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TropicalRolex · 7 May 2017, 08:45 AM

Hi, this is my first post here, after reading and learning a lot from this community. I'm 45, and recently, after I found a good story in the The New Yorker, I started to read a lot about watches, an interest that I had lost since my childhood. Then I remember that when my father died, 25 years ago, my mother gave me a gold Rolex he always kept in his safe. I started to remember, playing as a little kid, opening the safe and staring at the watch (It didn't have a bracelet or strap). It was my grandfather's watch (he died when I was 5), but my father never it because he thought it didn't work. I kept the watch in a box, trough two marriages and a number of houses.

I live in the south of Mexico, so I never bother to get it to the Rolex Service in the capital, I knew the service would be like buying a knew, expensive watch, and It was not on my priorities as a young man. In 2007, during the worst floods in the region in 50 years, the watch survived because the top drawer of the closet was slightly above 2 meters high (the water reached that level on my house), but the humidity in the air definitely affected it. I kept the watch all this years just as a memory of my father and his father.

Then, a month ago, after reading a lot about watches and buying an inexpensive Seiko, I remembered the Rolex. I went to the box, took it, and went online to search for the model and everything. Then, after an hour or so, suddenly the seconds hand started sweeping. I couldn't believe it. I already knew that it was a Thunderbird 1625, circa 1961, I screw out the crown, set the hour and day, and basically stare at it for the rest of the afternoon.

Rolex1625-1.jpg

After close examination I think the watch was serviced by some non qualified technician when my grandfather lived. Maybe he bought it second hand, he was never that wealthy (of course, in the 60s a Rolex wasn't so much of a luxury like now, and the mexican economy was way better). The case back has marks, it looks like it was opened with the incorrect tool. The bezel was glued to the case body. It has some signs of heavy corrosion in some parts of the case. The dial is heavily stained, the borders are gone, and there's a strange detritus accumulated in some parts, specially at ten o'clock (I guess is the tritium that fall from the hour hand and the border of the dial). The crystal has a lot of scratches. I cleaned it with a toothbrush and neutral soap, then the crystal went foggy, but cleaned itself after a few minutes.

Rolex1625-2.jpg

Rolex1625-3.jpg

Rolex1625-4.jpg

It was painful to look at the watch with a loupe. But after a month it has lost only one minute against my computer. The movement is running like brand new, after 40 years of seating still, suffering the high humidity of the region (80% must of the year). I can't understand how, but it's amazing. That sweeping seconds hand moves me back to the brief time when two beloved persons were alive, and when you put it under a good light is still kind of beautiful, like a greek urn.

Rolex1625-5.jpg

I doubt Rolex has the spare parts to service this watch, and if they do I doubt I can pay it. So I think I am going to look for a good old watchmaker to see what can I do to keep the watch alive.

I just wanted to share the story and to ask a few question to the many experts here:

-I don't know why the dial doesn't say "DATEJUST" under "OYSTER PERPETUAL", but I very much doubt the watch is a fake. Any ideas?

- Do you think it would be a good idea to service it now?

- What do you think that happened to the dial? What's that detritus?

- I read 1625 dials are very hard to get, is there any other dial model that will fit?

Thanks very much for reading and for your answers.

Leojmcca · 7 May 2017, 09:05 AM

It sounds like the patina surrounding the watch brings back some great memories!

Why fix it, the watch still works. Go on ebay and buy a bracelt/strap. Wear it and enjoy the memories.

TropicalRolex · 7 May 2017, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leojmcca

It sounds like the patina surrounding the watch brings back some great memories!

Why fix it, the watch still works. Go on ebay and buy a bracelt/strap. Wear it and enjoy the memories.

Thanks Leojmcca, I'm waiting the delivery of a nice leather strap!

RC2 · 7 May 2017, 11:18 AM

There are watch folks on this site that can service it

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Member of Nylon Nation

motoikkyu · 7 May 2017, 01:14 PM

There are even dials available, but be careful, the 160X series dials do not fit. I think your dial might have been repainted at some time. Thanks for your great story, by the way!

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoikkyu

There are even dials available, but be careful, the 160X series dials do not fit. I think your dial might have been repainted at some time. Thanks for your great story, by the way!

Thank you!

Psmith · 7 May 2017, 01:42 PM

Welcome

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psmith

Welcome

cheers Psmith, sorry everyone about coming back late, I didn't now that the email notifications will stop

Richard Carver · 7 May 2017, 01:52 PM

Beautiful case! Pretty sure it's a redial. I would keep it as dry as possible, the condensation isn't that good for it. Wear it, enjoy it, start saving for a service. You can use the time to find a good tech in your area.

The dial is interesting, keep it, get it repainted or find a clean original, take your time.

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Beautiful case! Pretty sure it's a redial. I would keep it as dry as possible, the condensation isn't that good for it. Wear it, enjoy it, start saving for a service. You can use the time to find a good tech in your area.

The dial is interesting, keep it, get it repainted or find a clean original, take your time.

Sounds like good advice Richard.

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Beautiful case! Pretty sure it's a redial. I would keep it as dry as possible, the condensation isn't that good for it. Wear it, enjoy it, start saving for a service. You can use the time to find a good tech in your area.

The dial is interesting, keep it, get it repainted or find a clean original, take your time.

Sounds like good advice Richard!

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Beautiful case! Pretty sure it's a redial. I would keep it as dry as possible, the condensation isn't that good for it. Wear it, enjoy it, start saving for a service. You can use the time to find a good tech in your area.

The dial is interesting, keep it, get it repainted or find a clean original, take your time.

Sounds like good advice, thank you!

uncleluck · 7 May 2017, 05:05 PM

When you say it fogged up and cleared itself, do you mean inside the watch glass?

If so, get it to someone that can open the back and dry it out properly. Just worried when you cleaned it you got water inside.

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncleluck

When you say it fogged up and cleared itself, do you mean inside the watch glass?

If so, get it to someone that can open the back and dry it out properly. Just worried when you cleaned it you got water inside.

Yes uncleluck, inside the watch glass, but I only used a wet toothbrush. Its been fine since then.

taxico · 7 May 2017, 07:41 PM

i believe mexico city rsc has enough parts for that watch to take care of it for you...

with water damage, you may not want to keep it running.

Nicholas Bedworth · 7 May 2017, 08:30 PM

BTW regarding using your computer as a time reference, make sure that it's syncing against the Windows time server... the computer clock could well be drifting... Mobile phones, if they are set to use the network time server, also should be very accurate.

My 1060 is within a second a day using the mobile phone time.

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholas Bedworth

BTW regarding using your computer as a time reference, make sure that it's syncing against the Windows time server... the computer clock could well be drifting... Mobile phones, if they are set to use the network time server, also should be very accurate.

My 1060 is within a second a day using the mobile phone time.

Its an iMac, but I'll check how it is synch, thanks

crowncollection · 7 May 2017, 09:05 PM

dial is resprayed, have it restored by an independant

DLRIDES · 7 May 2017, 10:13 PM

Thanks for the story !

I would not change ANY parts on that watch ! Have the movement serviced, all loose debris cleaned off, and new seals. Leave everything else as it is, that's what tells the story of the watch !

Do not send this watch to Rolex Service, they will destroy the history of the watch !!!!!!

PS- I have the 1965 model of the exact same watch !

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLRIDES

Thanks for the story !

I would not change ANY parts on that watch ! Have the movement serviced, all loose debris cleaned off, and new seals. Leave everything else as it is, that's what tells the story of the watch !

Do not send this watch to Rolex Service, they will destroy the history of the watch !!!!!!

PS- I have the 1965 model of the exact same watch !

That's great DLRIDES, could you post a picture?

DLRIDES · 14 May 2017, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TropicalRolex

That's great DLRIDES, could you post a picture?

TropicalRolex · 14 May 2017, 11:25 PM

Wow, is very well preserved, looks great!

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowncollection

dial is resprayed, have it restored by an independant

Thanks crowncollection, how do you know when the dial is resprayed?

emersm · 7 May 2017, 11:15 PM

Great story, thanks for sharing!

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emersm

Great story, thanks for sharing!

thank you emersm!

dddl · 8 May 2017, 09:06 AM

It is a wonderful watch, I where one as an every day wearer... Good luck with it.

tfjordan · 8 May 2017, 10:16 AM

I agree with DLRIDES, wouldn't change a thing but to have movement serviced. I would also use an independent watchmaker. However, in selecting a servicer, I'd check them out thoroughly and make sure they don't polish the case or remove the patina. Some watchmaker's think they're doing you a favor by polishing and over cleaning. They're not. Make sure they know their way around vintage Rolex.

Beautiful piece. I have a 16263 and love it. Enjoy!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfjordan

I agree with DLRIDES, wouldn't change a thing but to have movement serviced. I would also use an independent watchmaker. However, in selecting a servicer, I'd check them out thoroughly and make sure they don't polish the case or remove the patina. Some watchmaker's think they're doing you a favor by polishing and over cleaning. They're not. Make sure they know their way around vintage Rolex.

Beautiful piece. I have a 16263 and love it. Enjoy!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thanks tfjordan! I'll take my time looking for the right watchmaker

STEELINOX · 8 May 2017, 10:49 AM

Agree with the others. Dial looks original and hands are also remarkably good shape. Have the movement looked after and enjoy it. Top marks

TropicalRolex · 13 May 2017, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEELINOX

Agree with the others. Dial looks original and hands are also remarkably good shape. Have the movement looked after and enjoy it. Top marks

thanks STEELINOX!

7 May 2017, 08:45 AM	#1
TropicalRolex "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Mexico Posts: 19	Thunderbird 1625 comes alive after 40 years Hi, this is my first post here, after reading and learning a lot from this community. I'm 45, and recently, after I found a good story in the The New Yorker, I started to read a lot about watches, an interest that I had lost since my childhood. Then I remember that when my father died, 25 years ago, my mother gave me a gold Rolex he always kept in his safe. I started to remember, playing as a little kid, opening the safe and staring at the watch (It didn't have a bracelet or strap). It was my grandfather's watch (he died when I was 5), but my father never it because he thought it didn't work. I kept the watch in a box, trough two marriages and a number of houses. I live in the south of Mexico, so I never bother to get it to the Rolex Service in the capital, I knew the service would be like buying a knew, expensive watch, and It was not on my priorities as a young man. In 2007, during the worst floods in the region in 50 years, the watch survived because the top drawer of the closet was slightly above 2 meters high (the water reached that level on my house), but the humidity in the air definitely affected it. I kept the watch all this years just as a memory of my father and his father. Then, a month ago, after reading a lot about watches and buying an inexpensive Seiko, I remembered the Rolex. I went to the box, took it, and went online to search for the model and everything. Then, after an hour or so, suddenly the seconds hand started sweeping. I couldn't believe it. I already knew that it was a Thunderbird 1625, circa 1961, I screw out the crown, set the hour and day, and basically stare at it for the rest of the afternoon. Rolex1625-1.jpg After close examination I think the watch was serviced by some non qualified technician when my grandfather lived. Maybe he bought it second hand, he was never that wealthy (of course, in the 60s a Rolex wasn't so much of a luxury like now, and the mexican economy was way better). The case back has marks, it looks like it was opened with the incorrect tool. The bezel was glued to the case body. It has some signs of heavy corrosion in some parts of the case. The dial is heavily stained, the borders are gone, and there's a strange detritus accumulated in some parts, specially at ten o'clock (I guess is the tritium that fall from the hour hand and the border of the dial). The crystal has a lot of scratches. I cleaned it with a toothbrush and neutral soap, then the crystal went foggy, but cleaned itself after a few minutes. Rolex1625-2.jpg Rolex1625-3.jpg Rolex1625-4.jpg It was painful to look at the watch with a loupe. But after a month it has lost only one minute against my computer. The movement is running like brand new, after 40 years of seating still, suffering the high humidity of the region (80% must of the year). I can't understand how, but it's amazing. That sweeping seconds hand moves me back to the brief time when two beloved persons were alive, and when you put it under a good light is still kind of beautiful, like a greek urn. Rolex1625-5.jpg I doubt Rolex has the spare parts to service this watch, and if they do I doubt I can pay it. So I think I am going to look for a good old watchmaker to see what can I do to keep the watch alive. I just wanted to share the story and to ask a few question to the many experts here: -I don't know why the dial doesn't say "DATEJUST" under "OYSTER PERPETUAL", but I very much doubt the watch is a fake. Any ideas? - Do you think it would be a good idea to service it now? - What do you think that happened to the dial? What's that detritus? - I read 1625 dials are very hard to get, is there any other dial model that will fit? Thanks very much for reading and for your answers.

7 May 2017, 11:18 AM	#4
RC2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Rich Location: NC Watch: Rolex 1675 Posts: 2,359	There are watch folks on this site that can service it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Member of Nylon Nation __________________ Rich Member of Nylon Nation Red Sox Nation Instagram watchguy97

7 May 2017, 01:14 PM	#5
motoikkyu 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: PRJ Posts: 1,732	There are even dials available, but be careful, the 160X series dials do not fit. I think your dial might have been repainted at some time. Thanks for your great story, by the way! __________________ "Do you like Breitling?" "I don't know, really, I've never been Breitled"

7 May 2017, 01:42 PM	#7
Psmith "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Clive Location: Exoplanet Watch: spring-driven Posts: 38,856	Welcome __________________

7 May 2017, 09:05 PM	#18
crowncollection "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: David Location: australia Posts: 20,215	dial is resprayed, have it restored by an independant __________________ watches many

7 May 2017, 09:05 AM	#2
Leojmcca "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Socal Watch: 1601 1625 Explorer Posts: 33	It sounds like the patina surrounding the watch brings back some great memories! Why fix it, the watch still works. Go on ebay and buy a bracelt/strap. Wear it and enjoy the memories.

7 May 2017, 01:52 PM	#9
Richard Carver "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: US Posts: 2,237	Beautiful case! Pretty sure it's a redial. I would keep it as dry as possible, the condensation isn't that good for it. Wear it, enjoy it, start saving for a service. You can use the time to find a good tech in your area. The dial is interesting, keep it, get it repainted or find a clean original, take your time.

7 May 2017, 05:05 PM	#13
uncleluck "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: England Posts: 518	When you say it fogged up and cleared itself, do you mean inside the watch glass? If so, get it to someone that can open the back and dry it out properly. Just worried when you cleaned it you got water inside.

7 May 2017, 07:41 PM	#15
taxico "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Asia / USA Watch: on my wrist! Posts: 113	i believe mexico city rsc has enough parts for that watch to take care of it for you... with water damage, you may not want to keep it running.

7 May 2017, 08:30 PM	#16
Nicholas Bedworth "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Kathmandu, Nepal Posts: 47	BTW regarding using your computer as a time reference, make sure that it's syncing against the Windows time server... the computer clock could well be drifting... Mobile phones, if they are set to use the network time server, also should be very accurate. My 1060 is within a second a day using the mobile phone time.

7 May 2017, 10:13 PM	#19
DLRIDES 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Real Name: Don Location: NC/WY Watch: Me Posts: 4,665	Thanks for the story ! I would not change ANY parts on that watch ! Have the movement serviced, all loose debris cleaned off, and new seals. Leave everything else as it is, that's what tells the story of the watch ! Do not send this watch to Rolex Service, they will destroy the history of the watch !!!!!! PS- I have the 1965 model of the exact same watch !

14 May 2017, 11:25 PM	#22
TropicalRolex "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Mexico Posts: 19	Wow, is very well preserved, looks great!

7 May 2017, 11:15 PM	#24
emersm 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Real Name: Merle Location: USA Watch: Rolex Posts: 2,525	Great story, thanks for sharing!

8 May 2017, 09:06 AM	#26
dddl 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Conshohocken Watch: What? Posts: 896	It is a wonderful watch, I where one as an every day wearer... Good luck with it. __________________ dive deep dive long 1503 16263 16610 228238 16623

8 May 2017, 10:16 AM	#27
tfjordan "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 341	I agree with DLRIDES, wouldn't change a thing but to have movement serviced. I would also use an independent watchmaker. However, in selecting a servicer, I'd check them out thoroughly and make sure they don't polish the case or remove the patina. Some watchmaker's think they're doing you a favor by polishing and over cleaning. They're not. Make sure they know their way around vintage Rolex. Beautiful piece. I have a 16263 and love it. Enjoy! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Rolex Datejust Thunderbird Rolex 16713 GMT Master II Omega Bond 2351.80 Omega Speedmaster 145.014 Tudor BB Blue

8 May 2017, 10:49 AM	#29
STEELINOX 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Sink-O! Location: a praire in AZ Watch: ROLEX-less atm... Posts: 14,020	Agree with the others. Dial looks original and hands are also remarkably good shape. Have the movement looked after and enjoy it. Top marks __________________ *Positive Waves Baby* Lug Hole Loyalist / Chamfer Line Inspector INFORTHE WIN SUB-MAH-REEEN-ER ~ !

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