Jewel case

A Jewel case is a transparent plastic case which usually contains a compact disc along with the liner notes. The liner notes typically will be a 12cm x 12cm booklet, or a single 12cm x 24cm leaf folded in half.

Origin of the name: the case does not derive in any way from containers for jewellery. Instead, the name apparently originates from the watchmaker's use of the term jewel to refer generally to a bearing in a mechanism (since mechanical watches and clocks commonly use gemstones for such bearings). A jewel case has two such bearings, in its hinges.

The original jewel case design has a well-known and very frustrating weakness in that the hinges for the lid are a single layer of thin plastic, which is almost invariably the first thing to break if the case receives any shock or stress.

The intended successor, which is now gaining ground, is the "Super Jewel Box", a more advanced design which offers (amongst other improvements) a greatly strengthened hinge area. Unfortunately the Super Jewel Box cannot be used as an uncomplicatedly direct replacement for the older jewel case design, as its card insert for the back is slightly different in size. However in many other ways it is an attractive concept and some CD manufacturers (for example the high-end company Linn) are supplying them. The Super Jewel Box was developed by Philips and other CD format developers, originally in a larger format as a DVD case, and then in smaller formats as CD cases.

A number of other alternatives to the standard jewel case are also seen, including mostly-card sleeves, and DVD-style larger cases with a more book-like format.

Slimline jewel case

Spindle or cakebox

Paper Sleeve

External link

• Super Jewel Box