This Anti-Magnetic Watch Will Scratch Your Itch for a Beloved Discontinued Rolex

Rolex discontinued the Milgauss in 2023, but Horage is making an anti-magnetic homage.

Published March 21, 2025

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It would be fair to call Horage a research facility rather than a watchmaker.

After launching its first in-house movement in 2009, the Swiss startup surpassed replicating traditional designs and knocking off expired patents. It has been exploring how modern technology can advance mechanical timekeeping, and much of it has to do with magnets.

a steel watch with a blue dial — The lightning bolt second hand is red and blue, the colors that represent the polarities of magnets.

In 2024, Horage introduced the first-ever mechanical watch movement that an owner can regulate without even opening the case. The potentially revolutionary technology is a brilliantly simple mechanism attached to the escapment, which is controlled externally by a remote.

For its next trick, Horage has introduced its COSC-certified caliber K3 movement, an anti-magnetic modular design that it hopes to source out to other watch brands.

Horage is playing up the K3’s antimagnetic properties by debuting it in the DecaFlux, an obvious homage to the legendary Rolex Milgauss.

An impressive movement

Most modern mechanical watches possess some degree of protection against magnetism. Otherwise, none of them would be accurate in our magent-laden world.

the exhibition case back of a watch — Horage’s K3 anti-magnetic modular movement.

Computers require magnets, and electronics create magnetic fields, so mechanical watchmakers need to start building in stronger protections against magnetism. That is a niche Horage is hoping to fill with the K3 movement.

It is a modular movement, which means it can be built from assembled and customized from base parts. Any watch company that doesn’t make in-house movements can either buy them fully assembled or buy modular parts to assemble themselves.

The K3 uses a silicone escapement and hairspring because those are the two movement components that can throw off a watch’s accuracy if affected by magnetism. This sounds simple, but it is a complicated advancement for a COSC-certified movement that beats at 3.5Hz and has a 96-hour power reserve.

Another innovative and helpful feature of the Decaflux is Horage’s HMAC bracelet clasp system, which allows for 10 millimeters of adjustment with a simple squeeze, no tools needed.

Legendary looks

The Rolex Milgauss is the most famous anti-magnetic watch ever produced. By simply replicating its most distinguishing feature, the lightning bolt second hand, Horage is communicating that the Decaflux is anti-magnetic.

Complete-Rolex-Buying-Guide-gear-patrol-Milgauss — A Rolex Milguass, discontinued in 2023.

The similarities go a bit further for those familiar with the defunct Rolex line. Both references of the Decaflux have tinted sapphire crystal, like Milgauss references. The black dial has a red tint and the blue dial has a blue tint, another reference to the colors of magnetic polarity indication.

However, the Decaflux is not just a replica. Horage built an impressive watch that can stand on its own merits, like applied Super-LumiNova-filled indices, diamond-cut hands, a signed and knurled screw-down crown and a sapphire crystal exhibition case back.

Considering that Rolex discontinued the Milgauss in 2023, the Decaflux is more fulfilling a vacancy than following a leader. The overall construction and finishing may not be on par with a Rolex, but the desired performance is all there, with a brand that is forging its own path.

Availability and pricing

The Horage Decaflux K3 is now available for preorder from Horage.

During the preorder period, it costs $2835. When it is released on March 24, the price will go up to $3,110, which is still a bargain for the specs on this watch.

For reference, used Rolex Milgauss references run between $9,000 and $16,000.