Thunderbird 1625 comes alive after 40 years

[TropicalRolex]

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]

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]

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]

There are watch folks on this site that can service it


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[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!

[Psmith]

Welcome

[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.

[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.

[taxico]

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]

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.

[crowncollection]

dial is resprayed, have it restored by an independant

[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 !

[emersm]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

[dddl]

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

[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!


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[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

[jmiicustomz]

Service it, cherish it, wear it, repeat and hand it to the next generation!!

To know the future is to be trapped by it

[TropicalRolex]

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!

[TropicalRolex]

Originally Posted by Psmith

Welcome

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

[TropicalRolex]

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]

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]

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.

[TropicalRolex]

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!

[TropicalRolex]

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

[TropicalRolex]

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?

[TropicalRolex]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

dial is resprayed, have it restored by an independant

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

[TropicalRolex]

Originally Posted by emersm

Great story, thanks for sharing!

thank you emersm!

[TropicalRolex]

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!


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

[TropicalRolex]

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!

[TropicalRolex]

Originally Posted by jmiicustomz

Service it, cherish it, wear it, repeat and hand it to the next generation!!

To know the future is to be trapped by it

cheers jmiicustomz!