Progress?

Here we have two Waltham 1908 23j Vanguards, both are size 16 Rail Road Grade movements so will have had similar superior performance when manufactured. 

The on the left is from 1907 and has extensive damascening, gold mounted screw set jewels that are mainly ruby plus diamond end jewels on the balance.

 The one on the right has machine pressed synthetic jewels and is from 1940.