102nd Auction
2020/6/29
Lot 281
Rolex, Swiss, "Oyster Perpetual Datejust Superlative Chronometer officially certified", Movement No. D373586, Case No. 4477743, Ref. 1625, Cal. 1570, 36 mm, circa 1972
A vintage automatic bi-color wristwatch with bidirectional rotating "Thunderbird" gold bezel and date, so called "Turn-O-Graph" or "Thunderbird", with original box and Rolex service guarantee card dated 2006
Case: steel/18k gold, "re-cased" by Rolex, screw back ref. 1625 II/72 and original serial number EX3280660, screwed "Twinlock" winding crown, steel/gold "Jubilee" bracelet ref. 62523H.18, endlinks stamped 455, clasp K1, bracelet length 145 mm, total length 185 mm. Dial: night blue, bar-shaped indexes and hands (Super-LumiNova).
The watch has undergone an extensive service at Rolex, during which many parts were replaced. It may not be considered an investment asset anymore, but it is nevertheless certainly an extremely attractive timepiece that is ideal for regular wear.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force. In the 1950s and 1960s the pilots flew jets such as the F-84G Thunderjet, the F-84F Thunderstreak or the legendary F-100C Super Sabre. These planes have of course long since been replaced with the modern F-16 Fighting Falcon, which is the aircraft the team uses today. There is little documentation on how the Thunderbirds came to be connected with Rolex watches, however, we know that there must have been some kind of a formal agreement - Rolex created special dials for the fighter pilots and the Thunderbird name as well as photographs of the jets were used in Rolex advertising; consequently the Turn-O-Graph models equipped with a bezel that turns in both directions came to be nicknamed "Thunderbird".
A vintage automatic bi-color wristwatch with bidirectional rotating "Thunderbird" gold bezel and date, so called "Turn-O-Graph" or "Thunderbird", with original box and Rolex service guarantee card dated 2006
Case: steel/18k gold, "re-cased" by Rolex, screw back ref. 1625 II/72 and original serial number EX3280660, screwed "Twinlock" winding crown, steel/gold "Jubilee" bracelet ref. 62523H.18, endlinks stamped 455, clasp K1, bracelet length 145 mm, total length 185 mm. Dial: night blue, bar-shaped indexes and hands (Super-LumiNova).
The watch has undergone an extensive service at Rolex, during which many parts were replaced. It may not be considered an investment asset anymore, but it is nevertheless certainly an extremely attractive timepiece that is ideal for regular wear.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force. In the 1950s and 1960s the pilots flew jets such as the F-84G Thunderjet, the F-84F Thunderstreak or the legendary F-100C Super Sabre. These planes have of course long since been replaced with the modern F-16 Fighting Falcon, which is the aircraft the team uses today. There is little documentation on how the Thunderbirds came to be connected with Rolex watches, however, we know that there must have been some kind of a formal agreement - Rolex created special dials for the fighter pilots and the Thunderbird name as well as photographs of the jets were used in Rolex advertising; consequently the Turn-O-Graph models equipped with a bezel that turns in both directions came to be nicknamed "Thunderbird".
estimated
4.900—6.500 €
Price realized
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