Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 473

Ref. 6609, So-Called "Thunderbird" Rolex, "Oyster Perpetual, Datejust, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified", Ref. 6609, No. N739412, case No. 221963. Made in 1956. Fine and rare, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch with red date and a gold-plated Rolex buckle.

CHF 11,000 - 13,000

EUR 7,000 - 8,000 / USD 9,000 - 11,000

Sold: CHF 20,060

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, screwed-down dedicated case back and crown, bidirectional revolving reeded and graduated bezel, crystal with "cyclops" lens. D. Matte silver with applied yellow gold faceted dart indexes and luminous dots, outer minute/seconds divisions, aperture for the date in red. Luminous yellow gold "alpha" hands. M. Cal. 1065, rhodiumplated, "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 25 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions and temperature, shock absorber, blued steel Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 11 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present watch is very attractive due to its excellent condition. Ref. 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.