Crossword Help Forum
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Even the first letter, elle?

Yes, Chris. I would pronounce it as I would the word for 'owing'.
But you obviously would beg to differ there as well?

Yes, I would pronounce the D as D rather than J.

Try this, Chris
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/duel
Now I definitely hear this as a 'J'.

Interesting, elle. The US one is clearly a D; the English one does have a bit more of a hint of a J about it, but I'm still hearing it was basically a D.

I'll see if I can find JEWEL on the site.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/jewel

Listen to them one after the other. I hear a distinct difference.

I'd say the words slightly differently but near enough for a crossword clue. My beef is that there is no real indication it is a homophone, except the question mark, which I don't think is quite fair.
May I suggest you try the excellent WSJ crossword syzzie posted? It is very entertaining, with a great PDM. No homophones as far as I remember. Even the clues I suspect aristo and syzzie himself got in a moment but took me a bit longer- an American state and an Ivy league town, for example - are quite do-able.

Here you go, Chris....
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/jewel

I'd give you a slight difference maybe in the speed with which the two words are said?
but both to me sound to begin with a "J"

Hi rosalind
I think the "caught" is intended as the homophone indicator.