Lot 47

Rolex

Datejust Turn-O-Graph "Thunderbird"

An attractive vintage bi-colour wristwatch with date - rare "Turn-O-Graph" model

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The Rolex Turn-O-Graph was launched in the 1950s, as one of the first wristwatches with a revolving bezel; the feature would later be perfected in the Submariner and GMT Master series. The Turn-O-Graph would also be known as "Thunderbird" later, when it became the official watch of US Air Force elite unit Thunderbirds.
This Turn-O-Graph comes in a classic 36 mm stainless steel case with some few signs of wear and has a distinctive fluted yellow gold bezel, which has gently darkened over the years, as the watch was hardly ever worn. The gilt dial originally featured luminous dots of which only three are left. The watch is powered by automatic calibre 3035, which starts up immedialy, a service, however, is recommended.

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".