1969 Rolex Vintage Turn-O-Graph Thunderbird Datejust Mens Watch, 1625 - Stainless Steel & 18K White Gold

Rolex

Item No. 6481

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 Aerobatic Flight Team. It features a bi-directional bezel to measure elapsed time, making it the most functional and expensive watch in the Datejust line. In fact, prior to the introduction of the Day-Date President, the solid gold Turn-O-Graph was the most expensive Rolex cataloged.

The watch did not originally enjoy terribly strong sales success and thus not a tremendous number were made, making vintage examples sought after by collectors.

Here are some of this watch's features:

  • Desirable vintage Turn-O-Graph
  • Very cool and uncommon gray pie-pan which gives the watch a great monochrome look
  • Solid white gold rotating bezel designed to measure elapsed time
  • Original Rolex Jubilee bracelet
  • Officially Certified Chronometer movement - a mechanism that powered models of the Datejusts as well as early Submariner, Explorer, and GMT models

This Certified Pre-Owned vintage Turn-O-Graph is all original and presents very nicely. Its monochrome dial presents as just short of perfect mint.

Accompanying the watch are inner and outer Rolex boxes and Rolex polishing cloth.

For the finishing touch we have meticulously detailed it making it ready for immediate enjoyment.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate attesting to its performance.

Note: A published example of a this model can be found in Osvaldo Patrizzi's work Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches, 2001 Edition, Guido Mondani editor, Vol. 2, pg. 39.

  • Manufacturer: Rolex
  • Country of origin: Switzerland
  • Model: Turn-O-Graph, Ref. 1625
  • Serial No.: 1,903,656
  • Year built: c. 1969
  • Functions: Hours, Minutes, Sweep Seconds, Automatic, Date, Elapsed Time Bezel
  • Designed for: Men
  • Case material: Stainless steel and white gold
  • Case condition: Excellent with signs of polishing
  • Dimensions: 36mm diameter, 12mm thick
  • Dial: Gray with white printing, pie-pan with applied white gold baton indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions, aperture for the date, original and untouched, just short of perfect mint with loss of luminous dots
  • Hands: Original, white gold, luminous batons
  • Movement type: Automatic, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, mono metallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring
  • Jewels: 26 rubies
  • Band: Original Rolex U.S.A. bracelet, Jubilee, sized to a fit a wrist up to approx. 7.75 inches, adjustable, excellent condition. Note that Rolex U.S.A. have a much looser design from the factory than Swiss Rolex bracelets.
  • Width between lugs: 20mm
  • Crystal type: Acrylic, 'cyclops' date magnification, replacement, excellent condition
  • Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system.
  • Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details. 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 experienced team of watchmakers both of whom each have over forty years of experience and a large number of parts.
  • Box/Papers: BOX - Rolex inner and outer boxes and polishing cloth; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate attesting to its performance
  • Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide

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