r/Thornwatches

I have always been fascinated by Rolex Government logo dials, And I came across the t010 also known as the desert eagle (UAE Emblem Logo on the dial), I tried to find more about it online but it doesnt seem to be that popular. So I ended up buying it myself and I have 0 regrets. This for me is the perfect 6263 homage (bar the lack of screw down pushers). Perfect Case size at 37mm, super thin at 12mm including the Domed Crystal (I went with mineral for extra vintage points). The only downside I find is the lack: suffering from a lack of taper and a pretty ugly clasp lol. That problem disappeared when I got it on an Uncle Straps Jubilee made for a seiko 5. It truly feels like a vintage piece in all aspects, even in weight. I would love to talk more about this piece, If anyone has any questions about the t010 please feel free to comment!

Help me think through this. I've got the clasp centered but the bracelet fits slightly on the tight side in the outer micro adjustment clasp position.

If I add a full link back it's hopelessly loose, but right now I am certain it will be too tight during hot weather or activity.

On the 6 oclock side of the bracelet, the clasp is held to what is essentially a half link, using a solid press fit pin (SEE ARROW IN PHOTO). Importantly, it isn't a split pin so I'm unsure if I can get it out safely without damaging, let alone back in.

I am considering pressing the pin out (which will remove both the half attachment link and an attached, pin and collar full link) and adding two regular full links, which would put me up one half link effectively.

In theory, if I can do this without damaging or getting stuck, it will work with the existing links which are the appropriate shape on the male (small) end to go into the clasp.

Other than that, a longer clasp with more micro adjust positions would also solve the issue, although I do really like the logo clasp. Plus sizing a clasp to go with an oddball sized oyster link is iffy unless someone has a specific recommendation.

There are lots of innovative members here! Hoping some of you have already solved this problem. Did you use either of these methods or something else I'm not thinking of? Aftermarket half link that fits the bracelet perhaps?

For Sale is a Thorn T023 v3 limited edition in Brown dial.

This is a new watch and comes with the original box, leather case, tags etc.

It was resized for my 7 inch wrist, spare links included. Worn once and decided that I would keep my T028 and sell this one. I already have a T023 v1 and T023 v3 limited edition blue dial.

Price: £225 (includes UK shipping)

Payment through Paypal and UK delivery only.

Was going for this look and I feel like its pretty close. Cant complain for $200.

Hey everyone,

From time to time I see people mentioning slow replies or not-so-great after-sales experiences. I’ve seen those comments and have been following up on them.

Today I just wanted to ask directly —
have you run into any issues when buying from our website?
Feel free to say anything openly.

Right now I’m personally handling the emails on our official site.
On weekdays I usually try to clear everything the same day, weekends can be a bit slower.

We’re based in China, so there can be some time zone delays.
That said, it’s something we still need to improve.

If you sent an email and didn’t get a reply, feel free to send it again — sometimes messages do end up in spam.

I don’t post here much, but I do read regularly.
I keep track of the feedback, and anything we can improve, we’ll work on it step by step.

Honestly, I just want to get these small things right, so it feels more comfortable buying from us.

Also, I’m currently trying to find reliable watchmakers in Europe.
If you know anyone good, I’d really appreciate the recommendation.

We already have a partner in the US and it’s been working well.
If we can get something similar in Europe, after-sales would be much easier without needing to send watches back to China.

If you still have an unresolved order issue:

You can email sales@thornwatches.com (with your order number)
or just comment here — I’ll go through them one by one.

(Official website orders only: thornwatches.com)

If you’ve had a bad experience before, feel free to say it directly.
I’ll read everything.

And I really appreciate you helping us make THORN better over time.

I thought that the 34mm would wear too small for a 6.75 inch wrist. I'm digging the size and the design. Its very understated.

Thorn Pelagos Homage / “Exploration Road” PT5000 — First Impressions

Picked up this Thorn Pelagos-style diver from AliExpress and honestly, for the money, it knocks it out of the park.

This is the no-date version with the PT5000 movement, titanium-style/tool-watch vibe, blue dial and bezel, and strong blue lume. I haven’t handled a real Tudor Pelagos, so I’m not going to pretend this is some direct side-by-side comparison, but judged on its own merits, this thing is seriously impressive.

The dial is very clean and legible. No date window, no cyclops, no clutter — just a proper tool-diver layout. The indices are sharp-looking, the hands are easy to read, and the AR coating is excellent. The dial itself is a plain navy/blue rather than flashy sunburst, which fits the Pelagos-style design really well.

The lume is one of the highlights. It is not quite Seiko “radioactive” level, but it is very strong, even, and highly usable. The blue glow looks great and stays readable well enough for actual nighttime use. For an AliExpress watch in this price range, I have zero complaints there.

Bezel action is solid. It has a slightly gritty feel, but the clicks are positive and controlled. Not luxury-smooth, but not cheap-feeling either. It has that “tool watch” feel more than a polished jewelry feel, which I actually like.

The bracelet is a big surprise. The tool-less sizing system is excellent and made resizing ridiculously easy. I removed three links and it fits my 7-inch wrist perfectly, with maybe a little micro-adjust needed in summer. The watch wears extremely comfortably and is probably the lightest diver I own. It almost disappears on wrist, which is not something I usually say about dive watches.

The PT5000 movement feels good so far. The second hand sweeps smoothly, time-setting feels precise, and the rotor is surprisingly quiet — quieter than an NH35 to my ear and definitely no Miyota helicopter wobble. That said, I personally would not go crazy hand-winding it. I just shake it awake and let the rotor do the work.

It is not perfect. The bezel could be smoother, the branding/text is a little quirky, and “Exploration Road” on a dive watch is funny AliExpress poetry. But weirdly, I kind of like it. It gives the watch some character.

Overall, this feels like one of those Chinese watches that makes you wonder why some bigger brands charge so much more. It is not a Tudor, and I am not claiming it is, but as a Pelagos-inspired daily diver with great lume, clean design, strong comfort, and a good bracelet, this is a very strong value.

Pros: Great lume

Excellent legibility

Clean no-date dial

Very comfortable and lightweight

Tool-less bracelet sizing is fantastic

Quiet rotor

Strong value for the price

Cons: Bezel is slightly gritty

Branding/text is quirky

I would be cautious with hand-winding the PT5000

Water resistance still needs real-world trust or pressure testing

Final take:

For the price, this thing punches hard. Not perfect, but very easy to like. A proper goblin-tier win.

I’d like to suggest two potential improvements for Thorn watches:

1. Adding a small line of text beneath the 6 o’clock position on the dial
2. Including engraved or printed text on the clasp

Something along the lines of what’s shown in the reference pictures would elevate the overall design and give the watch a more refined, complete look.