Lonely Cap Jewels

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JimInOz

·Apr 11, 2025·Melbourne Australia

How do they get back together?
I separated the cap jewels from their chatons.
Cleaned them on paper to check for pivot wear and then put them in a cleaning basket, all individually and not close together.
After a full session in an Elma Solvex SE cleaning machine, I took them out of the basket and one of the cap jewels has managed to find its way back into the chaton!

I've noticed this once before some time ago, anyone else?

 

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JimInOz

·Apr 11, 2025·Melbourne Australia

I also noticed that these two cap stones have rebate around the edge of the flat side, never noticed it before.

 

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noless

·Apr 11, 2025

I have had this happen to me on a few occasions, I thought i had lost a cap jewel like this once and was most relieved when i discovered it seated back into the chaton.

 

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Archer

·Apr 11, 2025

It happens so often that I put the hole and cap jewels in separate baskets to keep them from doing this. Otherwise I find they are still dirty when I get them out and they are stuck together.

 

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sheepdoll

·Apr 11, 2025

I have noticed both of these.

Stuck an old broken pivot with a good end into a pin vice. This often gives just enough pressure to release a stuck cap jewel from the chaton. Also useful when one needs a really tiny probe. Good for hairsprings too.

 

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Pip

·Apr 17, 2025

Yes, I've had it too. But also the 'I put a cap jewel and chaton into a jar of cleaning fluid' followed by the 'where is the jewel? It isn't in there? Surely it can't have dissolved?' followed by having to nick one from a junk movement.

 

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Knebo

·Apr 30, 2025

JimInOz

How do they get back together?
I separated the cap jewels from their chatons.
Cleaned them on paper to check for pivot wear and then put them in a cleaning basket, all individually and not close together.
After a full session in an Elma Solvex SE cleaning machine, I took them out of the basket and one of the cap jewels has managed to find its way back into the chaton!

I've noticed this once before some time ago, anyone else?

Yep, had that happen, too.

 

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BenR1212

·Oct 3, 2025

You are not alone, this happens to me too and it will happen again, I use Elma ultrasonic. The capstone inner ring is likely that how much oil you can put on and prevent spreading outside the inner ring, pretty neat design.