Oops, I did it again...

[VWatchie]

So, again (sigh!), I shot an end-stone cap jewel into the Bermuda triangle. It was for the balance (diashock type for an Orient cal. 46E40). Knees on the verge of bleeding and flashlight batteries depleted I had to give up. This activity is sometimes so frustrating I’m having thoughts of giving up (seriously) and start knitting instead, and it was such a stupid (STUPID) mistake, so I won’t tell.

Anyway, I measured the diameter of the cap jewel for the lower shock block which measured 1.19 mm and going through my spare parts box I found a cap jewel for an ETA 2824-2 measuring 1.20 mm. I placed it in the original chaton (hole/jewel housing) and oiled it and it fitted well within the margin of the chaton despite being 1/100 mm larger.

Now, the question is, will this work, or is there some factor that will create more frustration, like the ETA cap jewel being too thick. I haven’t tried to measure its thickness for fear of losing it too, but it looks darker which makes me believe its thicker, unless colours can differ. In my mind I’m thinking that if I can get the anti-shock spring in place it should be OK. What’s your opinion/experience?

[Klassiker]

If you can get the spring in place, it is probably the right thickness too. Colours can differ.

[watchweasol]

Hi  for the sake of your knees and the flashlight industry I would be inclined to try it whats to loose, and everything to gain. go for it.

[aac58]

Some month ago I had a similar situation with a diashock cap jewel (I finally fount if though). Our fellow member Marc told about a tool mentioned in the thread I'm linking below. I bought it, it's very cheap, and I haven't had a problem since then. I even pick the cap jewel with the tool and oil it while it is stick there, then put it in the chaton that I have previously put on the balance cock or the main plate, and everything goes perfect, no nerves trying not to press the twizers too much or too little, no spreading the oil when putting the chaton over the jewel, etc.  I really recommend it.

 

 

Edited March 9, 2020 by aac58

[Klassiker]

Me too. By far the safest way I've found to handle jewels. Never get it near your cleaning solvents though.

 

 

Edited March 9, 2020 by Klassiker

[VWatchie]

Thanks guys and I'll be placing an order for that tool tomorrow, plus some 1.20 mm Seitz cap jewels (just in case the one I have doesn't work and hopefully the Seitz jewels will work). CousinsUK doesn't specify the thickness of these jewels, so it gives me the impression thickness isn't critical or perhaps even standardized (no, of course not, that would be good to be true...) 

The irony is that this happened just after I had managed to replace two tiny diafix springs (my first ever attempt) on the same movement. I even displaced the spring on one of them but managed to get it back in place. Shock setting cap jewels are fiddly, but these diafix springs are magnitudes worse. I really don't like them! For anyone not familiar with these diafix cap jewel springs (Japanese) here's a video: https://youtu.be/FEWTC8VdpSs

 

[aac58]

1 hour ago, Klassiker said:

Never get it near your cleaning solvents though

Good to know! It also is a magnet for dust, I clean it every now and then just with watter.

 

8 minutes ago, VWatchie said:

these diafix springs are magnitudes worse

I never dared to open them. I clean diafix assembled on the plate/bridge and try to oil thru the hole. Not the best practice I know, but that's all I can do 

[aac58]

47 minutes ago, VWatchie said:

I'll be placing an order for that tool

Watch WatchGuy.co.uk using it, it's really that simple! The only thing to care is to stick the jewel firmly enough on the tool tip so it doesn't fall when you touch it with the oiler.

 

Edited March 9, 2020 by aac58

[VWatchie]

On 3/9/2020 at 10:51 PM, aac58 said:

Watch WatchGuy.co.uk using it, it's really that simple!

So, I got me one of these tools and it works really well. As a matter of fact, it saved my day immediately. In the same order as the tool I had three Seitz cap jewels and they came in a piece of watch tissue paper. When I had unfolded the paper I realized that even a minuscule movement of my fingers holding the paper still would make the jewels take off into space. Fortunately I had taken off the cap of the pick-up tool and it was within reach so I could just easily and safely pick up the three jewels on the tissue paper using it.

The only possible problem is if what you've pick-up sticks too hard to the tool as you eventually must pill it away it from the tool. That is, be careful not to press the tool too hard against what you're picking up.

Again thanks for the tip! 

[Nucejoe]

The runing of movement remains unaffectd, shock protection however fails with thicker endstone, since thicker endstone wont let the shock spring properly lock. You can grind the endstone thin, just lay a sheet of fine sandpaper on top of flat glass, grind the flat side on it, go to finer grains for the finish.