1961 Rolex Vintage Turn-O-Graph Thunderbird Datejust Mens Watch, 1625 - SS, Gold
By Rolex
Located in Suwanee, GA
NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating. 1961 ROLEX Vintage Turn-O-Graph Thunderbird Datejust Mens Watch, 1625 - Stainless Steel & 18K Gold The Most Expensive of All the Datejust Models - Original - Serviced with Warranty Launched around 1953, the vintage Turn-O-Graph was designed for adventure lovers. It gained notoriety due to its use by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Flight Team, whose pilots appreciated the practicality of its rotating timing bezel. Long before Rolex created dedicated professional timing watches for every niche, the Turn-O-Graph offered an elegant solution for measuring elapsed time while retaining all of the refinement of a Datejust. The Turn-O-Graph occupied a unique place in Rolex's lineup. More sophisticated than a sport watch yet more functional than a traditional dress watch, it bridged two worlds. Prior to the introduction of the Day-Date President, the solid gold Turn-O-Graph represented the pinnacle of the Rolex catalog. Because the model never sold in large numbers, surviving vintage examples have become increasingly desirable among collectors. Here are some of this watch's features: * Desirable vintage Turn-O-Graph * Beautiful champagne pie-pan dial which gives the watch a classic and more elegant look * Solid 18K gold rotating bezel designed to measure elapsed time * Officially Certified Chronometer caliber 1570 movement - a mechanism that powered models of the Datejusts as well as early Submariner, Explorer, and GMT models * Original to the watch Rolex crimped link Jubilee bracelet Our vintage Turn-O-Graph is original down to its original Rolex bracelet, dial, and hands. Its only replacement part is its steel Rolex crown. Unlike many of these watches, it's bezel has not been heavily polished - it retains strong engine turning. Its case presents in very good condition with fairly mild wear to the bezel and a few indentions in the back. Please inquire if you would like it freshly polished or a new gold Rolex crown installed. The highlight of the watch is its untouched original dial which is just short of mint. One of our Master Watchmakers, who used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealer and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center to be an authorized Rolex watchmaker, has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, replacing any overly worn components with genuine Rolex parts including a new tube so that the crown screws down well, a correct new mainspring, a new crystal, and a new oscillating weight axles, disassembling and lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $1495 value). It is running strong and true, keeping essentially on par with a new Rolex watch in our testing recording position. For the finishing touch, we have meticulously detailed it making it ready for immediate enjoyment. Note: A published example of this model can be found in Osvaldo Patrizzi's work Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches, 2001 Edition, Guido Mondani editor, Vol. 2, pg. 39. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. As mentioned, one used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center. Detailed Appraisal: Manufacturer: Rolex Country of origin: Switzerland Model: Turn-O-Graph, Ref. 1625 Serial no.: 577,386 Year built: Bracelet date stamped early 1961 Functions: Hours, Minutes, Sweep Seconds, Automatic, Date, Elapsed Time Bezel Designed for: Men Case material: Stainless steel and 18K gold Case condition: Case presents in very good condition with fairly mild wear to the bezel and a few indentions in the back. Dimensions: 36mm diameter, 12mm thick Dial: Champagne, pie-pan with applied 18K gold baton indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions, aperture for the date, darkened luminous hour dots, original and untouched, just short of mint with only very slight surface aging to lacquer visible under magnification or very close scrutiny Hands: Original, 18K gold, luminous "dauphines" Movement type: Rolex caliber 1560...
1960s Swiss Vintage Rolex
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
