Rolex Certified Pre-Owned: A Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph, In Steel And White Gold

One of the less well known, but I think also most interesting, Rolex models is the Turn-O-Graph, which was first produced, it may surprise you to hear, all the way back in 1953, and it was one of the first Rolex watches to be produced with a rotating bezel (along with the Submariner, although both were preceded by the very first Rolex with a rotating bezel, the 1937 Zerograph). The Turn-O-Graph, like the Submariner, was intended to simplify the problem of elapsed time measurement, with the rotating bezel offering much of the functionality of a chronograph, but without the additional fragility and cost.

The Turn-O-Graph was produced in several distinctly different variations (there were a total of ten different references over the lifetime of the model) from the year of its launch up to its discontinuation in 2011. The first Turn-O-Graph model was in fact, almost indistinguishable from the Submariner. The ref. 6202 had a bidirectional black bakelite bezel with 60 minute markers, but the resemblance of the Turn-O-Graph to the Submariner would eventually give way to models which had a design language much more closely related to the Datejust, and in fact, the name Turn-O-Graph was omitted from the dials of the Turn-O-Graph for much of its production history. The salient characteristics of these models were a Cyclops date window, and a very elegant, embossed metal bezel decorated with engine turning. The Turn-O-Graph’s timing bezel made it a useful aviation tool as well, and in fact it was adopted by the Thunderbirds USAF demonstration team, and has had the nickname “Thunderbird” ever since. The last version of the Turn-O-Graph saw the return of the Turn-O-Graph name to the dial, along with some very distinctive red accents; the model was finally discontinued in 2011. As is so often the case with discontinued references from Rolex, the Turn-O-Graph, like the Milgauss, has since become something of a cult classic, including the version you see here: the ref. 116264, in stainless steel.

The ref. 116264 is the last generation of Turn-O-Graph watches, and while it occupies a particular niche in Rolex design, I think it nonetheless has considerable appeal in its own right. Functionally, it offers the same advantages as its predecessors, which is to say it makes it possible to easily time intervals of up to an hour, with a precision of one minute or less. Legibility is excellent – the high contrast between the date disk, date numerals, baton markers and red center seconds hand mean the time as well as  the elapsed time can be read instantly.

As with all Rolex watches, the execution of the physical details of the watch is excellent. The dial furniture, hands, including the center seconds hand, and other details are basically perfect in every detail and while this is not one of the most obviously luxurious Rolex watches (the case diameter is 36mm, in steel, although the bezel is white gold), it is size notwithstanding an impressively well made watch.

I mentioned that you can use the Turn-O-Graph to time intervals to a minute’s resolution, which you might think unlikely given the fact that the bezel has numerals and markers only at the five minute marks. However, if you look closely, you can see that knurling has four ridges between each of the printed markers, which can function as individual minute markers if needed.

The Turn-O-Graph is not a diver’s watch per se – the international standard for dive watches, ISO 6425, specifies a unidirectional bezel for dive watches – but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t dive with it if you were inclined to do so. The ref. 116264 is water-resistance rated to a depth of 100 meters, and recreational diving takes place at depths of 40 meters or less, so the watch has more than enough water resistance for use underwater.

The technical capabilities of the Turn-O-Graph, however, are there in support of the unique personality of the model. It doesn’t have the overt tool-watch personality and history of the Submariner or Sea-Dweller, but it is a genuinely elegant steel-and-gold sports watch which pulls off the challenge of presenting a sense of sophistication, all while maintaining a self-assured sense of discretion. Certainly, the Turn-O-Graph is not the best known of Rolex models, but its under-the-radar character is I think, a feature, not a bug, and it shows the ability of Rolex to make daily-wear models that give up nothing in terms of build quality and physical appeal, to the better known technical watches.

See the ref. 116264 here, in our Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Collection.