Internet Horology Club 185
Change or leave well alone

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3426047761/m/2121033191

June 20, 2006, 08:17
Jim Carroll
Change or leave well alone
I have an Illinois thin watch with a cracked centre wheel jewel, the watch seams to be running well in all positions.
Would you fix or leave well alone.


Jim Carroll


June 20, 2006, 09:24
Grant Perry
Great question Jim:
I will be looking to see what the experts say.
If it were mine, I would leave it alone. In my mind, if the watch is dropped in future it may cause the jewel to fail; however even if you replaced it and should the watch be dropped, there is nothing stopping the new jewel from becoming damaged either. Seeing that the watch is a collectible and not used to time trains, I would say no, but hey, wadda I know!
gp


Grant Perry
June 20, 2006, 09:59
David Douglas
If you plan on running the watch you should replace the jewel. The cracks in the jewel will eventually wear the pivot. I've seen some examples in a text that showed the wear from a broken jewel.

The jewel is easy to replace, the pivot is not.

The cracked jewel will also effect the way that oil is distributed on the pivot surface. You have several options to replace the jewel.

It looks like it's bezel set. If that's the case the best option (i.e. "restore") is to find a bezel set jewel and replace in the same setting.

If you don't have a bezel set jewel and want to "repair" not "restore" you can either turn a new jewel setting and put in a friction jewel, or ream out the original setting and put in a friction jewel.
June 20, 2006, 12:32
Lindell V. Riddle

As David pointed out, the "big IF" in your decision come down to whether you are planning to actually use the watch. Today most watches purchased by collectors are closer to being works of art than utilitarian devices. For that reason as Grant suggested many collectors would just leave it as found.

I usually try my best to see that all my watches are proper when entering my collection so that if I ever decide to sell one it's then in "ready to go" condition. But that being said, if it were mine I'd only have that jewel replaced if it can be done very carefully and in a 100% original manner.

So that "big if" may a major role in your decision.

Lindell

Wink

June 20, 2006, 23:36
John D. Duvall
Jim,

Here is an interesting reply by Steve Maddox to a question about a damaged jewel.

Personally, I would clean the watch and make sure the cracked areas in the jewel are dirt-free. I would then remove and reclock the jewel assembly so the load bearing surface of the pivot is not against a cracked area. I would oil the jewel again midway into the next servicing.

David has described the proper course of action but the final determination is up to you.
June 21, 2006, 13:16
Jim Carroll
Thanks for your comments on this subject, as this is a project I could tackle on my own, and the movements come up for spares or repair from time to time, so I will change it when I can get a similar Illinois part.

Jim Carroll
June 21, 2006, 16:22
Donald B. Dahlberg
No way would I run the watch with such a crack. Even if it is clean, you still have a sharp edge made of one of the hardest materials (hardness 9 out of 10-diamond) cutting away at your pivot. As David said, replacing a jewel is trivial, replacing a pivot is not. What is the grade of the movement? A serial number would also help. Perhaps we can help you find a new jewel setting.

Don
June 21, 2006, 17:41
Jim Carroll
Hi Don,
The Watch is an Illinois Marquis extra thin model 3; it is not an expensive watch. Serial No. 4184823. In the Illinois Material Catalogue 1923 the upper centre jewel is Order 5540. Factory No.1893.
As for your concern about me running the watch this is the first time I have wound the watch in well over a year, I have got myself another camera and I am updating photos on my watch page and had to look the watch out.

Jim Carroll