Rolex Turn-O-Graph Ref. 6202 - White 'Honeycomb' Dial

The Rolex Turn-O-Graph is easily one of, if not the most underrated model in the brands history. To say that it is historically important would be a understatement of biblical proportions....

Predating the — yes, we're going to say it — iconic Submariner by mere months, the Turn-O-Graph Ref. 6202 was in fact the first piece to utilize an externally affixed rotating timing bezel. Early advertisements refer to it as the "simplest 'stop-watch' ever yet waterproof and self-winding!" and depict it being used as a timer for cooking, auto racing, sailing, and even to time phone calls. Ironically, this is no doubt what most people use their Submariners for these days, rather than diving. Ironic, considering the Turn-O-Graph was largely phased out as an independent model, and merged with the Datejust line of watches where it adopted the 'Thunderbird' nomenclature.

The example that we have here is from the first model year, 1953, and features the more elusive white 'honeycomb' dial. The case comes in at 36mm in diameter and is surprisingly svelte in its profile when compared to other automatically-wound pieces from the brand. It has been polished at a previous time, but tastefully where the lugs remain symmetrical and healthy. It shows light signs of wear throughout with no notable damage or blemishes. The bezel assembly is crisp and defined and features an excellent black aluminum timing insert. The dial within is excellent, largely clean with a few signs of wear throughout, with none of the more typical wear that you find on textured dials from this era. The applied 'dart' indices exhibit some light surface oxidation, and the Radium-filled markers at 3, 6, and 9 match the lume on the dial nicely. The correct 'dauphine' handset bears slightly lighter lume and matches under inspection with UV. This piece even retains it's correct Brevet 'cross' signed crown, correct 'stretch-rivet' Oyster bracelet with a blade clasp — albeit a slightly later unit — and perhaps most interestingly, the correct '64' endlinks. 

The Turn-O-Graph is and always has been an underrated model next to it's far more popular siblings within the Rolex lineup... But the Submariner undeniably owes it's looks and basic idea behind its creation to the Ref. 6202. 

When you consider their extreme rarity, beautiful looks, and fantastic construction that you would expect from and Rolex, the Ref. 6202 presents almost unbelievable value... and thats before looking at the price of the earliest Submariner references....

This well-rounded example is fit for any wrist, any occasion, and any collection. A truly special piece.