Rolex Datejust 1625

Buying Advice

About the Rolex Datejust 1625

The Rolex Datejust 1625 is the third-generation vintage Datejust Turn-O-Graph "Thunderbird" and the longest-running reference in the entire Turn-O-Graph line, produced for approximately 18 years from 1959 to 1977. The 1625 succeeded the genesis Rolex Datejust 6309 and 6609 references and was followed by the quickset 16250 series. The 36mm Oyster case is available across three core factory configurations: stainless steel paired with an 18k white gold rotating Turn-O-Graph bezel, Yellow Rolesor combining stainless steel with an 18k yellow gold bezel and matching center bracelet links, and full 18k yellow gold. Inside is the workhorse Rolex Caliber 1575 automatic chronometer-certified movement, with earlier examples using the Caliber 1560 or Caliber 1570 from the same family. The acrylic crystal carries the iconic Cyclops magnification lens over the non-quickset date display. Through Rolex's marketing partnership with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Demonstration Squadron, the entire Turn-O-Graph line earned its enduring "Thunderbird" nickname, a name still used to identify the 1625 in collector circles today. At WatchGuys, we carry pre-owned Rolex Datejust 1625 watches across multiple original factory dial configurations including silver pie pan, silver index, black, champagne, and gold with applied bar or Roman markers.

Rolex Datejust 1625 Specifications and Configurations

The 1625 is built around a 36mm Oyster case, an engine-turned bidirectional rotating Turn-O-Graph bezel with 60-unit scale and raised markers, a screw down Twinlock crown, a screw down Oyster caseback, and an acrylic crystal with the original Cyclops magnification lens. Three core metal configurations exist: stainless steel with an 18k white gold rotating bezel (the most common configuration, often paired with the Jubilee or Oyster bracelet), Yellow Rolesor combining stainless steel with 18k yellow gold center bracelet links and an 18k yellow gold bezel, and full 18k yellow gold throughout (significantly rarer, with approximately 2,000 solid yellow gold examples produced according to auction-house research). The standard movement is the Rolex Caliber 1575, an 18-jewel automatic chronometer-certified movement, with earlier 1625 examples using the closely related Caliber 1560 or Caliber 1570 from the same family. Dial options across the production run were notably varied, including silver pie pan with applied bar markers, silver index, black with silver printing, champagne, and gold with Roman numeral markers. Most examples shipped on the Jubilee bracelet, although Oyster bracelets and original Rolex leather straps are also period-correct. For broader vintage Datejust context across the catalog, browse our vintage Rolex collection and the full Rolex Datejust collection.

Rolex Datejust 1625 Price

Pre-owned Rolex Datejust 1625 prices typically range from approximately $5,000 to $9,000 or more depending on configuration, condition, dial originality, and accessories. Stainless steel with 18k white gold bezel examples in honest worn condition with original dials sit at the lower end of the range, typically $5,000 to $6,500. Yellow Rolesor configurations with desirable dials (silver pie pan, black with silver printing, gold dial) trade in the middle to upper portion of the range, generally $6,000 to $8,500. Full solid 18k yellow gold examples are significantly rarer and command meaningful premiums, often trading well above the $9,000 ceiling, particularly when accompanied by original box and papers. Squadron-issued examples carrying the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird emblem on the dial are exceptionally rare and command substantial premiums when they surface on the secondary market. Original dial condition is the single largest pricing factor on this vintage reference, with unrestored dials carrying sharp premiums over restored or replacement dials. For broader vintage Rolex pricing context, browse our vintage Rolex collection and the Rolex Vintage Buyer's Guide.

Rolex Datejust 1625 vs 6309: Long-Running Successor vs Vintage Genesis

The 1625 and the Rolex Datejust 6309 are the two genuinely vintage Datejust Turn-O-Graph "Thunderbird" references that sit at the head of the entire Turn-O-Graph lineage, and the two references buyers cross-shop most frequently when entering the vintage Thunderbird collecting world. The 6309 (1954-1959) is the genesis founding reference, produced exclusively in solid 18k yellow gold or 18k pink/rose gold with the Caliber 743 or 1065, an engine-turned all-metal bezel, and applied gilt dagger or baton numerals. Production volume was low and prices reflect that scarcity, with the 6309 typically trading from $10,000 to $40,000 or more. The 1625 (1959-1977) is the much longer-running third-generation successor, produced across stainless steel + WG bezel, Yellow Rolesor, and full yellow gold configurations with the Caliber 1575. Production volume was significantly higher across the 18-year run, which makes the 1625 meaningfully more accessible at $5,000 to $9,000+ for the standard steel and Rolesor configurations. The 6309 wins on rarity and pure vintage genesis status. The 1625 wins on accessibility, dial variety, configuration choice (the 6309 was solid gold only), and lower entry pricing. For the wider Thunderbird family across all five generations, see the parent Rolex Thunderbird collection.

Trusted Dealer

Why Buy a Rolex Datejust 1625 From WatchGuys

When you shop for a pre-owned Rolex Datejust 1625 for sale at WatchGuys, every piece is authenticated by our in-house watchmakers, priced against live secondary market data, and backed by a comprehensive set of buyer protections. We have spent over three decades focused on pre-owned Rolex, with deep expertise in vintage references where dial originality, case-back markings, original Turn-O-Graph bezel verification, and movement-to-case matching are essential. The 1625 spans 47 to 66 years of production age, which makes professional authentication of every component critical before any sale.

Common Questions

Rolex Datejust 1625 FAQ

• What is the Rolex Datejust 1625?

  The Rolex Datejust 1625 is the third-generation vintage Datejust Turn-O-Graph "Thunderbird" and the longest-running reference in the entire Turn-O-Graph line, produced for approximately 18 years from 1959 to 1977. The 1625 succeeded the genesis 6309 and 6609 references and was followed by the quickset 16250 series. The 36mm Oyster case is available in stainless steel with an 18k white gold rotating bezel, Yellow Rolesor, and full 18k yellow gold. The "Thunderbird" nickname comes from Rolex's mid-1950s partnership with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Demonstration Squadron.

• How much does a Rolex Datejust 1625 cost?

  Pre-owned Rolex Datejust 1625 prices typically range from approximately $5,000 to $9,000 or more depending on configuration, condition, dial originality, and accessories. Stainless steel with 18k white gold bezel examples in honest worn condition with original dials sit at the lower end, typically $5,000 to $6,500. Yellow Rolesor configurations with desirable dials (silver pie pan, black with silver printing, gold dial) trade in the middle to upper portion of the range, generally $6,000 to $8,500. Full solid 18k yellow gold examples are significantly rarer and command meaningful premiums, often trading well above the $9,000 ceiling, particularly when accompanied by original box and papers.

• What movement is in the Rolex Datejust 1625?

  The Rolex Datejust 1625 is powered primarily by the Rolex Caliber 1575, an 18-jewel automatic chronometer-certified movement that became one of Rolex's most proven and reliable calibers from the 1960s through the 1980s. Earlier 1625 examples (typically those produced from 1959 through the mid-1960s) use the closely related Caliber 1560 or Caliber 1570 from the same family. All three calibers feature a non-quickset date function, which requires rotating the hour and minute hands through 24 hours to advance the date. Quickset date functionality did not arrive in the Turn-O-Graph line until the five-digit 16250 successor in 1977.

• When was the Rolex Datejust 1625 made?

  The Rolex Datejust 1625 was produced from 1959 through 1977, making it the longest-running reference in the entire Turn-O-Graph "Thunderbird" line. It debuted in 1959 as the direct successor to the 6309 and 6609 second-generation Turn-O-Graphs, and was replaced in 1977 by the 16250 series, which introduced the modern quickset date function, the upgraded Caliber 3035 movement, and the transition from acrylic to sapphire crystal. The 18-year production run means 1625 examples vary meaningfully by serial year, with mid-1960s and early-1970s pie pan dial configurations particularly sought-after.

• Rolex Datejust 1625 vs 6309: what is the difference?

  The 1625 and the 6309 are the two genuinely vintage Datejust Turn-O-Graph "Thunderbird" references at the head of the Turn-O-Graph lineage. The 6309 (1954-1959) is the genesis founding reference, produced exclusively in solid 18k yellow gold or 18k pink/rose gold with the Caliber 743 or 1065. The 1625 (1959-1977) is the much longer-running third-generation successor, produced across stainless steel + white gold bezel, Yellow Rolesor, and full yellow gold configurations with the Caliber 1575. The 6309 typically trades from $10,000 to $40,000+, while the 1625 typically trades from $5,000 to $9,000+ for standard configurations. The 6309 wins on rarity and pure vintage genesis status. The 1625 wins on accessibility, dial variety, and configuration choice.

• Why is the Rolex Datejust 1625 called the Thunderbird?

  The Thunderbird nickname comes from Rolex's mid-to-late-1950s partnership with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Demonstration Squadron, which was founded in 1953 as the official aerial demonstration team of the United States Air Force. The rotating Turn-O-Graph bezel proved genuinely useful for navigational and timing calculations during demonstration flights, and at the squadron's request the watch became an unofficial timepiece of the unit. Rolex adopted "Thunderbird" as the watch's North American marketing name. The nickname has stuck for every Datejust Turn-O-Graph reference produced since, including the 1625 across its entire 18-year production run.

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