Is my 1625 a Turnograph or a Thunderbird ?

[javier]

Hi friends
I have recentelly bought a Rolex 1625 (see pics). I I love it, but I wonder whether is a turnograph or a thunderbird ?
I do not know how to call it. Which is the difference between them ?
Are the same ?
Thank you vey much indeed for your help

[Harkovchan]

Originally Posted by javier

Hi friends

I have recentelly bought a Rolex 1625 (see pics). I I love it, but I wonder whether is a turnograph or a thunderbird ?

I do not know how to call it. Which is the difference between them ?

Are the same ?

Thank you vey much indeed for your help

I have same question lol.


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[javier]

Originally Posted by harkovchan

i have same question lol.


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lol

[Waterproofpt]

This might help. From .....
https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/f...x-turn-o-graph






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[SamP]

Always super to see/hear about the underrated and unloved ToG.
It's not the Thunderbird, as that was 18ct yellow gold and the dial had an insignia.
The watch in this post is a beautifiul blue/black stick dial Turn-o-Graph.
Regards

[Waterproofpt]

4. The Turn-O-Graph was an official military watch
In the late 1950s, the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbird aerobatic squadron equipped their pilots with the Turn-O-Graph watches for navigational calculations. Rolex took full advantage of this opportunity and produced the “Thunderbird” Turn-O-Graph watches. These Thunderbird watches were crafted in 18k yellow gold with the Thunderbird insignia on the dial along with a date window and corresponding Cyclops lens. Add this to the list of military watches from Rolex. They also released an accompanying advertising campaign focused on the new relationship. Interestingly, Rolex began referring to all Turn-O-Graph watches in the American market as “Thunderbirds” to capitalize on the official military partnership.


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[logan5tx]

Thunderbird!

[Leojmcca]

As noted above: your the proud owner of a Thunderbird Turn-O-Graph DateJust Rolex watch.

Here's mine, welcome to the club!

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Leojmcca

As noted above: your the proud owner of a Thunderbird Turn-O-Graph DateJust Rolex watch

How is that?

[captain_NEMO]

Originally Posted by logan5tx

Thunderbird!

Originally Posted by Leojmcca

As noted above: your the proud owner of a Thunderbird Turn-O-Graph DateJust Rolex watch

From the posted vintage Rolex ads above, OP's piece is clearly not a Thunderbird. Am I missing anything?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by captain_NEMO

From the posted vintage Rolex ads above, OP's piece is clearly not a Thunderbird. Am I missing anything?

No but others are.

[Leojmcca]

Interestingly, Rolex began referring to all Turn-O-Graph watches in the American market as “Thunderbirds” to capitalize on the official military partnership.

Rolex capitalized on this relationship and began referring to the Turn-O-Graph as the Thunderbird in North American advertising.

[padi56]

Its the type of Bezel which got the Thunderbird name much like we call the blue/red insert pepsi, a true Thunderbird would have the emblem on the dial and Jubilee bracelet.

[tomchicago]

Is that the right end-link?

[SamP]

So, just to clarify, as mant responses including mine maintain, emblem, emblem, emplem.
A ToG needs the Thunderbird emplem, to be called a Thunderbird.
The OP has a lovely ToG, not a ToG Thunderbird, AS THE EMPLEM IS MISSING.
Regards

[Leojmcca]

Originally Posted by SamP

So, just to clarify, as mant responses including mine maintain, emblem, emblem, emplem.
A ToG needs the Thunderbird emplem, to be called a Thunderbird.
The OP has a lovely ToG, not a ToG Thunderbird, AS THE EMPLEM IS MISSING.
Regards

No Sam, if a manufacturer calls a watch a specific name, that is the name of the watch? This goes beyond the watch community giving a watch a nickname such as a Smurf, Hulk, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman etc. etc. As such, it is technically correct to call a 1625 turn-graph a Thnderbird with or without the watch being gold and containing the Thunderbird logo. Funny, I bet most people reading this won't even know the model number for the Smurf, Hulk etc. since that is how we all know those watches!

In the alternative, like the Hulk, Smurfs, Pepsis etc. we see a Turn-O-graph and we think Thunderbird, it's the nickname we give these watches!

[Alpino]

Originally Posted by Leojmcca

... since that is how we all know those watches!

Maybe you, not me

[tomchicago]

Shouldn't the bracelet end-links have a yellow gold center?

[Blingtone]

tomchicago, if you look at the link provided on the 4th post (very informative and posted by Waterprooofpt) on this thread :

https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/f...x-turn-o-graph

7th pic in that link answers your question, re endlink :)

Turn-o-Graph with the 'Thunderbird' logo is a Thunderbird - without it, it's just a DATEJUST (according to the inscription on the dial) A.K.A. a Turn-o-Graph.

Think I've only ever seen 'Turn O Graph' inscribed on the dial of the 6 digit models (had one in white / SS chopped in after a month for an Exp II 16570)

[SamP]

Originally Posted by Leojmcca

No Sam, if a manufacturer calls a watch a specific name, that is the name of the watch? This goes beyond the watch community giving a watch a nickname such as a Smurf, Hulk, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman etc. etc. As such, it is technically correct to call a 1625 turn-graph a Thnderbird with or without the watch being gold and containing the Thunderbird logo. Funny, I bet most people reading this won't even know the model number for the Smurf, Hulk etc. since that is how we all know those watches!

In the alternative, like the Hulk, Smurfs, Pepsis etc. we see a Turn-O-graph and we think Thunderbird, it's the nickname we give these watches!

I've read and reread your post, but can not make sense of it.
The watch community has not named the particular watch a Thunderbird, Rolex did. They added a special logo to the dial to distinguish it from Turn-o-Graphs.
So a Thunderbird ToG is specific to the Rolex literature.
Any of the posters who kindly included the advert shot want to chime in.
Regards

[SL BRABUS]

Originally Posted by padi56

Its the type of Bezel which got the Thunderbird name much like we call the blue/red insert pepsi, a true Thunderbird would have the emblem on the dial and Jubilee bracelet.

Thanks for the information.......

[DLRIDES]

Turn-O-Graph is not written on the watch, just as it does not have the Thunderbird emblem. So, what we have (I own a 1625 like thE OP) is a Datejust with a numbered rotating bezel.

As a owner of such, how does the name "Turn-O-Graph" get applied ?

[tomchicago]

thanks bling. turn-o is a great watch...i hope Rollie brings it back justly.

Originally Posted by Blingtone

tomchicago, if you look at the link provided on the 4th post (very informative and posted by Waterprooofpt) on this thread :

https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/f...x-turn-o-graph

7th pic in that link answers your question, re endlink :)

Turn-o-Graph with the 'Thunderbird' logo is a Thunderbird - without it, it's just a DATEJUST (according to the inscription on the dial) A.K.A. a Turn-o-Graph.

Think I've only ever seen 'Turn O Graph' inscribed on the dial of the 6 digit models (had one in white / SS chopped in after a month for an Exp II 16570)

[Richard Carver]

The TOG was the first Rolex with a rotating bezel in 1954 predating the more famous Submariner by less than a year. This is the original 6202.

[BentleyReese]

You have a TOG...and the TOGs were made for the US Military for the Thunderbirds and thus the nickname. A True Thunderbird would have emblem on them. So by technicality you have a TOG. Turn-o-Graphs are coming back.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Waterproofpt

This might help. From .....
https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/f...x-turn-o-graph






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As it said in the article above; Rolex themselves started calling the TOG the Thunderbird. No it's not one worn by one of the original pilots with Thunderbird on the dial but it is understandable that it would be called a Thunderbird.