#Jewel #bearings are synthetic #gemstones, usually #ruby or sapphire, that are used as bearings, usually #cylindrical. The coefficient of friction between the two ruby surfaces is very small, meaning that little energy is lost to wear on the bearings.
The back of this #Soviet-era #Молния (#Molnija or #lightning) shows several #JewelBearings on its back.
Jewel bearings weren’t a guarantee of craftsmanship, though. Молния #watches lost around 15 minutes each day.

Get a print of this image or another at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/jewel-bearing-in-a-molnija-pocket-watch-heron-and-fox.html

#PocketWatch, #SovietMemorabilia, #Clockwork, #Mechanism, #Macro, #MacroPhotography, #Photograph

The Soviet Union copied a #Swiss design for pocket #watches to produce them domestically under the Молния trade name. The design improved over the years until shortly after the fall of the #Soviet Union.
Molnija watches were considered some of the best Soviet watches made, losing only 15 minutes over the course of a day.
This #photograph shows the clockwork and low-friction ruby bearings.

Get a print of this image or another at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/clockwork-in-a-molnija-pocket-watch-heron-and-fox.html

#Molnija, #Молния, #JewelMovement, #RubyBearings, #JewelBearings, #Clockwork, #SovietMemorabilia, #MacroPhotography, #Photograph