Rolex - Datejust Thunderbird

A rare and super attractive vintage wristwatch with date, "linen dial" and bidirectional rotating "Thunderbird" gold bezel, so called "Turn-O-Graph" or "Thunderbird" Movm. No. D506825, Ref. 1625, Cal. 1570, Case No. 3505114, Dimensions 36 mm, circa 1972, Weight 121 g, Origin Schweiz Case: 18 K gold, screw back with marking 1625, screwed "Twinlock" winding crown, 18 K gold "Jubilee" bracelet with boxy clasp, bracelet length 160 mm, total length 195 mm. Dial: Silvered "pie-pan"-dial with linen structure, very nicely patinated luminous dots and luminous hands. Movm.: Automatic. This Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Thunderbird reference 1625 is in excellent condition. The case remains unpolished with all numerals and stamps perfectly legible.The bezel with insert is very good and the "pie pan" dial with linen pattern and luminous hands is perfect. The movement starts up immediately. The very long 18 K Jubilee bracelet is hardly stretched and the box clasp is immaculate – a magnificent timepiece. 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". Case: very good, worn. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.