– How do vintage watches have such incredible tolerances?

Question

I see vintage watches repaired. When the case is opened the movements are so well-designed and engineered, with gear teeth cut to the 0.1 MM level and thin, perfect jewels. How is such mechanical precision possible from decades ago?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

What everyone else has said, but don’t forget about survivorship bias. The only watches still around are the best made. All the crappy watches broke a long time ago.