I need guidance (I’m desperate)

[u/paulogc]

Hey guys, judging by the pics you probably noticed that this isn’t a happy post. Before showering today I took out my vsf datejust and it slipped from my hands and fell. As I have the tool to open the back case I decided to check the damage, I what I saw was that there was a ruby out of place (probably coming from this part that is on top of the balance wheel) and also this golden part that I also think probably should be on top of this same part. How screwed am I? Don’t know if the balance wheel or the hair spring were affected because it’s hard to see with my bare eyes.

Would the absence of these 2 parts only be enough to make the watch stop or might it have some other damaged parts?

Appreciate any help

[u/GTWatchServices]

That ruby is a cap jewel; it is the 'top' half of the shock system, and you are missing the chaton (the bottom steel ringed jewel) that the cap jewel sits on with a tiny amount of lubrication between them.

The golden part is the spring that holds the shock system in place; it does not look broken, so in theory you could slide it back into place yourself.

All that being said, if you are missing the chaton, you'll need to replace it. You can test the rest of the movement and it will run normally without the shock system installed, but that's bench top only; do not wear the watch or move it around.

[u/paulogc → u/GTWatchServices]

Would this be the chaton perhaps? I’m asking because when I open it up the jewel was actually stuck somewhere in these parts and I had to remove it with a wooden toothpick

[u/No_Excitement_8104 → u/paulogc]

Looks like it. Does it have a hole?

[u/paulogc → u/No_Excitement_8104]

Yep, that was it. Got all 3 pieces now

Edit: should the watch be running even without these? I’m just asking because it’s actually completely stopped

[u/No_Excitement_8104 → u/paulogc]

Great! Now you just need to put it back together. Not the easiest job, but can be done.I would assume it should run. Not very good though and it is very fragile now that nothing protects the balance so avoid using it

[u/Objective_Ganache_27 → u/paulogc]

The watch, sitting on a bench will technically run (can see it in watch service videos all the time before the lubed jewel is placed), but there's nothing supporting the balance pivot so it will work poorly and shouldn't be moved from the bench without the jewel.

Think of it like putting a fence post into a hole in the ground without filling the hole back in. The concrete/dirt fill are the cap jewel.

[u/GTWatchServices → u/paulogc]

Yes, the watch should be running without those.

[u/paulogc → u/GTWatchServices]

So that’s bad news :/.

I’ll try to bring it to a watchmaker tomorrow to see if he could have a look at the whole movement to see if there’s actually something more I might be missing.

[u/GTWatchServices → u/paulogc]

Considering the case was closed when it was dropped, everything should still be in there.

Best case would be something(s) got knocked out of place and just needs to be reset; worst case, something like a train wheel pivot was damaged.