Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Nov 12, 2006

LOT 360

Steel and White Gold Ref. 1625, So-called "Thunderbird" Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, Datejust, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified', Ref. 1625/1016. Case No. 1503243. Made in 1967. Fine and rare, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel and white gold gentleman's wristwatch with date and a stainless steel Oyster bracelet.

CHF 3,000 - 5,000

EUR 2,000 - 3,200 / USD 2,400 - 4,000

Sold: CHF 4,956

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed down case back and crown, revolving bi-directional reeded and graduated 18K white gold bezel, crystal with "cyclops" lens. D. Silver with applied black painted steel baton indexes and luminous dots, aperture for the date. Luminous steel "baton" hands. M. Cal. 1575, rhodium-plated, "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 26 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperature and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm. Property of a German Collector


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-34-01

Very good

Restored by the manufacture

HANDS Original

Notes

The movement of this watch is stamped Cal. No. 1570. This relates to the base caliber, the upgraded movement is caliber 1575. The Rolex catalogue of 1965 refers to reference 1625 as the ?DATEJUST, TURNO- GRAPH?. The name ?Thunderbird? was given to these watches after the U.S. Air Force elite Aerobatics team Similar watches are published in ?Rolex, Collecting Modern and Vintage Wristwatches? by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Guido Mondani Editore, 2005, vol. I, pp. 345-346.