Rolex 1625 Thunderbird Rebuild (custom)

[JLMIAMI]

Hi all, I have a vintage 1625 Thunderbird in my possession that I guess some would say I'm about to butcher lol. So I'm building the piece for my friend, the watch was his fathers but he doesn't love the two tone look. I am looking to do the following.

- Replace current black and gold stick dial to black and silver variant.
- Fresh Crystal
- Red Second Hand
- New Datewheel
- Dip the current crown in white gold
- Replace the turn-o-graph bezel with a smooth bezel.

Not before i get slack for customizing this, I advised him to keep all the original parts as it is none the less a collectable.

If anyone can guide me in the direction of a parts supplier other than ebay or if you have parts that you think may help in my build please let me know.

[MILGAUSS88]

How about this, sell the thunderbird and buy a steel datejust with smooth bezel.
A lot less to change that way.

[Fredrik]

1625 dials are more or less impossible to get hold of. The regular DJ dials from a 160X will not fit, they are too large. The 1625 uses a slightly different case for the rotating bezel and takes a slightly smaller dial.

Oh, and I do not think a regular 1600 smooth stainless bezel is going to fit either, you probably need to make it your self.

The crown is easy, just get a stainless steel crown from a regular 160X DJ.

Do you have any pictures of your watch? We like pictures here.

[breitlings]

why

[Bob the brush]

Just keep it as HW intended. Just buy a DJ and be done with it. Sell the tog on here.

[JLMIAMI]

Hi all thanks for the responses. The main reason my friend doesn't want to just by a plain DJ is because he'd rather customize this one so he has a piece of his father. I've attached the picture, everything seems to be original other than a replacement crystal having been installed. I have the bracelet as well which is in worn but good condition. I threw this olive suede strap on.

So, a regular dial or bezel 16xx will not fit?

[GradyPhilpott]

I have a friend who owns one of those that was his father's.

I told him just yesterday to never let anyone start replacing parts willy-nilly, as one might expect RSC to do, in the course of servicing the watch.

I just can't imagine anyone committing such a travesty with such a desirable watch.

[JLMIAMI]

I hear ya, but I am just trying to help a friend make something his own while retaining the integrity

[breitlings]

I think he should keep his watch and just buy a dj/date. It has to be cheaper than the mods you are talking about.

[Gecko10]

Originally Posted by JLMIAMI

I hear ya, but I am just trying to help a friend make something his own while retaining the integrity

FWIW . I think your friend should do whatever the hell he wants to do with his watch. I am doing something a little radical with a 1625, myself. It is being done to co-memorate my 26 years of flying attack helicopters in the U.S. Army. However I was able to find a spare dial to have redone with an image of an AH1 COBRA helicopter printed on it

Other mods include Alpha hands and a roulette date wheel. Of course I have kept all the original parts

What you want to ask for are parts to fit a 1570/5 movement

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by Gecko10

FWIW . I think your friend should do whatever the hell he wants to do with his watch. I am doing something a little radical with a 1625, myself. It is being done to co-memorate my 26 years of flying attack helicopters in the U.S. Army. However I was able to find a spare dial to have redone with an image of an AH1 COBRA helicopter printed on it

Other mods include Alpha hands and a roulette date wheel. Of course I have kept all the original parts

What you want to ask for are parts to fit a 1570/5 movement

You are doing something to make it your own. It sounds like they are just trying to change a tt tog to a ss dj.

[Gecko10]

Originally Posted by breitlings

You are doing something to make it your own. It sounds like they are just trying to change a tt tog to a ss dj.

Yes, you're probably right. I never thought of it that way. I was really reluctant to post what I was doing, fearing some harsh criticism.

My 1625 should be done in a couple of week, but I doubt I will post pictures.

[Kiwi1]

I have a black 1625 dial with silver markers that I could swap for your black dial with gold markers.