Les Côtes 2, CH-2525 Le Landeron, Switzerland
Les Côtes 2, CH-2525 Le Landeron, Switzerland
From balance wheel pivots to case bores, movement jewels to crown tubes, sub-micron dimensional inspection for the world's most demanding micro-mechanical industry. Engineered in Le Landeron, in the heart of Watch Valley.
A mechanical watch movement contains between 100 and 800 individual components, many of them smaller than a grain of rice. A balance wheel pivot measures just 0.07–0.10 mm in diameter. The bore of a jewel bearing that supports that pivot has a tolerance measured in single-digit microns. The clearance between a winding stem and its tube determines whether a crown operates smoothly for decades or fails within months.
At these scales, conventional measurement methods reach their limits. Tactile gauges can deform soft materials. Visual inspection cannot quantify dimensional accuracy. Even CMMs struggle with the speed needed for production-volume inspection of components this small.
The Swiss watch industry demands non-destructive, non-contact or ultra-low-force measurement with sub-micron resolution — and it demands it at production pace, not laboratory pace. That's exactly what PFL air gauging and PRETEC electronic probes deliver.
PFL Antralux is headquartered in Le Landeron, Switzerland. directly in the Jura region known worldwide as Watch Valley. For over 50 years, we've been neighbors, suppliers, and engineering partners to the watchmaking industry. Our precision measurement technology was born in the same tradition of Swiss micro-mechanical excellence.
Watch components routinely measure 0.05–5 mm in their critical dimensions. Pivot diameters, jewel hole bores, pinion teeth profiles, and escape wheel tooth tips all require measurement at scales where traditional gauging is impractical or physically impossible.
Many watch components are made from brass, gold alloys, or synthetic ruby/sapphire. Contact measurement with excessive force can scratch decorative surfaces, deform thin walls, or create false readings on soft alloys. Non-contact air gauging eliminates this risk entirely.
Major Swiss brands produce hundreds of thousands to over a million movements per year. Every component must be within specification, a single out-of-tolerance jewel bore means a movement that won't meet COSC chronometer standards. 100% inspection, not sampling, is the standard.
In haute horlogerie, components must meet both dimensional accuracy and visual perfection. A case bore must not only fit the movement precisely, it must exhibit a flawless mirror-polished surface. Measurement systems must assess function without compromising finish.
Dimensional inspection of the components that define a movement's accuracy, longevity, and craftsmanship.
Internal diameter of synthetic ruby and sapphire jewel bores that support pivots. Air gauging measures these micro-bores (typically 0.10–0.50 mm) without contact, critical because even minor scratches inside a jewel bore increase friction and degrade timekeeping accuracy.
Diameter, concentricity, and surface quality of balance wheel pivots (0.07–0.10 mm) and the balance wheel rim. The balance wheel is the heartbeat of a mechanical watch, its dimensional precision directly determines the rate accuracy that COSC testing certifies.
Pinion diameters, wheel bores, arbor diameters, and the depth of engagement between gear teeth. The entire gear train, from barrel to escape wheel, must transfer energy with minimal friction losses. Every bore and shaft dimension affects this efficiency.
Internal diameter of watch case bores that receive the movement, case back threads, bezel seating surfaces, and crystal grooves. These dimensions determine water resistance rating, case back sealing, and the precise fit that prevents the movement from shifting inside the case.
Internal bore of crown tubes and external diameter of winding stems. The fit between stem and tube determines crown operation feel and waterproof integrity. In diving watches rated to 200m+, this clearance is critical, too loose allows water ingress, too tight causes wear.
Hour marker positions, dial feet bores, hand pipe internal diameters, and the press-fit tolerances between hands and their mounting surfaces. Misalignment of even 0.02 mm between the minute hand pipe and the center wheel post can cause rubbing and power loss.
PFL provides measurement technology at every stage of watch component production, from raw material inspection through final assembly verification. Our solutions range from simple handheld air plug checks to fully automated multi-station inspection benches that measure dozens of features per component.
Because PFL manufactures both air gauging systems (non-contact, ideal for micro-bores and delicate surfaces) and PRETEC electronic probes (contact, for depths, heights, and geometric features), we combine both technologies in the same test bench, giving watchmakers a complete dimensional picture from a single part loading.
Our Le Landeron facility gives us an unmatched advantage: we can visit your production floor in minutes, understand your specific measurement challenge, and build a solution using the same Swiss precision traditions you apply to your movements.
Miniaturized air gauging plugs for bore diameters from 0.5 mm. Non-contact measurement with automatic cleaning effect — ideal for jewel bores, bushing bores, and micro-tube internals.
Compact electronic probes with ≤ 0.02 μm repeatability for height, depth, and position measurement on miniaturized watch components. Low measuring force protects delicate surfaces.
Precision-machined holding fixtures that locate watch components exactly, by reference surfaces, not clamping force. Quick-change inserts for multiple component variants on the same base fixture.
Data acquisition for every measurement. Cp/Cpk monitoring supports COSC-level quality requirements. Full traceability by component serial number for haute horlogerie brands.
Operator loads the component; the bench measures automatically and displays pass/fail. Multiple features per cycle, bore diameter, concentricity, depth, in under 5 seconds.
Traceable calibration masters and in-house calibration for all delivered systems. Located in Le Landeron, same-day service for Watch Valley clients.
The PFL product lines most commonly deployed in watch and horology applications.
Micro air plugs for jewel bores, case bores, crown tubes. Non-contact measurement that cleans as it measures, essential for watch components where surface integrity matters as much as dimensional accuracy.
Explore Air Gauging → Sub-MicronPRETEC probes with ≤ 0.02 μm repeatability for depth, height, and position measurement on movement plates, bridges, and case components. Low measuring force versions available for delicate surfaces.
Explore PRETEC Probes → InspectionCustom gauging benches for specific watch components, measure multiple features in a single loading. Manual or semi-automatic with touch screen display, SPC data logging, and pass/fail classification.
Explore Test Benches → IntelligenceTouch screen display units with bargraph visualization and SPC software. Part program management stores settings for multiple component types, switch between jewel bore, case bore, and stem measurement with one touch.
Explore Displays & Software → CustomPrecision fixtures with micro-locating features for watch components. Reference surfaces machined to sub-micron accuracy. Quick-change inserts for different caliber sizes and component families.
Explore Fixtures → AutomationParallel guiding system for semi-automated measurement of miniaturized components. Pneumatic actuation with low-force options suitable for delicate watch parts that cannot tolerate heavy probe contact.
Explore ROBOTAST →Technical answers about precision measurement for the watch and horology industry.
Measuring watch components?
Talk to Our EngineersPFL manufactures micro air plugs for bore diameters starting from approximately 0.5 mm. For bores smaller than 0.5 mm (such as some jewel bearing internal diameters), we use PRETEC electronic probes with specialized contact tips rather than air gauging. The exact minimum depends on the bore depth and accessibility. PFL engineers will assess your specific component drawing and recommend the optimal measurement approach, air gauging, electronic probes, or a combination of both.
No. Air gauging is inherently non-contact, the measurement is based on air back-pressure between the nozzle and the workpiece surface, with a physical gap of 10–50 microns during measurement. There is zero mechanical contact with the component. Additionally, the air flow acts as a cleaning jet, removing dust and particles from the measurement zone. This makes air gauging ideal for polished case bores, decorative surfaces, and soft gold alloy components where even the lightest mechanical contact would leave marks.
COSC tests rate accuracy (daily deviation within -4/+6 seconds) across multiple positions and temperatures over 15 days. While COSC doesn't directly test component dimensions, dimensional accuracy determines rate performance. A balance wheel pivot that's even 1 μm out of specification changes the friction at the jewel bearing, affecting amplitude and rate. Bore clearances between wheels and plates affect power transmission efficiency. By controlling component dimensions with sub-micron accuracy during production, you maximize the probability of passing COSC testing, and reduce the costly rework of assembled movements that fail certification.
Yes. We measure the dimensional features that determine water resistance: case bore diameter (for movement seating and case back seal surfaces), crown tube bore (for stem seal fit), crystal groove dimensions (for gasket compression), and case back thread profiles. While the actual water resistance test is a pressure/vacuum test (not our scope), ensuring that all sealing-surface dimensions are within specification is the first requirement for achieving the rated depth, whether it's 30m for a dress watch or 300m for a dive watch.
A semi-automatic PFL test bench measuring 3–6 features on a single watch component typically completes the measurement cycle in 2–5 seconds — excluding operator loading/unloading time. For manual benches, total cycle time including handling is typically 8–15 seconds per component. This is fast enough for production-volume inspection: at 10 seconds per part, a single bench inspects 360 components per hour, which matches or exceeds the output rate of most watchmaking production cells.
PFL Antralux has been headquartered in Le Landeron since the company's founding — directly in the Swiss Jura region surrounded by the world's leading watch manufacturers. Over 50 years, we have developed measurement solutions for components used in movements and cases across the quality spectrum, from volume-production ETA-based calibers to exclusive haute horlogerie complications. Confidentiality agreements prevent us from naming specific clients, but our location in Watch Valley speaks to the depth of our relationships with the Swiss horological industry.
Yes. Air gauging is material-independent — it works equally well on brass, nickel silver, stainless steel, titanium, gold, platinum, and ceramic (ZrO₂). The measurement principle (air back-pressure vs. gap) does not depend on the workpiece material's electrical, magnetic, or optical properties. PRETEC electronic probes are also material-agnostic. The only consideration is that very soft materials (e.g., pure gold) require low-force probe configurations to prevent surface indentation — which PFL offers as a standard option.
Every PFL system ships with: mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, calibration certificates for all masters (traceable to METAS or equivalent national standard), Gage R&R study documenting repeatability and reproducibility, operator manual, and maintenance manual. For brands pursuing Geneva Seal, Qualité Fleurier, or other quality certifications, PFL can provide additional documentation formatted to support your quality management system requirements.
Send us your component drawing, we'll propose the right measurement approach for your specific tolerance and production requirements. Located in Le Landeron, we're right in your neighborhood.