber. Because it carries no date complication, there are fewer moving parts to fail than on the 3235-based models. One honest caveat: the genuine Milgauss resists 1,000 gauss via a soft-iron inner case and paramagnetic components, and the clone recreates the visual story without that shielding — keep it away from strong magnetic fields and it will hold its rate like any other mechanical watch. Every unit ships with its timegrapher report and a 2-year movement warranty.
The Milgauss at $698 sits between three obvious alternatives in the RICH Factory lineup. The Air-King 116900 at the same $698 shares the 40mm 904L case, the Oyster bracelet and the RF3131 movement, but swaps the green crystal for a clear one and the clean dial for the busy 3-6-9 aviator layout with 05-minute markings — a louder design, a quieter presence. The Oyster Perpetual 41 Green at $648 is the minimalist alternative: 41mm, a smooth polished bezel and a vivid sunburst dial with no text beyond the crown, aimed at buyers who want color without any tool-watch story. Against both, the Milgauss is the most collectible and the most recognizable — the green crystal and the lightning bolt mark it out immediately, which is exactly its appeal and also its tell for anyone who knows Rolex. If you want a date window or a rotating bezel instead, neither this nor the Air-King offers one.
The RICH Factory Milgauss 116400GV at $698 — 26 percent off the $948 list and a fraction of the discontinued genuine's grey-market price — is the strongest way into a reference almost nobody else replicates well. The green crystal is the make-or-break detail and RICH Factory executes it subtly; the RF3131 is proven, simple and well regulated; and the case finishing matches the Submariner line that made the factory's name. The crystal alone is worth the price — it is the first thing every Milgauss fan checks, and it passes. Buy it if you want a 40mm Rolex that stands out to enthusiasts without shouting, and if you are comfortable explaining a discontinued model. Skip it if you need a date, a rotating bezel, or maximum anonymity — the Air-King or an Oyster Perpetual covers those cases. When QC arrives, check the tint, the bolt hand and the timegrapher numbers, then enjoy the most unusual watch in the catalog.
Yes. The green tint is applied to a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, replicating the genuine GV (Glace Verte) — Rolex's only colored crystal in the modern catalog. The tint should read as a subtle sage wash over the black dial; a heavy lime-green cast is the quickest tell on cheaper clones — check it across several QC angles.
The RF3131, RICH Factory's clone of Rolex calibre 3131: 28,800 vph (4 Hz), a free-sprung balance with a Parachrom-style blue hairspring, and a 48-hour power reserve — the same spec as the genuine 3131. Tested examples typically run +3 to +6 seconds per day with beat error under 0.3 ms and amplitude around 285 degrees.
Not to genuine spec — this is a visual replica, not a physics project. The real 116400GV resists 1,000 gauss using a soft-iron inner case and paramagnetic components; the clone recreates the look without that shielding. Keep it away from strong magnetic fields such as speaker magnets and induction cooktops and it will hold time like any other mechanical watch.
Rolex discontinued the Milgauss in 2023 after 16 years of the modern 116400 series, with no direct successor — it simply left the catalog. Discontinued status pushed grey-market prices for the black GV to roughly $9,000–$12,000. At $698, the RICH Factory version is the only affordable way to own the reference today.
Both cost $698 and share the same 40mm 904L case, Oyster bracelet and RF3131 movement, so the decision is really about the dial. Choose the Air-King for the busy 3-6-9 aviator layout with clear crystal; choose the Milgauss for the clean black dial, green sapphire tint and orange lightning bolt. If you want to stand out, the Milgauss is the more distinctive of the two.
Confirm the green tint is even and subtle, the lightning-bolt seconds hand is straight and free of scratches, the orange 'Milgauss' print is sharp, the SELs sit flush with under 0.15mm gap, and the timegrapher report shows amplitude 270–320 degrees, beat error under 0.3 ms and a rate within +2 to +8 seconds per day.