Deep Hole Drilling for Watchmaking and Jewelry Manufacturing

Watchmaking and jewelry manufacturing demand holes that are smaller, more precise, and more beautifully finished than any other industry. A 0.3 mm hole drilled through a gold watch plate must be straight, burr-free, and visually perfect — because the customer will see it under magnification every time they look at the movement. Deep hole drilling methods adapted for micro-diameters make these holes possible.

Applications in Watchmaking ​

Watch Movement Holes ​

Watch Case and Crown Holes ​

Applications in Jewelry ​

Materials ​

Material-Specific Challenges ​

Micro-Hole Drilling in Precious Metals ​

Micro-Drilling Techniques ​

Method Comparison ​

Peck Drilling for Watchmaking ​

Gun Drilling for Small Diameters ​

Precision Requirements ​

Dimensional Tolerances ​

Surface Finish Requirements ​

Burr Control ​

Quality Inspection ​

Inspection Methods ​

Typical Inspection Plan ​

FAQ ​

Is deep hole drilling used in watchmaking? ​

Yes — watch movements require numerous precise holes for gear trains, jewels, and screws. While many watch holes are drilled with conventional micro-drills using peck cycles, gun drilling is used when straightness and surface finish are critical — for example, jewel setting holes and long oil holes. The watch industry requires holes with tolerances measured in microns, surface finishes that are visually perfect, and zero burrs.

What materials are drilled in watchmaking and jewelry? ​

Watchmaking: brass (most common for plates), nickel-silver (German silver), gold (cases and high-end movements), stainless steel (cases), and titanium (cases). Jewelry: gold (14K–24K), sterling silver, platinum, palladium, and gemstones (pearls for drilling). Each material requires specific drilling parameters — soft gold and silver are gummy and require sharp tools and peck drilling; platinum is hard and abrasive, causing rapid tool wear.

How do you drill a 0.5 mm hole in gold? ​

Use a micro twist drill (carbide or HSS-Co), spindle speed 8000–15000 RPM, feed rate 2–8 mm/min with peck drilling (retract fully every 2× diameter depth). Use light oil mist coolant to lubricate and cool. Ensure the drill is extremely sharp — a dull drill will push the soft gold rather than cut it, causing work hardening and drill breakage. Deburr entry and exit with a small chamfer tool or hand deburring under magnification.

What tolerance can be achieved in watchmaking holes? ​

Watchmaking tolerances depend on the application. Standard plate holes: H6–H7 (approximately +0.005 to +0.012 mm for a 0.5 mm hole). Jewel setting holes: ± 0.003–0.005 mm. Hole position on a watch plate: ± 0.01–0.02 mm. These tolerances require precision drilling equipment, correct tooling, and temperature-controlled conditions. Air gauging or optical inspection is used to verify hole diameters to micron accuracy.

What is the best way to deburr micro-holes in jewelry? ​

For holes in precious metals, deburring must be done under magnification (10–20×). Methods: entry chamfer with a small countersink or chamfer tool (one rotation — do not over-chamfer), exit burr removal with a deburring brush or back-chamfer tool, and hand deburring with a fine scraper under the microscope. For through-holes in beads or pearls, the edges must be smooth to prevent cutting the stringing thread — a slight chamfer or radius is standard.

Watchmaking and jewelry manufacturing represent the extreme end of precision deep hole drilling — sub-millimeter diameters, precious metals, micron tolerances, and visual perfection. The same drilling principles apply: sharp tools, correct speeds and feeds, adequate chip evacuation, and burr control. But the scale, materials, and quality expectations make these applications a specialized discipline within deep hole drilling. This article reflects industry practice as of 2026.