Heuer and Tag Heuer 1000 Restoration Parts and Service

B BDuffel

Just a note on a recent rework by Justin. My 31 year old Heuer 984.013 L needed a little refreshing. The lume had fallen out of the hour hand and the calendar was jammed up. Watch had never stopped keeping perfect time. Sent it in for a fix, sapphire crystal replacement and general service/cleanup. I am very happy with the price, communication, attention to detail and result. I bought this watch in 1986 because I was sick of breaking watches (bit of a Neanderthal). It is one tough SOB. I've replaced the crown twice, the face once, the crystal at least once or twice, the band about three times and only had it serviced 2-3 times in 30+ years. In spite of all this the damned thing kept time to a second every few months for 31 years. Justin does good work. It has lost 13 seconds in the last week or so but I imagine that is just break in jitters and will smooth out. Picture of the old dog:

When I bought this watch in March of 86 it was a Heuer. Dial, case back, crown and all. I'm like the farmer that has had the same axe for 40 years. It's had 5 handles and three heads but it's the same axe by gosh.

If I have any regret it is that I didn't get him to go ahead and replace the bezel insert and have the entire face re-lumed while it was in the shop. At the time I didn't realize his lume repair only included the hands and pip on the bezel. It has a good amount of cuff wear to the gold plating on the bezel and the little bit of wear and tear on the insert isn't bad. It's been diving in salt and fresh water and generally lived a very hard life. I plan on wearing this watch til I die then passing it on so hopefully it will run another 30 or so years.

Well I also regret it doesn't still have the Heuer face and crown.

J jbjames

Justin ,

Thanks again for the great buying experience, we made the deal Saturday afternoon, he got it to me Monday from Kentucky to San Diego.
Couldn't be happier.

Jason.

J Jkbenn02

New custom project in the works for my Aussie friend:

Started out as a 980.033 but will ultimately be exposed brass (though polished and brushed per the original style) and a gold bezel with black dial and insert.

Progress thus far:

J Jkbenn02

I have only seen one person get something reposted and it was in DLC. It's was Stewart's Autavia and it was about $1000. This work was done by Jack at IWW if I recall correctly.

I've written to Jack on a few occasions about coatings and he didn't seem interested in doing the 1000s. I can only assume that at the pr Due point he charges it really isn't worth the expense. $1000 coating on a $500-1000 watch...it would be hard to find a buyer for that service.

SteveP was working with a British company to see about the possibilities of watch coatings but I believe that was also prohibitively expensive as well.

Most potential customers are starting with a higher end watch such as a Rolex or Panerai and at that point it makes sense.

I've had a couple watches Cerakoted (ceramic coated) by Motor City Watchworks in Detroit. That is a spray on and bake coating but bracelets aren't something they do because (I'm assuming) that soraying the entirety of a bracelet just doesn't work with this process. It's not full immersion like a vapor deposited coating such as PVD or DLC.

That's what makes finding an excellent example of a Pvd Heuer so special. They just didn't have a durable coating process back in the early 80's that could stand the test of time and rigors of daily wrist use. When they pop up they command stiff prices and once wear is present the prices essentially fall off a cliff. For example 980.026s in mint condition sell for ~$1k or more with the full kit but if it has some wear you can halve the price.

Good hunting out their folks. They do exist.

Will__Spencer

Been wanting to get into this club for some time and had to play the waiting game to get a good case at a good price. Now get to add my 980.029 Heuer (I believe circa 1982, JKbenn please correct me if not) to my 2018 Heuer UAE Autavia. Just wish I could find a 18mm Rubber strap with curved ends which aren't £200 or £5