why use jewels at all nowadays? [Archive] - Rolex Forums

shaggy

28 March 2009, 06:48 PM

just looking at tools latest posting of the pallet & escape wheel and wondered why dont watchmakers just make the wear parts out of a hard wearing metal like tungsten or carbon?
the whole pallet or wheel could be made out of the metal and it would do away with having to 'glue' jewels to the fork etc

there's probably an easy answer i have not considered:thinking:

jtvision

28 March 2009, 07:31 PM

I would imagine it's an issue of friction. I believe some manufacturers are using ceramic for some of these parts now.

Spark

28 March 2009, 08:23 PM

It is not just a wear issue, but a friction/free movement one as already posted.
The Jewels are and have been synthetic for many years.
I think the term Jewel and the Red (Ruby) colour are really only used for traditional reasons more than anything else, but the purpose is the same.

luger

29 March 2009, 03:51 AM

Vintage Longines watches used them in the late 1960s into the mid 1970s and Rolex uses them for the Center Wheel's bearing, IIRC.

jtvision

29 March 2009, 08:02 PM

Luger: What you are referring to as the center wheel bearing is actually a bushing.

luger

30 March 2009, 12:46 AM

Luger: What you are referring to as the center wheel bearing is actually a bushing.

Take a look at this photo of the mainplate.

http://www.chronometrie.com/rolex3135/images/07_mainplate.jpg

From this recent essay (http://www.chronometrie.com/rolex3135/rolex3135.html) in particular. Actually they wrote "Note the beryllium bronze bushing in the center for the canon pinion..." Jewel on top side.

http://www.chronometrie.com/rolex3135/images/11_train_wheels.jpg

shaggy

30 March 2009, 05:38 AM

great info guys cheers

jtvision

30 March 2009, 06:51 PM

Pardon me luger. I am familiar.
We arguing semantics.

Spare201

31 March 2009, 04:03 AM

Meh synthetic sapphire is cheap; to grow, to machine, the methods of tooling setting and it isn't a porous mateirial so degraded lubricants aren't trapped. I'm sure these are all reasons for using it. Just like the swiss lever escapement hasn't changed radically in over 200 yrs, materiels haven't either why mess with something that works. Certain manufacturers are pioneering higher tech mateirials silicum, DLC and the like but these are really in the trial stages.

DSJ

31 March 2009, 04:11 AM

Heck, why even make mechanical watches at all these days!?
:dummy::justkiddi

cody p

31 March 2009, 07:22 AM

Luger: What you are referring to as the center wheel bearing is actually a bushing.

center wheel, or 4th wheel?

luger

31 March 2009, 10:26 AM

center wheel, or 4th wheel?
the 4th wheel (the traditional carrier of the seconds hand) is in the center of that movement.

cody p

31 March 2009, 11:12 AM

the 4th wheel (the traditional carrier of the seconds hand) is in the center of that movement.
based on the layout of the wheel train i would agree, although i've never disassembled one myself... yet.

shaggy

31 March 2009, 07:07 PM

Meh synthetic sapphire is cheap; to grow, to machine, the methods of tooling setting and it isn't a porous mateirial so degraded lubricants aren't trapped. I'm sure these are all reasons for using it. Just like the swiss lever escapement hasn't changed radically in over 200 yrs, materiels haven't either why mess with something that works. Certain manufacturers are pioneering higher tech mateirials silicum, DLC and the like but these are really in the trial stages.

thanks:thumbsup:
the reasons you state make sence but the reason mankind messes with things is to make them better(in this instance lol) so what is being said here is that there is not really a better alternative available at the moment?
or that a watchmaker has not developed anything better yet because what they have works as well as it could?