Lot 45

Rolex

Datejust Turn-O-Graph "Thunderbird"

An interesting vintage wristwatch with date - rare "Turn-O-Graph" model

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This remarkable and increasingly rare model dating from the late 1960s is in excellent condition. The case and the bidirectional 18 K gold "Thunderbird" bezel are truly well preserved, the tritium dial is perfect.

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".