Live Auction 1369IMPORTANT WATCHES Including A CONNOISSEUR'S VISION
Christie’s roundel
Lot 208

Rolex. A fine and rare 18K pink gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, black dial and bracelet

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, DATEJUST, REF. 6609, CASE NO. 157'576, CIRCA 1956

Closed16 November 2009

Price Realised

CHF 10,000

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Rolex. A fine and rare 18K pink gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, black dial and bracelet
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Datejust, ref. 6609, case no. 157'576, circa 1956
Cal. 1065 nickel-finished lever movement, 25 jewels, black gloss dial, applied dagger numerals with luminous accents, luminous hands, sweep centre seconds, magnified window for date, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, revolving bezel calibrated for 60 units, screw down crown, screw back, 18K pink gold Rolex Jubilee bracelet, case, dial and movement signed
36 mm. diam.

Specialist note

Launched in 1956, reference 6609 replaced reference 6202, the "Turn-O-Graph" model, and remained in production until around 1960.

Easily recognizable by its rotating bezel chased with minute divisions and fine dividing lines, reference 6609 is also known as the "Thunderbird". In one of the first Rolex US catalogues featuring the watch, it is shown with a dial bearing the emblem of the US Air Force flying team The Thunderbirds.