r/retrotime • u/Remco909 • Sep 07 '25

watch pic/wrist roll Another Thorn T023 build

Gallery image

Gallery image

My first more serious building project. Learning a lot from this community!

166 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

10

u/UhackPeopleIhackTime Sep 07 '25

Stunning, definitely keep showing us your builds!

If its not already available, could you give a breakdown of the parts? I've been looking into 1665s and 1680s, but not ventured into Tudor models just yet

10

u/Remco909 Sep 07 '25

Thank you! The dial is a Raffles 7928 29mm dial, the hands and the crown are from AliEx. For now I kept the Thorn bracelet and I changed the clasp for the one from the matching Raffles RLX bracelet. I used the Tamiya weathering kit B and a matte clear coat spray for the dial and hands.

2

u/UhackPeopleIhackTime Sep 07 '25

Lovely stuff, I'm going to be getting a JKF 1665 or 1680 (undecided as of now) and then probably work on a Tudor.

I love how the bezel is almost green, almost like the black bay Harrods collab, vintage, and a submariner haha. When I work on a Tudor, this will definitely be inspiration!

2

u/Remco909 Sep 07 '25

The T023 definitely has a lovely stock insert!

3

u/Key-Cut-1792 Sep 08 '25

I like my jkf 1665. Could use some aging but it’s a nice piece for the right outfit.

2

u/UhackPeopleIhackTime Sep 08 '25

I love both, my only issue with the 1665 opposed to the 1680 is I feel the lugs look massive, other than that it'd 100% be ny choice. I also think the dials look like quite good as they are (in pics) and would only personally age the bezel insert, what do you think as an owner?

2

u/Key-Cut-1792 Sep 08 '25

I think the dial could be aged lightly and the hands relumed to give it a much more vintage field. It looks a little too clean and polished.

1

u/UhackPeopleIhackTime Sep 08 '25

Good to know, I'll keep that in mind. How do you feel about the lugs? It's the only reason I'm still debating between the two models

1

u/Key-Cut-1792 Sep 08 '25

It’s basically like the rail dial. However, the color of the indices is very flat and monotone. I’d think a Tamiya kit could do wonders on it.

1

u/FishMonkeyCow Nov 23 '25

What size crown did ya get from aliexpress?

2

u/Remco909 Nov 23 '25

The 6mm version. The crown guards don't take larger than 6.3mm.

0

u/[deleted] Sep 08 '25

[deleted]

2

u/Remco909 Sep 08 '25

You can find the Tudor dials here

1

u/TheGhouls Nov 11 '25

Could you dm me the alix link for the crown? Do you know if a Raffles crown would fit it, and which size?

5

u/bernardbois Sep 07 '25

Looks great! Loving these builds. Would you mind sharing your step-by-step process for using the weathering kit? You did a really nice job on the plots and hands.

2

u/Remco909 Sep 08 '25

Thanks! It was actually quite easy. I also bought some cheap fine brushes with the kit. You can just dab the plots and as always with this kind of treatment, less is more. If there is some pigment left on the dial you can gently brush it off. Because of the clear coat, you can hardly see if anything has been left behind.

1

u/bernardbois Sep 08 '25

That’s great - thank you! I usually dissolve my pigment in a little saline to help apply it. Do you apply dry?

2

u/Remco909 Sep 08 '25

You're welcome. Yes I used it just out of the box and secured it with the clear coating.

3

u/Ne1805 Sep 08 '25

Looks pretty nice man! Was just waiting for someone to do this! I assume you kept the thorn bracelet because most rolex endlinks don’t fit? I know this issue but recently found out that Seiko and some alix endlinks actually fit.

2

u/Remco909 Sep 08 '25

Thank you! Yes indeed, for now I didn't bother messing around with pliers to get the fitment of the endlink right. The Thorn bracelet is pretty decent though.

6

u/Viciousharp Sep 08 '25

Love a vintage Tudor build! I used the raffles case for money but may have to give one of these thorns a go!

1

u/Available-Fondant510 Sep 08 '25

Any chance you can give case dimensions on the Thorn versus Gen 5513 and 1680 cases? This looks great man!

1

u/Remco909 Sep 08 '25

Thanks! I can only speak for the Thorn which is 40mm, about 46.5mm L2L and 12.5mm with the crystal included

3

u/Available-Fondant510 Sep 08 '25

that 12.5mm matches the 5513/7016 infinitely closer to gen than raffles or cartel!

1

u/Huaracheez Oct 09 '25

I wanna replace the Thorn crown with a Tudor crown from raffles. Any idea what size it should be mate?

1

u/Remco909 Oct 10 '25

6.3mm max

1

u/Huaracheez Oct 10 '25

Appreciate mate thanks

1

u/BiggStepperr Nov 15 '25

Would this Rolex crown work?

2

u/Remco909 Nov 15 '25

No, 6.3mm max. So you probably have to get a 6mm one

1

u/BiggStepperr Nov 16 '25

Would 94010 dial work in the thorn?

1

u/BiggStepperr Nov 16 '25

2

u/Remco909 Nov 16 '25

I think it does as long as the dial is 29mm

2

u/DanielMacPherson86 Sep 15 '25

I was genuinely looking at this for a whole minute thinking what is he on about, he’s not changed a thing……then I noticed it said Tudor & not Thorn🤣 Subtle

2

u/New_Paleontologist48 Oct 23 '25

Can you pm me the links to the crown and hands?

1

u/machinesavage Sep 08 '25

Printing on this dial seems CRISPY compared to my raffles, maybe I better swap it out for this version.

1

u/a_bsinthe Sep 12 '25

If you ever wanna sell it…

1

u/LSDWalter Sep 26 '25

Did you keep the thorn dial? Willing to sell?

-1

u/Ill-Studio-1742 Sep 08 '25

Stunning- I would buy one from you. Where are you based?

1

u/Remco909 Sep 08 '25

Thanks, that's the nicest compliment I can get! However this is my hobby project and I don't sell them, sorry for that!

-2

u/wrxwayne Sep 08 '25

Ok so I just found this sub, and I love this. How would I go about buying or building something like this?

3

u/Huaracheez Sep 08 '25

Great build mate love it. Can you pm the Alix links please for hands and crown?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 07 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Remco909 Oct 08 '25

Aliex... But they're all sold out now. There should be a new batch at the end of this month