Rolex Datejust Ref. 1625 - 'Rootbeer Thunderbird'
There are levels to collecting. For starters, this is a solid-gold Datejust which makes it incredibly rare to begin with - Rolex did not make a lot of these so it didn’t compete with its more expensive sibling, the solid-gold only Day-Date. Not only is this one such example of a solid gold Datejust, but this has a bezel that looks more like a Submariner, fashioned from solid-gold — and we call it The Thunderbird.
So What is a Thunderbird?
Luke Air Force Base, 1953: The US Air Force established the Thunderbirds - an air demonstration team. When you watch sporting events, and incredible aeronautical displays of skill put on by the US Government, you are seeing the Thunderbirds take flight. During the 1950s and 1960s, Rolex actually made a number of special order Datejusts for the Thunderbids. These watches had a rotating bezel and a dial that displayed the team's emblem at 6 o'clock. Rolex was so proud of the association, that it had produced advertisements during this period with the "Thunderbird" Datejust proudly emblazoned across. While those models still exist and do come up for sale from time to time, the name ‘Thunderbird’ went on to describe any Datejust fitted with this special ‘turn-o-graph’ style bezel - like the solid gold 1625 we have here.
Fashioned in solid-gold, this example keeps the seemingly perfect proportions of a more traditional Datejust with its 36mm oyster case, brushed lugs, and pie pan dial, but elevates all those attributes to a different level with its awe inspiring root beer colored dial and early ‘‘alpha’ handset. This dial is the same texture and printing as an early 1675 rootbeer and is the only one we’ve ever seen in the style. Truly an anomaly. To find an example of this configuration in good condition is extremely rare in itself, but this piece raises the stakes. It is fitted to a period correct solid 18K Yellow Gold Rolex Riveted Oyster Bracelet. Like we said, there are levels to collecting.
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Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
At Oliver & Clarke, domestic shipping is on us! If you are international and require a quote – please feel free to reach out to us at info@oliverandclarke.com so we can get you squared away.
Returns (accepted within 3 days of initial delivery of your purchase) must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. For payments via Credit Card, a 5% restocking fee will be in place for any returns or cancellations in order to cover our processing fee. Of course, watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
If you happen to trade a watch with us, which we welcome, trades are final, except of course if the watch is grossly misdescribed or misrepresented.
We back each Oliver & Clarke timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty starting at the date of first delivery. We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended.
*Please note that due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, these machines may not run as accurately as they did when new, nor will any mechanical timepiece keep time as accurately as a quartz or electronic device.
We do not guarantee water resistance, thus do not warranty against moisture incursion or water damage.
*We also do not recommend deliberate exposure to water or worse - steam!
Our warranty is voided under the following circumstances:
- Internal or external damage caused by an accident, mishandling, abuse, modification, or handling/service performed by a third party individual other than one of our own.
Our warranty is non-transferable.
The Oliver & Clarke Guarantee
Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP.
Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.
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From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
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