The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 95

Ref. 6609 So called ?Thunderbird? Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, Datejust, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, Ref. 6609. Case No. 285017. Made in 1957. Fine and rare, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold gentleman?s wristwatch with date and a yellow gold-plated Rolex buckle.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

EUR 4,000 - 5,000 / USD 4,700 - 6,300

Sold: CHF 11,800

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, revolving reeded and graduated bezel, crystal with "cyclops" lens. D. Black with applied gold dart and faceted baton indexes, luminous dots, outer minute/second track, aperture for the date. Luminous gold "baton? hands. M. Cal. 1065, rhodium-plated, "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 25 jewels, straight line lever escapement, free-sprung monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance-spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Reference 6609 was the replacement for reference 6202 and remained in production until 1960. The name ?Thunderbird? was later given to this watch reference after the American launch of Ref. 1625 in 1960. The Ref. 1625 appeared in the Rolex USA catalogue with the insignia of the "Thunderbirds", the US Air Force elite aerobatic display team. The team took their name from the F84g "Thunder jet" which was used by the first Thunderbird team, when it was officially activated on June 1st 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team at Luke AFB in Arizona. This watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, p. 287