Jewels in Watches: Do All Mechanical Watches Use Them?

No, not all watches have jewels inside them. Jewels are primarily found in mechanical watches, both manual-winding and automatic. Their purpose is to reduce friction and wear on the moving parts within the movement.

Here's a breakdown:

* Mechanical Watches (Manual and Automatic): These watches *typically* use jewels. The jewels (usually synthetic rubies or sapphires) act as bearings at points where gears and other components pivot or rub against each other. This significantly reduces friction, increases the lifespan of the watch, and improves accuracy. However, inexpensive or poorly made mechanical watches might have fewer jewels or use cheaper materials for the jewels.

* Quartz Watches: These watches generally *do not* use jewels. Quartz watches have very few moving parts compared to mechanical watches. The timekeeping is controlled by an electronic circuit and a vibrating quartz crystal. Because of the simplicity and different functioning, jewels are not necessary.

* Smartwatches: Smartwatches are essentially miniature computers on your wrist. They *do not* have mechanical movements and therefore *do not* have jewels.

In Summary: Jewels are a hallmark of traditional mechanical watchmaking, playing a critical role in the function and longevity of those watches. They are not found in quartz watches or smartwatches.