Movement Jewel count...

[alfletch]

does having more jewels in a movement make it a better movement....for example Rolex has 31 jewels in a movement whereas some other high end movements have 15-17-21 jewels (eg. Patek)...will Rolex movements last longer or perform better over time because of the jewel count?

[Hub6152]

More jewels doesn’t make a movement better or longer lasting per se. An automatic will have more jewels than a manual wind simply because there are more components. Jewels are simply bearings and allow for individual replacement if worn.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by alfletch

does having more jewels in a movement make it a better movement....for example Rolex has 31 jewels in a movement whereas some other high end movements have 15-17-21 jewels (eg. Patek)...will Rolex movements last longer or perform better over time because of the jewel count?

Now in the mid late 1960s the watch jewel war started,my watch has more jewels than your watch etc,some boasting 100 jewels most just for decoration..Now today 15 jewel and 17 jewel movements are mostly manual wind.But most auto movements today are 21,23 or 25 and above,now a 15 or 17 jewel movement can be just as accurate as 31 jewel or more, or less.Usually the synthetic rubies used today which act as Jewel bearing and capstones used in balance wheel and wheel pivots plus pallet fork,at the most critical wear points in the movement, these are only needed on the friction moving parts.But having more jewels don't mean that movement is better that one with less.Its a bit like today's computer hard/drives now getting bigger daily but bigger don't always mean its better.Now today the synthetic Ruby red jewels in the watch are man made even in Rolex, I should say grown,and the same for the synthetic sapphire crystal they are man made but they too a grown under laboratory conditions .

Jewel count today much like the depth ratings on watches mainly just a boast that I have more and I am better than you, complete and utter pure hype marketing I call it brain washing.



Cap Jewels


Hole Jewels.

Pallet Fork Jewels.

[Fat_ninja]

Originally Posted by padi56

Now in the mid late 1960s the watch jewel war started,my watch has more jewels than your watch etc,some boasting 100 jewels most just for decoration..Now today 15 jewel and 17 jewel movements are mostly manual wind.But most auto movements today are 21,23 or 25 and above,now a 15 or 17 jewel movement can be just as accurate as 31 jewel or more, or less.Usually the synthetic rubies used today which act as Jewel bearing and capstones used in balance wheel and wheel pivots plus pallet fork,at the most critical wear points in the movement, these are only needed on the friction moving parts.But having more jewels don't mean that movement is better that one with less.Its a bit like today's computer hard/drives now getting bigger daily but bigger don't always mean its better.Now today the synthetic Ruby red jewels in the watch are man made even in Rolex, I should say grown,and the same for the synthetic sapphire crystal they are man made but they too a grown under laboratory conditions .

Jewel count today much like the depth ratings on watches mainly just a boast that I have more and I am better than you, complete and utter pure hype marketing I call it brain washing.



Cap Jewels


Hole Jewels.

Pallet Fork Jewels.

Thanks for the explanation. Learn something new everyday

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Fat_ninja

Thanks for the explanation. Learn something new everyday

Thank you but afraid today most on forum or not interested in learning,unless its about plastic stickers,is this polished,will this go up or down and all the rest of today's Rolex syndromes.

[Tools]

Waltham made a 100 jewel movement back in the 60's. It didn't make the watch any better than a 17 Jewel movement.

[othertbone]

It's all about the family jewels

[Meyrin]

Originally Posted by alfletch

does having more jewels in a movement make it a better movement....for example Rolex has 31 jewels in a movement whereas some other high end movements have 15-17-21 jewels (eg. Patek)...will Rolex movements last longer or perform better over time because of the jewel count?

I honestly don't know. My old Sub (caliber 3000) has 27 jewels, and my new manual-wind Nomos Tangente has 17. All I can say is that both watches run great, as far as I can tell...!

[chicagowatchman]

Originally Posted by padi56

Thank you but afraid today most on forum or not interested in learning,unless its about plastic stickers,is this polished,will this go up or down and all the rest of today's Rolex syndromes.

[Butchh]

Originally Posted by padi56

Thank you but afraid today most on forum or not interested in learning,unless its about plastic stickers,is this polished,will this go up or down and all the rest of today's Rolex syndromes.

Don’t you believe it for a second, Pete! There are many of us who enjoy the learning experience your posts provide! Count me as one!!! Cheers!

[214270Explorer]

Originally Posted by padi56

Thank you but afraid today most on forum or not interested in learning,unless its about plastic stickers,is this polished,will this go up or down and all the rest of today's Rolex syndromes.

Sad but True.

I don't like it either, so I just try as much as possible to avoid those header subjects.

[ian.thomas]

Originally Posted by padi56

Thank you but afraid today most on forum or not interested in learning,unless its about plastic stickers,is this polished,will this go up or down and all the rest of today's Rolex syndromes.

[77T]

Originally Posted by padi56

Thank you but afraid today most on forum or not interested in learning,unless its about plastic stickers,is this polished,will this go up or down and all the rest of today's Rolex syndromes.

Well some want jeweled stickers that are polished to a fine finish...


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[REFZ]

Another little lesson by Peter, thanks again!!

[77T]

So there are different opinions on jeweled bearings vs. metal bushings in the same application.

The advantages of jewel bearings include their low kinetic friction and long-term highly consistent static friction. The coefficient of friction of a brass/steel bush is 0.35. But sapphire is 0.10–0.15. Sapphire surfaces are very hard and can maintain smoothness over decades of use without friction variability.

Brass/steel bushings can require replacement after only 10 years of use (depending upon shocks/vibrations). A tradeoff of sapphire is it can break in a sever shock. But for long term stable performance (especially in temperature extremes) - nothing beats jeweled watch bearings.


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[crazycarlitos]

Originally Posted by padi56

Cap Jewels


Hole Jewels.

Pallet Fork Jewels.

Wait.... so which one will be worth more in 10 years ??




Thanks, padi
Hope health is good

[WS9D]

Originally Posted by crazycarlitos

Wait.... so which one will be worth more in 10 years ??




Thanks, padi
Hope health is good

It depends. Those hole ones look like Mk2 where there others look like mk1 with original jewel card, hand tag, and box....

Lol

[DoctorA]

Originally Posted by padi56

Now in the mid late 1960s the watch jewel war started,my watch has more jewels than your watch etc,some boasting 100 jewels most just for decoration..Now today 15 jewel and 17 jewel movements are mostly manual wind.But most auto movements today are 21,23 or 25 and above,now a 15 or 17 jewel movement can be just as accurate as 31 jewel or more, or less.Usually the synthetic rubies used today which act as Jewel bearing and capstones used in balance wheel and wheel pivots plus pallet fork,at the most critical wear points in the movement, these are only needed on the friction moving parts.But having more jewels don't mean that movement is better that one with less.Its a bit like today's computer hard/drives now getting bigger daily but bigger don't always mean its better.Now today the synthetic Ruby red jewels in the watch are man made even in Rolex, I should say grown,and the same for the synthetic sapphire crystal they are man made but they too a grown under laboratory conditions .

Jewel count today much like the depth ratings on watches mainly just a boast that I have more and I am better than you, complete and utter pure hype marketing I call it brain washing.



Cap Jewels


Hole Jewels.

Pallet Fork Jewels.

Peter
Thank you, this was very helpful and educational! I really enjoyed it and learned something new here!
That’s why I love this forum!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by chicagowatchman

Originally Posted by Butchh

Don’t you believe it for a second, Pete! There are many of us who enjoy the learning experience your posts provide! Count me as one!!! Cheers!

Originally Posted by 214270Explorer

Sad but True.

I don't like it either, so I just try as much as possible to avoid those header subjects.

Originally Posted by ian.thomas

Originally Posted by 77T

Well some want jeweled stickers that are polished to a fine finish...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Originally Posted by REFZ

Another little lesson by Peter, thanks again!!

Originally Posted by DoctorA

Peter
Thank you, this was very helpful and educational! I really enjoyed it and learned something new here!
That’s why I love this forum!!

Thanks guys much appreciated .

Originally Posted by crazycarlitos

Wait.... so which one will be worth more in 10 years ??




Thanks, padi
Hope health is good

Well health wise when I wake up and see light of day I think of that as a special bonus I am still alive for another day.

[Brew]

It's only 6.18 am here, and I'm already a little bit smarter. Thanks Padi, OP, 77T, and TRF.

[ThatExplorer]

Originally Posted by padi56

Thank you but afraid today most on forum or not interested in learning,unless its about plastic stickers,is this polished,will this go up or down and all the rest of today's Rolex syndromes.

Most truthful thing I will read all day.


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[alfletch]

Thanks padi56, your posts are always very informative...good health for more
enlightenment.....