Guest techlogik Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 IWC Cousteau 06 Work done by The Zigmeister: 1) Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 Movement Swap 2) Proper Swiss ETA Valjoux Day and Date wheels 3) The Zigmeister Lume I would like to say that The Zigmeister does absolutely fantastic work. He is the only one that will do the bezel lume on the Aquatimer, and he does an incredible job at that. He also did my Slevin at the same time, I might post photos, but you get the idea of the lume job. I might put the Slevin up for sale because the Cousteau is more my size, and it looks incredible. I don't have a macro lens or light box, so excuse the photos and clarity on many. Everything came back perfect and working fine. I could not be more satisfied with the entire process. First rate work and quality. To really complete this project, Chief AR could be done. I will let the photos speak for themselves:
RWG Technical Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Thanks for the feedback and I am glad you like the results. It was a pleasure working with you. I think they both turned out very well. I took a few pictures before they went out...
Guest techlogik Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Thanks, shows how bad my camera lens it...and it isn't a cheap setup either...Nikon D90 with a Nikkor 18-200mm lens. It is a good all around lens, but I need a macro lens. Thanks for posting the image of both. I am just amazed at how you do the 12-3 on the bezel, the dots/numbers have no lume, yet you maintain the perfect shape and font of the numbering of the outline where lume is applied...I am in awe of this talent, skill and ability. I love getting it charged up in the sunlight, then going into our server room or store room where it is dark just to stare at it...crazy...just crazy....
RWG Technical Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 I didn't shoot these with a dedicated macro, but the lens I used has a macro feature, so it does a fairly decent job. All I can say about the lume application is practice, practice, and more practice. The biggest issue is that once you start, you can't stop, if you do, there will be a break in the flow. The lume is applied freehand a drop at a time, I would guess that the large part of the bezel takes about 300-500 drops to get done, the numerals around the bezel each take about 7 or so drops per numeral, bezel alone requires about 1:30 to 2:00 hours of solid bench time, and a few stiff drinks. It's a challenge to say the least...but a lot of fun as well when you see the results.
Toadtorrent Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Welcome to the club. I don't have pics...Zig's are gone from his thread on mine HERE. I love it. Glows like a torch!!!
hiker01 Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Congrats! Wear it well! Re: your camera, Dude...you have a good one! Same one as I have and for the price, you can't beat the results! I suggest instead of a macro leans, you get a Kenko Extension Tubes instead! It's cheaper and more versatile! Then just play around with your settings! For watch photography, I (and so does most of the experts photogs here) prefer using the "A" = APerture Priority Mode! Get the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control! for easy macro shots and a good Tripod! And to protect your camera get this Camera Armor Protection System! Good luck! Hike
ubiquitous Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Ziggy lume all around. You can't beat that! Both look great! It's interesting to see the Cousteau and the smaller Slevin side by side. Pretty big difference when you see them compared in this manner!
rosnik Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Zigmeister work was fantastic! Do Zigmeister get waterproof test too? How many ATM pressure test do it passed?
peyups Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 This kind of luming job is not for everybody, its not only practice you need but a lot of patience. But the result could be very rewarding or frustrating if you don't have the skill. lol. Congrats on both watches. As this has a swiss 7750 swap, the main chrono hand is not an exact swap, I read before that The Zigmeister glues the main chrono hand when fitting the hand to the swiss 7750, is this done here? And if it is, what if you need to service the movement, won't it cause a problem when you pull the hand off as it is glued? Or it will just be ok?
Guest techlogik Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Welcome to the club. I don't have pics...Zig's are gone from his thread on mine HERE. I love it. Glows like a torch!!! The photos don't appear any longer on that link.
Guest techlogik Posted November 11, 2009 Report Posted November 11, 2009 Congrats! Wear it well! Re: your camera, Dude...you have a good one! Same one as I have and for the price, you can't beat the results! I suggest instead of a macro leans, you get a Kenko Extension Tubes instead! It's cheaper and more versatile! Then just play around with your settings! For watch photography, I (and so does most of the experts photogs here) prefer using the "A" = APerture Priority Mode! Get the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control! for easy macro shots and a good Tripod! And to protect your camera get this Camera Armor Protection System! Good luck! Hike Thanks for the extension tube kit...that is definitely a better solution for less money since I don't do a lot of macros...I have all the other stuff..just the close ups, and no light box are issues.
arminvanbuuren Posted November 13, 2009 Report Posted November 13, 2009 Zigs mate.. i swear this lume is perfect.. i mean uve come along way since u first tried the luming of an aquatimer.. this one is close to the gen quality now in fact if i had to choose id choose ur work because i just like how that glossy finish look!
gasdoc Posted November 13, 2009 Report Posted November 13, 2009 I just don't see how the hell you can do that bezel like that, it boggles the mind! I may have to send my slevin out for some work...How's your schedule?
RWG Technical Posted November 14, 2009 Report Posted November 14, 2009 I just don't see how the hell you can do that bezel like that, it boggles the mind! I may have to send my slevin out for some work...How's your schedule? Right now it's perfect, if you don't have my email address, PM me your email addy and I'll send you my info.
Toadtorrent Posted November 14, 2009 Report Posted November 14, 2009 BTW...for the 2006 CD...go for the inaccurate blue lume...it's MIND BLOWING!! IWC doesn't use the blue lume...but what an improvement!! Zig...you should repost those pics from your thread on mine...amazing!!
RWG Technical Posted November 14, 2009 Report Posted November 14, 2009 I'll have to upload the pictures again, lost them when I was hacked this summer...
82KUBA Posted November 22, 2009 Report Posted November 22, 2009 Man i had this watch ... frist and only watch i had The Zigmeister put his magic on .... this watch looks great ... im kicking myself for selling it ...
Guest techlogik Posted November 23, 2009 Report Posted November 23, 2009 BTW...for the 2006 CD...go for the inaccurate blue lume...it's MIND BLOWING!! IWC doesn't use the blue lume...but what an improvement!! Zig...you should repost those pics from your thread on mine...amazing!! Oh yes...do post!!
TK471 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Posted November 24, 2009 Awesome watch. This is by far my favorite of the Cousteau editions. Congrats to you, and Zig, wonderful work as usual.
RWG Technical Posted November 24, 2009 Report Posted November 24, 2009 Here are the pics of the blue glow super luminova, this is Toad's watch. I like the blue glow, it's a nice change:
Guest techlogik Posted November 24, 2009 Report Posted November 24, 2009 I think the colors like the new Aquatimers..like the Galapagos lume..would be crazy on the Cousteau...althoug not Gen...having 3 different colors...Bezel, Dial, and Hands all different... Like this on the Cousteau....On that above pic, all you would need is the bezel Green, and the Minute hand green and the second at 9 green....would be KRAZY!! Here....excuse my 10 minutes hacked up hand drawn photoshop.....haha...
RWG Technical Posted November 24, 2009 Report Posted November 24, 2009 I think the colors like the new Aquatimers..like the Galapagos lume..would be crazy on the Cousteau...althoug not Gen...having 3 different colors...Bezel, Dial, and Hands all different... I like this one, have never seen it before, no problem in duplicating this with Super Lume. It would certainly stand out...
Guest techlogik Posted November 25, 2009 Report Posted November 25, 2009 I like this one, have never seen it before, no problem in duplicating this with Super Lume. It would certainly stand out... Zig...I sourced an 06 with gen 79320 movement with the dial/hands relumed, the bezel isn't lumed at all though. I am going to swap movements/dial with mine you did. Put the new movement/dial in my case with your bezel lume. Thus, I will have a very original like Cousteau. But, since the new one doesn't have the bezel lumed, and will have my swiss movement with your lume on the dial/hands...I am thinking special lume project!! I already scheduled an appt for some other work...will send it along if that is cool.
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