Here we have a side-by-side comparison of the humblest of fruits from two industrial powerhouses: simple bearings made in China and Germany. Both are advertised, per the description, as "weapons-grade," though apparently the German version costs a good 30 times as much.

What does your money buy you with a part this small? Roundness, it seems. The guy explaining the difference between the ostensibly interchangeable parts has a simple test. Drop 'em down a rod, and give 'em a good hard flick with his thumb.

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Trial 1: the Chinese bearings. You see three separate spins with the thumb, each allowed to go till friction stops the spinning. Total for all three turns comes in at around six seconds.

Trial 2: the German bearings. One thumb-spin left to whirl, and whirl, and whirl. For a good 27 seconds.

Source: Digg.

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