How to fit a new balance jewel shock spring

This is one of the fiddlier jobs, but once in a while, it happens – a shock spring either breaks or flies off into the ether. They shouldn’t do either, as they are fixed in a way that they can’t really get lost, but sometimes they do, if they weren’t fixed properly in the first place or if they get lost.

On this Omega 1020, both top and bottom shockspring broke when I took out the jewels for cleaning.

Either it’s a very cack handed day, or I’m just unlucky. Either way, I need two new shock springs. I’m lucky that I can get hold of new ones, albeit at the cost of ยฃ 6.50 each + shipping!

Just to give you an idea of size – the shock spring (still in its plactic bag, as you can very very easily lose these) is just below the “P” in penny. Yes, that’s small.

I’m going to show here how to change the bottom shock spring. Firstly, I press the whole jewel assembly seat out of the base plate. I do this with a stick of pegwood, that I press against the top plate side of the assembly. It should come out easily enough. Using pegwood, I won’t deform or scratch the brass.

Now I place the jewel holder with the side that takes the shock spring up on a piece of rodico. You can see the slit that the spring has to fit into.

I carefully pick up the new shock spring with a piece of rodico. I don’t use tweezers, as these little blighters fly off so easily it’s not funny. And at 6.50 a shot, and them not being magnetic, I’m not going to risk it.

It takes a bit of fiddling to get the shock spring into the holder. You have to do this from the top.

With a piece of sharpened pegwood, I can now fold the shock spring over into its correct position. I lock the spring so it won’t fly off.

We’re in business! The new spring is locked, so I can press it back into the plate. Again, I do this with a piece of pegwood.

Back on the plate. Make sure the jewel seat is aligning with the surface on both sides.

Top plate view.

I put the first jewel in. I’ve cleaned it, but not oiled it.

Now I pick up the cap jewel, so that the concave side is fixed to the rodico. I put a tiny drop of Moebius 9010 in the middle of the jewel.

You can see a perfect amount of oil between the two jewels – it just forms a circle larger than the jewel hole. The capillary effect will draw enough oil into the jewel hole.

Now I can lock the spring. Oh, and I start breathing again ๐Ÿ˜‰

24 thoughts on “How to fit a new balance jewel shock spring

  1. Hi mate, are you able to direct me to your source for shock springs for a 1020? I canโ€™t find them anywhere!

    Cheers, Ali

  2. some great tips on here thankyou,is there a catalogue for identifying
    shock springs that covers most movements?
    also what would be the affect replacing the spring upside down?
    many thanks

    paul

  3. How do I know which spring size to buy? I am trying to find the correct spring for the face side setting on a Revue 30.1… But I can’t find much info on that movement full stop!!! Driving me nuts. All the lists have every other revue movement apart from my 30.1… The spring is the same type as in your directive pictures.

  4. I have spent more time on my knees on the floor, looking for pinged off springs than l have spent at the bench. I think I should work in a sandblasting cabinet. Is there somewhere that sells. Novochoc watch shock springs in a pack? The triangular one. Thank you.
    Mark
    South Africa

  5. OMG THANK YOU!!! I opened the plate jewel setting to remove the setting for cleaning and oiling and the spring came out. I have been struggling for a day now in a giant plastic bag trying with tweezers to try to put is back. At least when it flies it is in the bag. BUT AT LAST with my rodico I should be able to follow this and get it back in THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH !!

  6. Fantastic photos and description. I’m actually fitting new Jewel and Spring and your right I learned the hard way little Spring flew out tweezers, 30 min later found with magnifyer and bright light….? Nerves shattered and a strong coffee I’m now ready to try again …..using your suggestions…..
    Thanks again for your effort ……..

  7. Can you buy the holder / spring as a single assembly? Would guess it would save a bit of time, but certainly not money ๐Ÿ˜‰

  8. Very instructive, in fact, I have to change one of these springs also.
    The price you mention for the spring is 6.50 pounds if you order it as an Omega part, but if you order it as an incaboc part, the same item is far cheaper. You just have to search under the INCA brand and you will get 5 springs for 2.95 pounds.

    Regards

  9. Pingback: How to replace a jewel shock spring

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