What is the significance of a 'jewelled movement'?

[SD090608]

We hear of 'XX jewels' in movements. I would be grateful if someone with expertise would explain exactly how jewels affect movement and accuracy.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by SD090608

We hear of 'XX jewels' in movements. I would be grateful if someone with expertise would explain exactly how jewels affect movement and accuracy.

Here are a few links you can look at, the jewels in any watch are just friction anti wear bearings now made from synthetic ruby.And having more don't mean the watch will perform any better, fact there are some very very accurate 15 and 17 Jewel watches, these are normally manual wind.Now in watches with a lot of complications you will normally fine more jewel bearings.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...jewel+bearings

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...jewel+bearings

[RsqVet]

Jewels function as bearings as others have mentioned. In a manual wind watch 21J is about the most you can get without adding them to the spring arbor as well in which case you have a 23j watch. A few 24 /26J pocket watches were made for the prestige factor and the jewel count was upped by adding "cap" jewels to piviot points that don't really need them.

Add in the self winding works or chrono type complications and you easily get into 30 to 40j watches.

FYI jewel count like most everything in the watch industry was regulated (i.e. if you claimed 30 it better have 30) and something of a prestige factor / selling point. This lead to a watch or 2 in the 20's that had jewels pressed into the plate that served NO point... but they were there.

[Tools]

Here's one of my favorite Jewel watch articles..

83 Jewels too many ??