Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph

Think every Rolex watch was an instant hit? Think again. For all of the iconic timepieces Rolex has produced in over a century of watchmaking, there have been a few noteworthy ‘misses — watches that, for one reason or another, failed to capture the imagination and open the checkbooks of the watch-buying public at large. Out of this small but noteworthy collection of oddball timepieces, our favorite is far and away the Turn-O-Graph.  Originally released in the 1950s, the Turn-O-Graph was soon nicknamed the ‘Thunderbird’ after being selected for use by elite pilots the US Air Force's precision flying team of the same name. While the original Turn-O-Graphs were based on the standard Oyster Perpetual Datejust case, the added element of a rotating outer bezel gave it a sportier vibe and slightly larger dimensions, which for some reason never really caught on. Turn-O-Graphs have come and gone from the Rolex lineup several times, each time with hope that a new generation of buyers would finally see the appeal — and each time the experiment has been relatively short lived. But you know what that means: One man’s miss is another man’s opportunity! This particular Turn-O-Graph, a Reference 116264, dates to circa 2006-2007 and features a 36mm stainless steel Oyster case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, and a bi-directional rotating white gold fluted timing bezel (thats right),a luminous matte grey dial with applied indices, a matching handset with a red seconds hand, and a roulette date wheel. Powered by a robust and reliable chronometer-certified Rolex Caliber 3135 automatic movement, it comes paired to a stainless steel Oyster bracelet with a matching Oysterclasp with Rolex's fantastic Easylink system. Like all Datejusts, these timepieces are incredibly usable for everyday use, and can easily be dressed-up for formal occasions or dressed-down and worn as a sporty everyday companion. This one just packs a little bit of extra function - and we love em.