hey team,

Been hankering after one of these for a while, and having tried on in Amsterdam, think it's an itch that needs to be scratched.

http://blog.dreamchrono.com/2013/10/rolex-turn-o-graph-thunderbird/

If anyone is looking to sell... I'd be interested in talking!

Cheers

Chris

 

Hi Chris,
Here's a nice link for you...sadly already sold but very nice photos and likely to make that itch a whole lot worse.

https://bulangandsons.com/portfolio_page/rolex-1625-turn-o-graph-papers/

Cheers

Nick

 

That ones a beauty Nick!

 

Did you make any progress on that Explorer you were after or has it now been replaced by the Thunderbird as chief object of desire?

 

Tried a lot of explorer II's on, and a friend lent me his for a weekend... I liked it, but didn't love it enough to put £4K into it.

The thunderbird feels more subtle.

 

Got to say I'm not a huge fan of the datejust, but I really like that, even in two-tone which is typically an absolute no-go for me. I don't suppose they made them in rose gold too?

 

Do you know any good sources for getting clued up on the Thunderbird? A Rolex 1625 equivalent to Desmond Guilfoyle's Constellation stuff would be helpful, as I know even less about Rolex than I do about Omega and that's painfully little.

 

Damn. That one is way better - love the fact that it isn't two tone. ugh, something else I can't afford right now. Never thought I would want a Rolex...

 

I can relate to that. Feels like a gateway drug to a whole different league of addiction.

 

Hi Chris,
was doing a spot of research into those Thunderbirds, trying to expand on that link you posted. There are some really nice Thunderbird Turn-O-Graphs (images) out there and probably as many traps for the unwary. I wonder how many are the real deal. The answer is in the amount of steel…sort of.

In the original version of the Thunderbird there does not appear to have ever been a full steel version i.e. a Ref.1625/0. What looks like all steel is more likely a steel case with white gold bezel version Ref. 1625/4.

As far as I can work out the Turn-O-Graph used the cal. 1575 movement, (which has no fast date adjust by the way, which might be a pain in the A*# if you are more used to modern quickset offerings), up to circa 1981. So if you are looking at a Thunderbird dated before 1981 it should not have a DateJust cal. 3035 inside.

The case is also a bit of a minefield. Although it looks like a 36mm DateJust there are some notable differences:-
1. The Turn-O-Graph used the small 25-117 Cyclops lens crystal (similar to the Rolex Date) and not the larger 25-118 cyclops lens crystal as used on the DateJust.
2. The crown is also smaller than expected. It uses a 530 crown (24-530-0) as on the Date, instead of the 600 crown used on the DateJust.

In case you have plans to do a Frankenwatch dial swap from say a common white/silver to black beware; the DateJust dial does not swap directly into the 1625 Turn-O-Graph, it’s too big. The Turn-O-Graph has a smaller dial than the DateJust (nominally the same as the Date), but it has the DateJusts angled “Pie-Pan” minute track. In other words neither the Date nor the DateJust dials fit directly into a 1625 Turn-O-Graph. The Date has a completely flat dial by the way.

After 1981, with the intro of the Ref. 1625x series, things become easier or more risky depending on your point of view. This is the point where the Turn-O-Graph and DateJust use the same case, same crown and same cyclops crystal (Plexi or Sapphire). So either you get lucky and can swap dials between Turn-O-Graphs and DateJusts to whichever dial tickles your fancy or you get screwed – it’s a Frankenwatch. It also seems that the previous Steel-whitegold version (1625/4) becomes a fully steel version (16250) complete with steel bezel.

After 1989 the Turn-O-Graph turns into a sort of daft DateJust with what looks to be just a rotating version of the standard DateJust bezel tarted up with numerals machined into the bezel surface like on the Explorer II. It has in effect mutated into a Bling Rolex, albeit a very well made one.

I still can’t figure out what the difference is between a Ref. 6609 and the 1625 mentioned in that link you posted – any ideas? The one shown here:-
Ref. 6609 http://www.chrono24.de/rolex/datejust-thunderbird--id3490023.htm
looks a whole lot like the Frankenbird(?) shown here:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-ROLEX-THUNDERBIRD-TURN-O-GRAPH-DATEJUST-GOLD-SS-OYSTER-PERPETUAL-ref-1625-/191870267669
This one looks to be in great condition, but it is advertised as a 1625 with a 1760 caliber and actually contains a 1560 caliber.

This feels like it could be a great vintage detective project, with two very different endings.

 

Top research Nick!

From what I've seen, good ones are £3500 plus... and everything below is either a bargain or to be avoided.

I'm once again coming to the conclusion that the World of Rolex is too complex, scary, and expensive to try and engage with.

 

No kidding! I just unearthed this link for a replacement White Gold Bezel. It's not even the bit with the numerals on it and the seller wants the best part of 800€.
http://www.chrono-shop.net/en/3894-rolex-thunderbird-1625-anneau-de-glace-.html

 

OK, I surrender. I'm going to avoid this route. Did you know that Rolex dealers have access to official thumb screws to extract the dosh out of reluctant customers?
http://www.chrono-shop.net/en/3006-...ing-bezel-crystal-press-tropics-cyclops-.html

 

Yeah... I'm out too.

Cool watches, but ultimately too rich for my pocket.

 

As always Bill, your stash is top notch.

I think my giving up, is just at the realisation that I don't have the funds to play the Rolex game properly... so instead will admire the time pieces of others.

 

Found this useful link on Rolex movements; just in case you are still interested:-
https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/discussion-rolex-movements-going-back-1950.html
It looks like the only authentic calibres for the pre-1981 Turn-O-Graph Ref.1625 were 1565 and 1575, which is a big help in sorting the wheat from the chaf.

Interestingly, those calibres were also used in GMTs. I wonder what a Thunderbird GMT would have looked like if Rolex had put that combination together.

 

Hey Bill,
How about a few more photos of your nice Thunderbird? Do you have any of the movement and case back (inside)?

 

Hey guys, Im one of those hunting for a Thunderbird/Turnograph too. The hunt for a nice and affordable piece is long and painful which I am a good example of as my hunt now continues for about 8 months..
My greatest mistake was missing out on this one a while back...