Vintage Thunderbird Question??

[jonnychou]

Hi, I just bought 6609 gold with 22xxxx serial, what year is it product? I look at book around year 1955, one thing made me confused is the date all in black colour, not in red and black, is it genuine wheel date??
Thanks

Originally Posted by timebroker

That would be this one ...

So-called "Thunderbird" Rolex, Oyster Perpetual "Datejust", Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified, Ref. 6609. Production of this reference started in the 1950s. Fine and rare, center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel and 18K yellow gold gentleman’s wristwatch with date.
C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, revolving reeded and graduated bezel, crystal with "cyclops" lens, date disc alternately in red and black. D. Black with applied gold indexes and tritium coated dots, aperture for the date. Tritium coated gold "bâton" hands. M. Cal. 1066, rhodium plated, "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration, 25 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating free-sprung...

Only thing different are the hands.
And by the way, do not feel stupid, just goto Antiquorum and do a search on "thunderbird", you'll see where the info comes from.
This watch was sold in 2004 for 1800 dollar.
Keep in mind that prices have gone up considerably over the last years.