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Swatch wraps up their 2023 Art Journey with new Jean-Michel Basquiat triptych Time+Tide
Swatch May 10, 2023

Swatch wraps up their 2023 Art Journey with new Jean-Michel Basquiat triptych

The Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat collection marks the final collaboration of the Art Journey project Previous collaborations were with MoMA, Magritte, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi The triptych includes three quartz-driven pieces inspired by Basquiat’s ‘Ishtar’, ‘Untitled’, and ‘Hollywood Africans’ artworks Swatch as a brand, not the conglomerate group, is widely credited … ContinuedThe post Swatch wraps up their 2023 Art Journey with new Jean-Michel Basquiat triptych appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The new Bulgari Aluminium collection adds bigger cases and fresh colours Time+Tide
Bulgari Aluminium collection adds bigger May 10, 2023

The new Bulgari Aluminium collection adds bigger cases and fresh colours

The Bulgari Aluminium collection has been expanded with bigger cases and new colours. The Capri Solotempo and Chronograph evoke the Italian island with an electric-blue gradient dial. The Match Point Edition adds a subtle touch of green for tennis lovers. The Bulgari Aluminium has always been a stealth watch, not because it has any degree … ContinuedThe post The new Bulgari Aluminium collection adds bigger cases and fresh colours appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

HANDS-ON: The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans & Ripples Date bring new colour and complication Time+Tide
Speake-Marin May 10, 2023

HANDS-ON: The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans & Ripples Date bring new colour and complication

These days, for a manufacture not to have an integrated watch design is a bit like not having a smartphone. Sure, there may be a bit of respect for these flip-phone manufactures resisting the trend and times. But, ultimately, in the midst of the craze, having a solid integrated sports watch within a manufacture portfolio … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans & Ripples Date bring new colour and complication appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

WHAT IF… Grand Seiko finally made a smaller dive watch Time+Tide
Grand Seiko finally made May 9, 2023

WHAT IF… Grand Seiko finally made a smaller dive watch

Editor’s note: What if? It can be a prefix of imagination, wonder and hope. On the other side of the coin, it can also provoke a melancholy game of hindsight. But within this new column, it is simply a space for us to experiment with our curiosity. Marvel fans will be familiar with the thought-provoking … ContinuedThe post WHAT IF… Grand Seiko finally made a smaller dive watch appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Maurice de Mauriac Celebrates an Insane Drive to the Tip of the Europe with a Special Chronograph Worn & Wound
Casio n.  If you’re from May 3, 2023

Maurice de Mauriac Celebrates an Insane Drive to the Tip of the Europe with a Special Chronograph

Zurich based brand Maurice de Mauriac has added a new watch to their Chrono Modern collection inspired by their participation in the grueling North Cape Expedition. The 11 day expedition took a team to the northernmost point on the European continent, the tip of Norway, across the 71st parallel and into the Arctic circle. The task was undertaken by the Alpineracer team in a BMW E30 (with a Genesis GV70 coming along as a support vehicle), and Maurice de Mauriac created a special version of their toughest chronograph to mark the occasion.  If you’re from a part of the world where there is significant snowfall in the winter, and you happen to also sometimes need to drive a car in those conditions, you know that even a few minutes on icey, snow covered roads in freezing weather can be anything from a nuisance to absolutely terrifying. It’s certainly not something I look forward to, and generally try to avoid when I have the opportunity to do so. Now imagine driving into increasingly more difficult and dangerous conditions for over a week. According to Maurice de Mauriac, the Alpineracer team experienced the requisite challenges with weather (hail, snow, and freezing rain, to start) and a handful of mechanical issues with the car, but ultimately they made it, and the photos that came out of the trip that you can see here are truly breathtaking. For participants (in both body and spirit) a watch connected to the journey feels like a fitting memento.  The Chrono Modern Nort...

Bremont unveil Davide Cerrato as their new CEO. Can he deliver another Black Bay? Time+Tide
Bremont unveil Davide Cerrato as May 2, 2023

Bremont unveil Davide Cerrato as their new CEO. Can he deliver another Black Bay?

When it was announced in January that billionaire hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman had taken a minority stake in Bremont, people wondered what it would mean for the British brand.  Since founding in 2002 – a short lifespan in “watch years” – Bremont had made big strides of late. In 2021, they opened The Wing, a … ContinuedThe post Bremont unveil Davide Cerrato as their new CEO. Can he deliver another Black Bay? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The new Maurice Lacroix AIKON Grand Date is emboldened with bright colours Time+Tide
Maurice Lacroix AIKON Grand Date Apr 30, 2023

The new Maurice Lacroix AIKON Grand Date is emboldened with bright colours

With the Northern Hemisphere summer approaching, Maurice Lacroix reinvents their Aikon line with the introduction of four new colourways of the Master Grand Date. The model debuted in 2021 with a blue dial and an Only Watch appearance, before being presented in a stealthier configuration the year after. These new releases take the best aspects … ContinuedThe post The new Maurice Lacroix AIKON Grand Date is emboldened with bright colours appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Naoya Hida teases new releases, Vulcain goes salmon fishing Time+Tide
Grand Seiko I thought I’d wind Apr 21, 2023

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Naoya Hida teases new releases, Vulcain goes salmon fishing

With Zach’s regularly scheduled programming interrupted by a Japan trip with Grand Seiko, I thought I’d wind you down for this week. With releases still coming in strong even after the biggest watch fair of the year wrapped up, we’ve got two releases from opposing ends of the horological spectrum. The rest is as you’d … ContinuedThe post FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Naoya Hida teases new releases, Vulcain goes salmon fishing appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

G-Shock Celebrates 40 Years with New Watches and a Museum Worn & Wound
Apr 17, 2023

G-Shock Celebrates 40 Years with New Watches and a Museum

On Wednesday, April 12th, Worn and Wound was invited to the G-Shock Soho Store in New York City for the unveiling of their 40th Anniversary watches. There we were introduced to a trio of watches directly inspired by the original DW-5000 the brand famously released in April of 1983. On Wednesday, April 12th, Worn and Wound was invited to the G-Shock Soho Store in New York City for the unveiling of their 40th Anniversary watches. There we were introduced to a trio of watches directly inspired by the original DW-5000 the brand famously released in April of 1983. The post G-Shock Celebrates 40 Years with New Watches and a Museum appeared first on Worn & Wound.

Isotope Collaborates with Freediver Johanna Nordblad on the New Hydrium Pro Nordblad Limited Edition Worn & Wound
Isotope Collaborates Apr 12, 2023

Isotope Collaborates with Freediver Johanna Nordblad on the New Hydrium Pro Nordblad Limited Edition

The latest watch in Isotope’s Hydrium dive watch series is a limited edition created in partnership with freediver Johanna Nordblad. Like all of the Hydrium limited editions, this one tells a very specific story through its design, particularly in its use of color, but this release feels a little different as it’s so closely tied to Nordblad herself. It also represents a new chapter in the Isotope line, and has been given the “Pro” moniker for the first time ever.  The Hydrium Pro Nordblad Limited Edition begins with the story of Johanna Nordblad. Nordblad took up scuba diving in her native Finland in 1997, and eventually transitioned to freediving, the sport that would become her true calling. She had a successful competitive freediving career for over a decade, breaking records in the process, but suffered a severe leg injury in 2010 that made diving impossible. She was on crutches for nearly a year, and suffered intense pain that was only alleviated by ice water treatment. It was during this time that Nordblad became interested in combining her love of freediving with cold water, and began practicing under ice. She has since accomplished several incredible diving feats in cold water situations, including swimming 103 meters under ice without fins and wearing only a bathing suit. This achievement set a record at the time, and was chronicled by Netflix in Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive, an award winning documentary on Nordblad’s diving pursuits.  The new Hydri...

Highlights from the Drop: A new batch of Omegas from Wind Vintage Worn & Wound
Omega s from Wind Vintage Apr 12, 2023

Highlights from the Drop: A new batch of Omegas from Wind Vintage

Welcome to Highlights From The Drop. You read that right. This week, it’s Highlights from the Drop as we just received a new drop of Vintage Omega Constellations and Seamasters from Wind Vintage. Join Shop Manager Ricardo as he pulls three of his favorites from this batch and why he feels they stand out. Welcome to Highlights From The Drop. You read that right. This week, it’s Highlights from the Drop as we just received a new drop of Vintage Omega Constellations and Seamasters from Wind Vintage. Join Shop Manager Ricardo as he pulls three of his favorites from this batch and why he feels they stand out. The post Highlights from the Drop: A new batch of Omegas from Wind Vintage appeared first on Worn & Wound.

The Czapek Antarctique Révélation opens its heart to watch aficionados Time+Tide
Czapek Antarctique Révélation opens Apr 11, 2023

The Czapek Antarctique Révélation opens its heart to watch aficionados

Czapek has expanded their best-selling integrated Antarctique line with the stunning open-worked Révélation The new in-house SXH7 auto-winding movement is an evolution of their SXH5, completely reworked for maximum visual impact on both sides The Révélation is also the first non-chrono Antarctique with a skeletonised dial Open-worked dials can be one of the most thrilling … ContinuedThe post The Czapek Antarctique Révélation opens its heart to watch aficionados appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The New Ming 29.01 Worldtimer Starts Another New Chapter Worn & Wound
Ming 29.01 Worldtimer Starts Another Apr 5, 2023

The New Ming 29.01 Worldtimer Starts Another New Chapter

Ming is back with a follow up to their 19.02 Worldtimer, released four years ago. That watch was something of a game-changer for Ming, adding a new complication to the brand’s repertoire, and served as an expansion of their design language. For the new 29.01 Worldtimer, Ming is once again taking a rather large step forward as the brand continues to refine their aesthetic and reimagine what a Ming can be. The concept of the new 29 series, according to Ming, is liquidity. The designs of watches in this new chapter, starting with the Worldtimer, will be defined by smooth, flowing lines, and an organic appearance. That, you might be thinking, kind of describes just about every Ming ever made. But on the 29.01 the brand has taken steps to make the watch appear seamless, as if it’s all of a single piece. The case does not have a bezel, for example, but the crystal is designed to merge directly into the case itself.  The dial is quite complex and appears to be made of two pieces: a main sapphire dial and a 24 hour metallic dial with a gradient effect. Both are heavily lumed, the sapphire portion with HyCeram ceramic Super-LumiNova X1 lume, but they have been executed in such a way as to appear to be merged together. The use of sapphire in the dial itself, the large box crystal, and in the handset contributes to a sense that all of the dial components are floating across different levels, according to the brand. It’s honestly tough to make sense of in the photos, but we ima...

Reaction: Rolex Gets Silly With Colorful New Oyster Perpetual & Day-Date Dials Worn & Wound
Rolex Gets Silly Mar 31, 2023

Reaction: Rolex Gets Silly With Colorful New Oyster Perpetual & Day-Date Dials

Rolex is always the talk of Watches & Wonders, but this year the conversation focused on an unlikely watch: an Oyster Perpetual with a “Celebration Dial,” a colorful and playful creation that seems very, well, unlike Rolex? But is it, really? It garnered a lot of attention, was immediately memed, and generated some of the most fiery takes of the show. The Worn & Wound editorial team, as you’d expect, has thoughts, so we weigh in on the new Oyster Perpetual, and a similarly colorful and offbeat Day-Date, below.  Zach Kazan No matter how hard brands try to prevent them, leaks of new releases are inevitable. It happened again this year with Rolex, the biggest brand of all. And while we only had hastily shared Google search results to go off of, and no actual specs or even basic information about the watches themselves, the shuttle ride to Palexpo on Day 1 was dominated by talk of gumballs.  The so-called “Celebration Dial” Oyster Perpetuals, along with the spiritually related “Jigsaw” Day-Date, are as whimsical as we’ve seen Rolex in recent years. Lefty GMT aside, this isn’t a brand known for its sense of humor. So a dial filled with colorful circles (51 is the official tally) that correspond with the colors of the most recent Oyster Perpetual refresh from about 3 years ago is bound to generate the hottest of takes. What I want to know from the haters is this: who decided Rolex can’t have fun? I guess if your version of Rolex is “luxury tool watches”...

Meet the new Montblanc Iced Sea, Geosphere 0 Oxygen, Unveiled Secret and Unveiled Timekeeper watches Revolution
Montblanc Iced Sea Geosphere Mar 30, 2023

Meet the new Montblanc Iced Sea, Geosphere 0 Oxygen, Unveiled Secret and Unveiled Timekeeper watches

Laurent Lecamp, Montblanc’s Managing Director for the Watch Division, introduces new Iced Sea watches, which are inspired by maritime expeditions and sport glacier pattern dials created using a traditional technique called gratté-boisé. Next, he showed Revolution Founder Wei Koh the new additions to the Montblanc 0 Oxygen series. Inspired by mountaineers like Nimsdai Purja and […]

Should this Watch Exist? The Solid Gold Aquaracer is a Surprise Watches & Wonders Highlight Worn & Wound
TAG Heuer Mar 29, 2023

Should this Watch Exist? The Solid Gold Aquaracer is a Surprise Watches & Wonders Highlight

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a new obsession. Zach Weiss already told you about the latest Carreras from TAG Heuer, and they are undoubtedly pretty great. But the watch that stole the show for me from the TAG presentation was a solid gold Aquaracer. Yes, a solid gold Aquaracer. It wasn’t too long ago that we were universally kind of gobsmacked by a solar powered titanium version of this very same watch. Now, if you’d like, you can have a pair in two very different metals, which give very different impressions.  The key to this Aquaracer is the complementary nature of the rose gold case and the degrade dial, which is a warm blend of brown and gray. The bezel and tops of the lugs have a sandblasted finish that mimics the utilitarian look of titanium reference, but there are polished accents that really make the precious metal pop, and that’s kind of what you want on a watch like this.  Aside from the solid gold case, though, this is the Aquaracer we know and love (but just, you know, elevated to an insane degree). Inside ticks a TH31-00 automatic movement, a new caliber built by AMT, Sellita’s high end division. It has 80 hours of power reserve and has been COSC certified, so in terms of specs it’s highly competitive with calibers found in other high end divers. The case still measures a tidy 40mm in diameter. The horizontal ridged pattern that the Aquaracer’s dials have adopted recently is also present, and I can’t understate how well the tone of that dial w...

Grand Seiko Unveils the Tentagraph, a New Sports Chronograph with a Three Day Power Reserve and High Frequency Movement Worn & Wound
Grand Seiko Unveils Mar 28, 2023

Grand Seiko Unveils the Tentagraph, a New Sports Chronograph with a Three Day Power Reserve and High Frequency Movement

This year’s marquee release from Grand Seiko is the all new Tentagraph, an imposing and technically impressive chronograph that makes use of a new high beat caliber and a case shape derived from previous watches in the Evolution 9 Collection. It’s kind of hard to believe, but up until now, Grand Seiko didn’t have a purely mechanical chronograph in their collection. Spring Drive has ruled the day if you need a watch for timing laps, steaks, or anything else, but that changes this year.  With the Tentagraph, which carries reference SLGC001, Grand Seiko introduces a new movement, Caliber 9SC5. This movement is notable for its shared architecture and essential technical features with the next-gen 9SA5, the double-impulse escapement caliber introduced by the brand a few years ago. We’ve seen that basic time and date caliber adopted in a variety of excellent watches in the relatively short time it’s been in production, but this is where the fun really starts: we now have a new caliber derived from the 9SA5, which of course would lead anyone following the brand to think that a) we’ll see more chronographs coming from Grand Seiko within the Evolution 9 Collection and b) we’re likely to see more complications. The 9SA5 now takes its place as a halo caliber, with many possibilities ahead when it comes to variations large and small.  Like the 9SA5, the 9SC5 beats ten times per second and is powered by two barrels giving it a three day power reserve. That’s with the ...

The new Tudor Royal collection offers refined variation Time+Tide
Tudor Royal collection offers refined Mar 28, 2023

The new Tudor Royal collection offers refined variation

The new Tudor Royal models are paired with chocolate brown and salmon dials. There are four case sizes spanning from 28mm to 41mm. Each watch is available with or without diamond hour markers. Any time a design risk is taken, people could turn one way or another. The Tudor Royal is undoubtedly their most visually … ContinuedThe post The new Tudor Royal collection offers refined variation appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The new Cartier Tank Louis Cartier collection is all about mosaics, lacquer, and gold Time+Tide
Cartier Tank Louis Cartier collection Mar 27, 2023

The new Cartier Tank Louis Cartier collection is all about mosaics, lacquer, and gold

Four new Cartier Tank Louis Cartier models The two mosaic models utilise tri-gold (white, rose and yellow) finished dials Two models bring the green and burgundy lacquer dials from the 2021 Must collection into the manually wound Tank LC format The Cartier Tank is one of the most iconic watch designs of all time, and … ContinuedThe post The new Cartier Tank Louis Cartier collection is all about mosaics, lacquer, and gold appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Taking Inspiration from Nature With The New Boldr Safari Vogelkop Superb Worn & Wound
Boldr Safari Vogelkop Superb Complex Mar 25, 2023

Taking Inspiration from Nature With The New Boldr Safari Vogelkop Superb

Complex DNA. Constantly evolving species. A couple billion year head start. These things ensure that Mother Nature continues to be the dominant designer on this planet, and has been for quite a long time. So when a watch brand decides it’s time to create something new, what better place to draw inspiration from? Complex DNA. Constantly evolving species. A couple billion year head start. These things ensure that Mother Nature continues to be the dominant designer on this planet, and has been for quite a long time. So when a watch brand decides it’s time to create something new, what better place to draw inspiration from? The post Taking Inspiration from Nature With The New Boldr Safari Vogelkop Superb appeared first on Worn & Wound.

How Long Can We Age Champagne, Should We Age Champagne, And Is Late Disgorged Or Aged On Cork Best? - Reprise Quill & Pad
Casio n there Mar 25, 2023

How Long Can We Age Champagne, Should We Age Champagne, And Is Late Disgorged Or Aged On Cork Best? - Reprise

Champagne is a lot more robust than people think. While reds and even whites get a fairly rough hand on occasion, there is a feeling that champagne must always be handled with the proverbial kid gloves. When discussing or presenting champagne, Ken Gargett is often asked how long it can be kept. And the answer is far longer than we sometimes suspect. Here he explains why. Cheers!

Business News: Tudor New Launches Available on First Day of W&W; in Geneva SJX Watches
F.P. Journe boutique It will be Mar 21, 2023

Business News: Tudor New Launches Available on First Day of W&W; in Geneva

In a first for an establishment watch brand, Tudor is making all of its new launches available on the first day of Watches & Wonders (W&W;), the trade fair that is the watch industry’s largest. The trade fair opens in the morning of Monday, March 27 and starting at noon the same day, the entire Tudor line-up of new models will be available at its pop-up store in downtown Geneva. Located off the city’s main shopping street of Rue du Rhône, the Tudor pop-up store is situated right beside the F.P. Journe boutique. It will be the first store in Switzerland to offer the Black Bay 58 Bronze (pictured above), a model available only in Tudor boutiques. While historical practice for the watch industry was to introduce new models in spring and have them available in stores in summer or later, availability has been slowly inching forward as watch brands realise the advantage of having watches for sale as soon as they are visible online. While W&W; remains a trade fair for industry insiders, namely retailers and journalists, to see new products, Tudor’s pop-up store essentially makes its “novelties” available to the public at the same time. It is not unimaginable that one day new models will be available on the spot at W&W; or its future equivalent. Pop-up details Operated by Swiss retailer Bucherer, the pop-up store opens on the first day of Watches & Wonders, Monday, March 27, 2023 at from 12 pm. It will be open from Monday to Saturday for a month. Place de Longemalle 15 120...

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Moser debuts new size, Czapek goes titanium, VIEREN brings Studio 54 vibes Time+Tide
H. Moser & Cie … ContinuedThe Mar 17, 2023

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Moser debuts new size, Czapek goes titanium, VIEREN brings Studio 54 vibes

TGIF! But before we all get some must needed R&R; this weekend, especially with Watches & Wonders kicking off next week, there have been some interesting watch releases this week ahead of the biggest watch fair in the world – and from three independents no less! Let’s jump right into it. H. Moser & Cie … ContinuedThe post FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Moser debuts new size, Czapek goes titanium, VIEREN brings Studio 54 vibes appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

HANDS-ON: The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition has our hearts racing Time+Tide
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Mar 15, 2023

HANDS-ON: The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition has our hearts racing

I am not going to beat around the bush here. With the holy trinity ushering in the era of crazy demand for integrated sports watch designs, and their unobtanium status in terms of purchasing at retail, the search for alternatives has grown and grown over the last decade. The Girard-Perregaux Laureato is constantly a part … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition has our hearts racing appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The new Tissot Chemin des Tourelles collection aims to make classic design contemporary (Live Pics) Time+Tide
Tissot Chemin des Tourelles collection Mar 14, 2023

The new Tissot Chemin des Tourelles collection aims to make classic design contemporary (Live Pics)

Zach, what would be a great first watch for me to buy? This is a question I get asked all the time, and the answer almost always leads to a discussion about Tissot. Upon the introduction of the PRX, were anyone looking for a sporty yet elegant and cost-approachable go-anywhere-do-anything watch, it could not be … ContinuedThe post The new Tissot Chemin des Tourelles collection aims to make classic design contemporary (Live Pics) appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Introducing Quick Release: A New Section of Worn & Wound Dedicated to a Wider Variety of Watches, Gear, Drops, and Deals Worn & Wound
Casio nal deals just Mar 1, 2023

Introducing Quick Release: A New Section of Worn & Wound Dedicated to a Wider Variety of Watches, Gear, Drops, and Deals

Each and every day, somewhere around the world there’s a new watch dropping, product deal running, or event being hosted to celebrate the watches and gear we love. The folks who brought you Worn & Wound are launching a new service dedicated to discovering and delivering daily news, drops, event announcements, and deals on a wider variety of watches and gear. This new section of the site is purposefully designated for brands to sponsor coverage of their interesting and unique products. This section, called Quick Release, becomes a bulletin board for our partners to showcase their latest product drops, limited deals and promotions, event announcements, and more. Our commitment to our readers is that we’ll curate a fun mixture of watches you might otherwise never be exposed to, along with the gear and everyday carry (EDC) brands we love. Once a day, you can expect something fresh, distinctive, or informative. We’ll be working with multiple brands across watches and gear to help tell their stories and elevate the products you might not have come across just yet. Quick Release is all about fun, fast product stories that are sure to delight day in and day out, with occasional deals just for our readers and followers. Subscribe to the weekly Quick Release newsletter to get deals delivered to your inbox and follow Quick Release on Instagram. LAUNCH QUICK RELEASE The post Introducing Quick Release: A New Section of Worn & Wound Dedicated to a Wider Variety of Watches, Gear, D...

The True Story Behind the 40mm De Bethune DB25 Perpetual Calendar That Became Grail Watch 6 Revolution
De Bethune DB25 Perpetual Calendar Feb 24, 2023

The True Story Behind the 40mm De Bethune DB25 Perpetual Calendar That Became Grail Watch 6

In 2022, when De Bethune relaunched their incredible DB25 Perpetual Calendar in an all-new case size of 40mm, collectors sat up and took notice as it made an already thoughtfully-designed grand complication watch even more well-proportioned for the wrist. Wei and Jeremiah discuss the genesis of this sea change in the DB25 Perpetual Calendar’s case […]

Watch Jewels: What Do They Do and Why Do They Matter? Teddy Baldassarre
Feb 24, 2023

Watch Jewels: What Do They Do and Why Do They Matter?

Those who are very new to appreciating watches may be surprised, and a bit confused, upon reading about a watch that boasts “21 jewels” and afterward looking it over and finding no diamonds or emeralds or any other precious stones on its dial or case. Many watches do, in fact, offer such adornments, but those are not what’s being referred to on a watch’s spec sheet in the “jewels” column; to clarify, “jewels” in horological parlance are not shorthand for “jewelry.” A watch’s jewels are, in fact, not even really intended to be seen and admired. Like the screws and gears and tiny wheels inside a watch’s movement, they are there to do a job, to play a vital and functional role in the smooth operation of a watch’s timekeeping.  So what are jewels in a watch movement, anyway, and what are they for? And do watchmakers really use valuable, precious gems as workhorse components inside these micromechanical engines? On the latter question, well, yes and no. As to the former question, read on.  The movement in a mechanical watch is a machine with lots of moving metal parts that tend to rub and grind against one another, creating friction that can wear down these components, adversely affecting the performance of the watch and ultimately shortening its functional life. The challenge in the early days of watchmaking was finding a substance harder than these metal parts to place at the vital pivot points to reduce metal-on-metal wear and tear. The answer pr...