ROLEX - Lot 53
ROLEX Milgauss Ref. 1019 No. 2015897 Circa 1969 Professional wristwatch in steel once owned by Dr. Antonio Borjas Case: round, screw-down crown and back, smooth bezel, signed and numbered Dial: silvered with baton hour-markers, luminescent dots and hands, central second hand, railroad minute track, signed Movement: automatic, chronometer-certified, cal. 1580, signed Bracelet / Clasp : Steel Oyster, folding clasp, signed Diameter: 39 mm Wrist circumference 17 cm Provenance: Kept in the family of the original owner, by the current descendant of Dr. Antonio Borjas Romero, famous Venezuelan surgeon. A stainless-steel automatic professional wristwatch by Rolex with stainless-steel bracelet which belonged to Dr Antonio Borjas Romero. As the famous "Milgauss" model was originally intended for professionals and engineers at CERN in Geneva, it's easy to understand why this famous surgeon, Dr. Antonio Borjas Romero, wore it on his wrist in the operating room during the 1970s. As well as being Professor of Human Anatomy at the Faculties of Dentistry and Medicine at the University of Zulia, Dr. Antonio Borjas Romero took courses in cardiac and large-vessel surgery at John Hopkins Hospital in the USA. His work as Rector of the University of Zulia earned him the ultimate recognition from his peers, who described him as "The Eternal Rector", while he was at the head of the Institution. He ensured that the University had vast tracts of land in the northern zone of Maracaibo, and that five faculties, twenty-two schools and fifteen research centers were founded. He acquired the printing press, life insurance for professors and created the Nucleus of Light in Punto Fijo, Falcón state. In honor of the "Eternal Rector" of the University of Zulia, Venezuela, a parish in Maracaibo bears his name, Antonio Borjas Romero. Close to the unfortunate and underprivileged, firm in his decisions, he was nonetheless an "angel", as his daughter describes him, when he returned to the operating room. So it's no coincidence that his wrist sported the Rolex "tool watch" par excellence, the famous Rolex Milgauss, which withstands up to a thousand gauss on the magnetic field scale, a feat of precision for a wristwatch of the time. Its extraordinary story is told in Miguel Bonnefoy's multi-award-winning novel, "Le rêve du jaguar". Condition report given for information only: Sold as is, without warranty Traces of use visible throughout, Scratches visible throughout, Movement works, but needs to be overhauled Condition report given as an indication : Sold as is, without warranty Signs of wear from use visible throughout Scuffs from use visible throughout, Movement is ticking but plan for a standard overhaul
