Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum - View Single Post - Turn-O-Graph references

powerfunk · 9 May 2020, 05:53 AM

I realized I was a bit fuzzy on Turn-O-Graph chronology so I put this together. If I've forgotten anything or gotten the timelines slightly off let me know!

Turn-O-Graph timeline:

1952-1953: Ref. 6202 debuts, the first Turn-O-Graph. While the steel model resembles the soon-to-be-released Submariner, the two-tone model has a gold bezel that most associate with the later "Thunderbird" models. A few 6202's are named "Monometer."

1953-1956: Ref. 6309 ditches the Sub-style bezel in favor of the gold "Thunderbird" one. Full gold is now an option, as is a left-hand crown.

1956-1959: Ref. 6609 is "basically the same as 6309 but with updated 1065 movement (based on the cal. 1030 but with date)" accordin g to adam78. This is the model that sparked the nickname "Thunderbird" because Rolex famously gifted some to the USAF Thunderbirds.

1957: Ref. 6602, a rare Datejust model called the "Transcontinental," is the only Rolex ever made with a 12-hour rotating bezel afaik. My apologies to eyeisman who posted this one here years ago; I was dismissive and assumed it was fake. Some assume 6609 is the correct model number because there is also the entirely different 6602 moonphase. Sotheby's cal ls it a "6602/6609" but 6602 is what's actually engraved on the case in every known instance. Here's a TRF thread a bout another example.

1959-1976: Ref. 1625 gets a movement upgrade to the Caliber 1500 series. At first it sports a 1565 movement, with 26 jewels vibrating at 5 beats per second. Starting in 1965, the 25-jewel 1575 movement ups the rate to 5.5 beats per second while increasing the power reserve from 42 to 48 hours.

1977-1987: Ref. 16250/16253/16258 gets a movement upgrade to Caliber 3035, now vibrating at 8 beats per second like modern Rolexes do.

1988 - 2003: Ref. 16263/16264 gets upgraded to a sapphire crystal and Caliber 3135 movement. No more full gold models.

2004-2011: Ref. 116261/116263/116264 got a more modern case, new bezel design, and Caliber 3135. Rose gold + steel is a new option. Small numbers of a special edition with a green seconds hand mysteriously hit Japan in 2011, and a few European AD's a couple years later (though for some reason they have 2005 serial numbers).

9 May 2020, 05:53 AM	#1
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,780	Turn-O-Graph references I realized I was a bit fuzzy on Turn-O-Graph chronology so I put this together. If I've forgotten anything or gotten the timelines slightly off let me know! *Turn-O-Graph timeline:* 1952-1953: Ref. 6202 debuts, the first Turn-O-Graph. While the steel model resembles the soon-to-be-released Submariner, the two-tone model has a gold bezel that most associate with the later "Thunderbird" models. A few 6202's are named "Monometer." 1953-1956: Ref. 6309 ditches the Sub-style bezel in favor of the gold "Thunderbird" one. Full gold is now an option, as is a left-hand crown. 1956-1959: Ref. 6609 is "basically the same as 6309 but with updated 1065 movement (based on the cal. 1030 but with date)" accordin g to adam78. This is the model that sparked the nickname "Thunderbird" because Rolex famously gifted some to the USAF Thunderbirds. 1957: Ref. 6602, a rare Datejust model called the "Transcontinental," is the only Rolex ever made with a 12-hour rotating bezel afaik. My apologies to eyeisman who posted this one here years ago; I was dismissive and assumed it was fake. Some assume 6609 is the correct model number because there is also the entirely different 6602 moonphase. Sotheby's cal ls it a "6602/6609" but 6602 is what's actually engraved on the case in every known instance. Here's a TRF thread a bout another example. 1959-1976: Ref. 1625 gets a movement upgrade to the Caliber 1500 series. At first it sports a 1565 movement, with 26 jewels vibrating at 5 beats per second. Starting in 1965, the 25-jewel 1575 movement ups the rate to 5.5 beats per second while increasing the power reserve from 42 to 48 hours. 1977-1987: Ref. 16250/16253/16258 gets a movement upgrade to Caliber 3035, now vibrating at 8 beats per second like modern Rolexes do. 1988 - 2003: Ref. 16263/16264 gets upgraded to a sapphire crystal and Caliber 3135 movement. No more full gold models. 2004-2011: Ref. 116261/116263/116264 got a more modern case, new bezel design, and Caliber 3135. Rose gold + steel is a new option. Small numbers of a special edition with a green seconds hand mysteriously hit Japan in 2011, and a few European AD's a couple years later (though for some reason they have 2005 serial numbers).