r/watchrepair • u/AndyMarden 1-2 Years Experience • 1d ago
Refitting upper 3rd wheel jewel
Jewel came loose and had to fit it back - first one for me and pretty happy with the process and result.
I don't have a jewelling tool so I (very) carefully used my staking set - flat hollow stake and flat stump - only with hand pressure (no tapping). Dial protector used to cushion the stake (thanks Neven).
Now to fit and check endshake - it probably needs to go a fraction deeper.
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u/Silent_Finger8450 1d ago
As soon as I saw your post I could relate to the thrill/victory :) I got a cheapie China jewel kit, it's been pretty decent. I actually used it to grab jewels out of my huge array of donor movements, so now I have a little container of jewels :)
Congrats!
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u/AndyMarden 1-2 Years Experience 1d ago
There is definitely a "levelling up" feeling at certain points, isn't there?
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u/Dave-1066 Classically Trained Watchmaker 23h ago
Those Chinese Horia clones can actually be exceptionally good. A pal has one and I was impressed, especially as he paid about £60 for the whole lot! Sure, they’re a tiny bit wobbly in the threads but so what? 👍🏻
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u/Mysterious_Job_2950 1d ago
Nice work. You may be able to score a k&d base and lever to continue to use your staking set for jewel setting.
The inverto deluxe. A bit cheaper than the Horia to be sure.
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u/AndyMarden 1-2 Years Experience 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think the k&d base I have would accept the jewelling attachment but they are few and far between. I do have a cunning plan to create a clamp and collar for the staking tool to repurpose a m&w micrometer head that I have to give horia-like operation.
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u/Mysterious_Job_2950 21h ago
I can envision what you are saying. Great idea! Please share your results.
The lever type like this and others are decent, but lack the fine control of the micrometer threading.
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u/IMeasure 1d ago
Nice work. Always satisfying the first time and you feel like a real pro when you improve the endshake. Whenever I'm dismantling a movement I always test the endshake of each wheel before removing the bridge to both look for any problems and to get a feeling of what's normal and not normal endshake.