THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 1625
YEAR: 1974
BOX/PAPERS: YES/YES
CASE DIAMETER: 36mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL/18K WHITE GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
The Rolex Datejust, introduced in 1945 as the world’s first automatic wristwatch with a date display, has been a cornerstone of the Rolex lineup for nearly 80 years. Despite its status as one of Rolex’s most iconic designs, the Datejust is often overlooked by collectors in favour of more prominent models such as the GMT-Master, Submariner, and Daytona.
In the early 1950s, Rolex released the Turn-O-Graph, its first serially produced watch with a rotating bezel — a genuinely innovative feature at the time. While this feature was later made famous by the Submariner and the GMT-Master, Rolex also implemented it on certain Datejust models.
Following the reference 6202, which is arguably the predecessor to the Submariner, the Turn-O-Graph references 6309 and 6609 were introduced and produced for a short period between 1954 and 1959. During this time, the Turn-O-Graph became associated with the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbird aerobatic team, giving rise to the “Thunderbird” nickname.
The reference 1625 followed and remained in production until around 1977 — the present example dates to 1974. We love vintage Datejusts here at Falco, and these Turn-O-Graphs are easily some of the coolest of the bunch. The 36 mm stainless steel case is fitted with an 18k white gold rotating bezel. The rare “Sigma” dial (denoting the use of 18k white gold for the applied markers) has remained in fantastic condition over the years, developing a gentle patina. All of the lume plots are present and have aged to a beautiful creamy hue. The hands are also in lovely condition, showing only minor oxidation.
The original 6251H Jubilee bracelet is in excellent condition, with barely any stretch, and wears extremely comfortably on the wrist. We recently serviced the watch, and the movement is running beautifully at +2 s/day, with an amplitude of 285° and a beat error of 0.2 ms. The watch comes with its original guarantee papers and a later Rolex box. A fantastic example of a hidden gem in vintage Rolex collecting.