I posted this over on TZ-UK.. and thought I'd share it with you guys & gals, as we don't see many of these in fine condition..

I recently listed a NOS all gold ani-digi Heuer case in the trader section.. but with no interest I decided to sacrifice it and relieved it of it's NOS bezel... that was a tricky bit of surgery, having to get a knife between the bezel and case, then leveraging - all without marking the gold plate. I managed it, God knows how!!

I've fitted it to a lovely condition 980.021 from 1983, an oversized 44mm cased two-tone diver that had a very tired bezel. (they shared the same bezel when new). I've had both watches for a long time, and last year James sorted the glass & a new crown on the 021. Since then it has been sat at the back of a drawer, looking a bit sad with it's knackered bezel.

I know the crown should also be gold plated, I do have a NOS one that I can get fitted no probs, but I like it the way it is for now. There is something very satidfying like breathing new life into a watch (even though I had to sacrifice the digi diver), and this one, fitted with an aftermarket oyster bracelet look the business now, also, the Swiss Tropic strap looks great too.. I'm well chuffed.
It has a lovely gilt dial - gold hands & dial markings, the matt dial is a very deep brown colour.. It also has wonderful lightly aged lume, which suits the gilt really well. It's beautiful, and I feel a wee bit ashamed it has been sat in the dark for over a year.

They are very difficult to find in decent condition, as the gold gets worn away and usually looks awful, so this is a rare treat to get it looking almost like new.

Before restoration...

The donor bezel was taken from this:

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After restoration and with NOS gold plate bezel fitted...

Cheers
Stewart