Duplicolor Deep Emerald Green vs. Diamond Dark Green

Has anyone ever compared Duplicolor's paints to the original Diamond Dark Green Kaw used on KZ900s? There's a deep green metalflake called "Deep Emerald Green" that to me looks very close to the Kaw color. I've painted two bikes with it using the Duplicolor as a base, letting it dry for a couple days then sanding it and hitting it with a few coats of Eastman 2K. Results have been very good and worked out well for me since I wasn't doing a museum quality restoration anyway. Just wondering how close my discount paint job is to doing the 3 part from Paintworks.

Looks great!

Not sure if it matches but the only way to tell is if an original was sitting next to it. I've been to car shows and have seen multiple Mopars painted plum crazy purple all different shades. lol

Yes, unless they're up next to each other it would be really hard to tell. The only thing I've seen with the Paintworks painted bikes is they kind of change color in different light and look a lot lighter in the sun... which is true for any dark color but the 3 part seems to do it more so.

Translucent Candy top coat over a true .002 " silver metalflake base will always pop in the sun. ......... just looking at your pics it just looks like a car color. But yours looks good and as long as you are happy with the look...most people will not notice the difference

Hi i read your article with interest the paint looks great, i am wanting to do the same to mine as struggling to get original Diamond dark green.
could you please share exactly what you used. Ie basecoat and clear or candy and their name or paint codes.
Many thanks

I have bought paint from Ralph before and it is probably better to try and reach him by email.
ralph@paintworkzus@gmail.com
or: paintworkzus@gmail.com
 

Many thanks for the reply, i would love to use your suggestion  and order directly but just realised its in the US whearas im in the UK so shipping would be costly.
hence why i was asking  for paint code or actual name/manufacturer so i can search in the UK for a supplier.
thanks

Khi emerald Green is a four stage paint process. 
Primer, coarse silver, candy green lacquer, clearcoats. 
I would guess 900 diamond green will be similar. 
I'm also in the UK. RS Bikes paints will supply the correct colours, however it'll be water based crap at extortionate prices because they believe they have a captive market. However I'm fortunate enough to know who supplies them and I'm only a few miles from them in NW Kent. 
If you contact GB refinishers in Dartford (by the QE11 M25 Thames Bridge) they have the mix formula's they supply RS Bike paints and will mix the correct colours in a solvent base paint. All they need to know is colour description, model and year. 
It is illegal for them to sell solvent paint in quantities greater than half a litre but hal a litre is plenty to paint tank, 2 sides and tail. 
I have painted candy emerald Green several times on restorations I have done. 
It was my single owner 650b1 kawasaki borrowed to go side by side on the show stands the world over when they launched the new z650 in 2016. 

Thank you for your reply, wish i lived closer to Kent but its a fair trek to Yorkshire.
the bikes look awesome and thanks for the info, i will give them a try
Cheers

Hi, i sent a email to the company you suggested GB refinisher supplies in Dartford, there response was we dont do that colour, which is strange considering youve bought the Diamond Dark Green from them before, do you have any more info on what you ordered, old invoice etc.
thanks

An email will have gone through to some girl sitting behind a puter screen. Unless she knew anything about them having to cross reference against RS bike paints website codes and their supply codes to know what they supply rs  it wouldn't have meant anything to her. 
You'll need to phone them and explain what you need. Try to get through to one of the guys in the back down stairs office where they do the mixing. 

Thanks for reply, i replied to her email stating that you had bought the colour from them before, she then replied, ok ill have a word with the mixing guy.
i woudve thought that a given with any enquiry, they obv dont want new business?
Ill give them a couple of days then give them a call try to speak to someone in mixing bay.
Shame i dont live closer or in US, i got same response from local paint factors too.
guess no one wants to paint old Kawasakis, least not in Hull for reasonable price!