You wear a watch to tell time—but have you ever stopped to think about what keeps that masterpiece ticking with sniper-like precision? Beneath the dial, past the hands and gears, lies one of the unsung heroes of horology: jewels. Not the blinged-out kind that flash on bezels and dials, but tiny, synthetic workhorses keeping your movement running smoother than a well-oiled bank heist.
Swiss luxury watches don’t just slap these in for fun; they’re essential for reducing friction and extending the life of your timepiece. So, if you thought jewels were just for showing off, think again—your watch runs on them, and now, so does your newfound respect for watchmaking.
What Are Watch Jewels and Why Do They Exist?
Watch jewels aren’t just fancy-sounding add-ons—they’re the secret weapons of high-end timekeeping. These tiny, synthetic gems—usually rubies or sapphires—are strategically planted inside a watch movement to keep the metal parts from grinding together like a rusty old gearbox. Forget flashy decoration—these gems are here to work, acting as friction-fighting ninjas that keep your gears gliding smoother than a well-buttered dolphin on Slip ‘N Slide.
Before jewel bearings became a standard feature, time was not kind to timepieces. The metal components in watch movements would grind against each other, causing excessive wear and requiring frequent maintenance. It gives a whole different meaning for “the daily grind.” It was as hard on your watch’s mechanics as endless days trapped in a cubicle are for you. With the introduction of synthetic jewels, watchmakers solved this issue by creating a nearly frictionless environment, allowing watches to function with extreme accuracy for decades.
How Do Watch Jewels Work?
Imagine two metal gears constantly rubbing against each other, causing the parts to wear down, making the watch's timekeeping inaccurate and eventually leading to mechanical failure. Jewels are placed at high-friction points in the movement, particularly in areas like:
- The Escapement - This is the part of the watch responsible for regulating timekeeping. Jewels in the pallet fork and escape wheel reduce wear, allowing the mechanism to move efficiently.
- The Gear Train - This is where power is transferred from the mainspring to the hands of the watch. Jewels minimize resistance in gear pivots, ensuring smoother movement.
- The Balance Wheel - This component oscillates back and forth, controlling time measurement. Jewels in the balance staff help keep motion consistent and reduce long-term damage.
Why do watchmakers swear by synthetic rubies instead of, say, tiny steel bearings or—heaven forbid—plastic? Because rubies are ridiculously tough. Sitting just below diamonds on the Mohs scale of hardness, these little powerhouses laugh in the face of scratches and deformation. That means your watch movement stays sharp and precise for years, no matter how much you wear it.
Where metal parts would grind themselves into an early grave, jewels hold the line like a miniature special ops team—unbreakable, unfazed, and keeping everything running like clockwork.
Does More Jewels Mean a Better Watch?
If you've ever seen "17 jewels" or "21 jewels" engraved on the back of a mechanical watch, you might have assumed that more jewels equate to a better timepiece. The reality? It depends.
Most standard mechanical watches operate with 17-21 jewels, which is sufficient for a traditional movement. However, more complex watches—such as chronographs or watches with additional complications—may require 25, 30, or even more jewels to maintain efficiency.
But beyond a certain point, extra jewels don't add functional value. Some manufacturers use excessive jewel counts as a marketing strategy rather than out of necessity for performance. A well-designed watch with 21 properly placed jewels can outperform a poorly engineered 35-jewel movement. The key is not the number of jewels but their placement and the quality of the movement as a whole.
Are Jewels Crucial for Longevity and Accuracy?
Jewel bearings are the secret sauce behind a watch’s longevity. Metal-on-metal contact? That’s a slow, grinding death sentence for precision. But jewels? They take friction out of the equation, letting movements stay razor-sharp with barely any upkeep. This is why luxury watches aren’t just status symbols—they’re built to outlive you. Thanks to strategic jewel placement, these mechanical marvels keep ticking with the same buttery smoothness decades after they first hit your wrist.
Then there’s lubrication—or rather, the lack of it. Traditional watch movements need oil to keep things running, but oil is fickle. It thickens, breaks down, and eventually turns into a sticky mess that gums up the works. Jewels erase that problem by reducing friction so efficiently that watches need way less lube. Translation: fewer trips to the watchmaker and more years of flawless performance.
What Watch Types Use Jewels?
The presence of jewels is a major factor in distinguishing high-end watches from their lower-quality counterparts. Here's how jewel placement affects different types of watches:
- Automatic Watches – Since automatic movements have more moving parts than manual-wind watches, they tend to use more jewels to maintain smooth operation.
- Chronographs – Because chronographs feature additional timing functions, they often require extra jewels to reduce friction in the added gears and levers.
- Luxury Dress Watches – Even minimalist watches incorporate jewels to maintain accuracy while keeping the movement slim and elegant.
Don’t think jewels are just for old-school mechanical watches. Even high-end quartz models sneak in synthetic gems to cut down wear in critical spots. Bottom line? If your watch has jewels, it’s built with care. If it doesn’t… well, enjoy your disposable timepiece.
Will Anything Replace Jewels in Watchmaking?
Even with technological advancements, the importance of jewels in mechanical watchmaking remains as relevant today as it was centuries ago. As watch movements become more sophisticated, the strategic use of jewels will continue to play a crucial role in preserving accuracy and extending lifespan.
Some brands have experimented with alternative materials, such as ceramic bearings, but synthetic rubies remain the industry standard due to their superior hardness and long-term durability. Whether you own an entry-level automatic watch or a high-end luxury watch, the presence of jewels in the movement is a clear indicator of precision engineering.
Why Jewels Matter to You
At first glance, watch jewels might seem like just another nerdy detail—but make no mistake, they’re the unsung heroes of high-quality movements. Without them, friction would grind those delicate gears into dust, turning your prized timepiece into a ticking disaster. The next time you admire a fine watch, remember: its precision isn’t just about fancy gears and springs. It’s powered by an army of tiny, nearly invisible synthetic rubies, silently battling wear and tear like microscopic gladiators.
So, if you’re dropping serious cash on a luxury timepiece, an automatic chronograph, or a precision square face watch, do yourself a favor—check the jewel count. It’s one of the best indicators of craftsmanship, longevity, and whether your watch will still be running strong while others are choking on friction and failure.