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Personal Dark Lord Homage Mini-Project - Help Needed

  1. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Jul 21, 2022

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    Hi guys

    Back from my holiday and, in the meantime, my SE Black DLC Titanium Heuer02 (CBL2180) has been sold. The little brother (to the right of my vintage 74033N below) has therefore been sent to its new home - gratuitous picture following:

    4.jpeg


    Thus, as I mentioned in the thread of my introductory post, I am now going to embark on a mini-project and modify a CS2110. I have already secured one from a respected member of the Heuer community and it should soon be in my hands.

    As you will see from the reference photo of a CS2110 below, it has potential as a homage to the 74033N if it is simply coated and then the second and sub-dials hands replaced or painted orange ...

    5.jpg

    I am therefore now turning to this helpful group for assistance.

    Can anyone provide recommendations/contacts for having the case coated and hands replaced/re-painted? It would be great if you could specifically help with Heuer/Tag specialists.

    Also, if I am to source replacement hands, my initial searching has identified the following potentials:

    White/Orange NOS Style Chronograph Hand Set Retro for Eta Valjoux 7733 | eBayPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    Vintage Orange Triangle Sweep Second Chronograph Hand, Heuer, Enicar, Tudor | eBayPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    HANDS SET FOR MOVEMENT ETA VALJOUX 7750, MONACO, ref 30-37, SLC1 - SUPERLUMINOVA | eBayPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    However, I am not sure if which, if any, are suitable/compatible. All I know is that the CS2110 is an ETA 2894 movement.

    Anyway, any help with sources/contacts for getting the watch coated and/or hand replaced will be greatly appreciated.

    Of course, photos of how it goes (and hopefully the ends result next to the 74033N) will be provided in due course!
     
    Edited Jul 21, 2022
    Jim Dollares and Mspeedster like this.
  2. abrod520

    abrod520 Jul 21, 2022

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    Where are you located again? I've had a Speedmaster coated in the US by Jack at IWW - https://www.internationalwatchworks.com/
    Excellent service, and you can ship to /from.
     
    Monaco_Lover likes this.
  3. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Jul 21, 2022

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    Sorry, I should have mentioned, I am UK-based. Thanks for the suggestion though.
     
  4. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Jul 21, 2022

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    I have quickly mashed together some images (and added some dubious paint shop touches!) to create this rough indication of what I see it resulting in ...
    caw211m.fc6324_1.jpg
     
    Edited Jul 21, 2022
  5. thingziliketoo

    thingziliketoo Jul 21, 2022

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    Looks great!
     
  6. Mspeedster

    Mspeedster Jul 21, 2022

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    Cool project!

    The guy that can probably help you the most is Joe Ganzler. He also created his own custom Dark Lord tribute, but using a Cal 17 CW2113 Monaco as his base watch. (There used to be a Calibre11 article on it, which is sadly gone since the site was closed.)
    Dg3c5369.jpg
    Dg3c5355.jpg

    Joe doesn't post here. But he's a member of watchuseek and goes by the name of "TheGanzman".

    He tried selling his custom Dark Lord tribute a while ago, don't know if it ever sold. Here's that thread: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/...o-ref-74033n-dark-lord.2296090/#post-19559890

    If he still has it, you might be able to buy it from him.
     
    imagwai, Pitfitter446 and Albert-AMG like this.
  7. SteveP

    SteveP Jul 21, 2022

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    James Hyman could paint the hands for you no problem. I'd be very careful when looking at replacement hands-you need the correct hole sizes and lengths too obviously-it could look pretty badly done otherwise. As @abrod520 says, Jack at IWW is normally the go-to man for this-but you do have to wait for it. There is a guy in the UK who could Cerakote it for you. PVD/DLC is hard to find for a single project otherwise...

    Interested to know how Joe Ganzler did it....
    Steve
     
    Monaco_Lover likes this.
  8. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Jul 27, 2022

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    Thanks for the help all.

    I looked at Joe's sale post and cant believe he struggled to sell it for so long! If I knew about it, I would have taken it from him immediately!

    Oh well, I am excited to do my own homage.

    Jack at IWW has been excellent and we have discussed by email. I am excited to say that I have now sent the CS2110 to Jack, and he will be coating the case and painting the hands. Of course, only 2 bits of work/changes, but I am hoping it gives a nice final result somewhat like the mockup above.

    Now to undergo the tortuous wait until I get it back from Jack!
     
  9. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Sep 27, 2022

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    Update on this mini-project - Jack at IWW just sent me these photos:

    IMG-7379.jpg IMG-7382.jpg IMG-7383.jpg

    I am very happy indeed! It appears to have come out better than I originally envisaged - I especially love the negative space on the dial that gives the design room to breath just like the original 74033. Much better than the recent SE Black DLC Titanium Heuer02 (CBL2180) IMHO

    Can't wait to see this in the metal and put it next to my vintage original
     
    Edited Sep 27, 2022
  10. imagwai

    imagwai Sep 27, 2022

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    Yes, turned out much better than I expected also. You will have a unique watch there. Congrats.
     
    Monaco_Lover likes this.
  11. Mspeedster

    Mspeedster Sep 27, 2022

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    Looks awesome! :thumbsup:
     
    Monaco_Lover likes this.
  12. Hubert

    Hubert TAG Heuer Forums Moderator Staff Member Sep 27, 2022

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    Interesting project! The circular left sub-register looks a bit odd, but overall it turned out great. Congrats!
     
  13. Hubert

    Hubert TAG Heuer Forums Moderator Staff Member Sep 27, 2022

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    One question though. What happened to the white hands?
    upload_2022-9-27_22-37-38.png
     
    Edited by a mod Jun 1, 2023
  14. HoltzPlatz

    HoltzPlatz Sep 27, 2022

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    This has been a fascinating idea of yours, thanks for the updates. Looking forward to the siblings pic:thumbsup:
     
    Monaco_Lover likes this.
  15. danwel

    danwel Sep 28, 2022

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    I’m intrigued in the coating process as I am toying with getting my cal 5 or cal 16 head done.

    what sort of costs are involved if you don’t mind me asking ?

    thansk
     
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  16. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Sep 28, 2022

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    View attachment 1482450 [/QUOTE]
    I ended up going with Jack's recommendation and keeping the process simple by avoiding fitting new/different hands. Finding hands that fit the movement properly etc was difficult and Jack was concerned about it, Of course, this project could have been aimed at being more faithful and entailed more work, but I have only been wanting a simple, cheap homage, so the choice of only coating the case and painting hands seem a decent compromise.

    Jack has been awesome - the 1st coat wasn't to his high standards and so he sent it back for re-working. Once coated he has moved really quickly with the painting of the hands
     
    Edited by a mod Jun 1, 2023
    Hubert likes this.
  17. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Sep 28, 2022

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    Best to look at Jack's site - details, faqs and prices are all available there: International Watch Works

    I have been more than happy with Jack's service and would definitely recommend his services.
     
    danwel likes this.
  18. YG_Rulz

    YG_Rulz Sep 28, 2022

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    Excellent rendition. I'm sure you'll be over the moon with the result @Monaco_Lover. Can't wait to see the final product on the wrist.
     
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  19. YG_Rulz

    YG_Rulz Sep 28, 2022

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    I wonder if the buttons and crown will also be coated - they should IMO. Seems a bit odd at the moment!!
     
  20. Monaco_Lover

    Monaco_Lover Sep 28, 2022

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    Nah - I specifically specified not coating buttons and crown - in homage to the original which also don't have pushers and crown coated (see photo above in 1st post of this thread). Presumably this was because coating tech back then meant it would wear too easily on these most-used parts.

    Indeed, the pushers and crown being coated in the recent SE Black DLC Titanium Heuer02 (CBL2180) was something I was disappointed with because it strayed from the original 74033.