Men
Women
Couples
Digital Watch
Quartz Standard Watch
Quartz Calendar Watch
Quartz 
Quartz Multi-Function Watch
Automatic Mechanical Watch
Solar-Powered Watch
Smart Watch
Watch movements (or calibers) are the 'heart' of a watch, directly determining its accuracy, stability, and lifespan.
If you are new to the watch industry and looking a suitble movement to your own brand, this article will help you understand and compare six watch movement manufacturers from Switzerland, Japan, and China.
We will highlight their key features and offer recommendations to help you make an informed choice.
Swiss Movements
Switzerland is a world-renowned center of watchmaking, with Swiss movements representing high quality, high precision, and luxurious craftsmanship. There are numerous Swiss movement manufacturers, including:
1. ETA
Overview: ETA is a movement manufacturer under the Swatch Group and one of the most influential movement suppliers globally. ETA movements are widely used in watch brands ranging from entry-level to high-end. However, since January 1, 2020, the Swatch Group's ETA has stopped supplying mechanical watch movements to third-party customers, a decision made by the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO) to reduce market monopoly.
Precidrive quartz movements
Characteristics:
● ETA only continues to provide mechanical movements for its own brands (such as Swatch, Omega, Longines)
● ETA still offers some quartz movements (like the Precidrive series)
● This means that emerging brands or third-party brands may need to consider alternative movement suppliers
Suggestions：
Despite ETA's excellence, supply restrictions compel third-party brands to diversify movement sources. For mechanical needs, explore alternatives like Sellita, Miyota, and Ronda. For quartz, the Precidrive series remains a reliable, versatile solution across mid-to-high-end, sports, and luxury watch markets.
2. Sellita
Overview: Sellita is a Swiss movement manufacturer founded in 1950, located in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is known for producing high-quality movements similar to ETA, with some movements even being produced for ETA. With ETA stopping third-party mechanical movement supply in 2020, Sellita has become an alternative for many brands, especially in the context of limited ETA movement availability.
Sellita's SW200 series
Characteristics:
● Sellita movements offer performance similar to ETA
● Featuring high stability and reliability
● Repair parts are easily obtainable
● Maintenance costs are relatively low
● Widely used in mid-to-high-end brands, particularly as a preferred alternative supplier amid ETA's supply limitations
Suggestions：
For brands with limited budgets seeking Swiss movements, Sellita emerges as an ideal alternative. Offering quality on par with ETA, Sellita provides a compelling solution for mid-to-high-end markets, proving more cost-effective in long-term use. Notably, for brands already utilizing ETA movements, Sellita's SW200 series ensures seamless compatibility with existing product lines, facilitating a smooth transition without significant design or engineering modifications.
3. Ronda
Overview: Founded in 1946, Ronda is one of Switzerland's leading watch movement manufacturers, known for producing high-quality quartz movements. Ronda offers over 100 movement models in the market and is widely used by brands such as TAG Heuer and Victorinox.
Ronda caliber R150
Characteristics:
● Ronda's quartz movements are favored for their precision and durability, particularly notable is the Normtech series
● Although Ronda offers fewer mechanical movement options, the newly launched R150 mechanical movement series shows its return to this segment
Suggestions：
Provide high-quality quartz movements for mid-to-high-end brands prioritizing performance and image. Normtech series delivers exceptional battery life, while the R150 series provides an affordable Swiss mechanical movement option for budget-conscious brands.
Japanese Movements
Japanese watchmaking differs from Swiss, but offers excellent movement manufacturers known for cost-effectiveness, stability, and innovation.
1. Seiko
Overview: Founded in 1881, Seiko is a major Japanese watch brand known for diverse, innovative movements covering quartz, automatic, and complex calibers. Since its establishment, Seiko has continuously innovated, introducing multiple classic movements that satisfy different consumer needs. The brand is widely recognized in the market for its high cost-effectiveness and reliability.
Naviforce customized Seiko Epson movement
Characteristics:
● Seiko movements are characterized by high cost-effectiveness, stability, and precision
● The 9S series and Spring Drive series have a significant presence in the high-end mechanical watch segment
● Spring Drive technology uniquely combines mechanical and quartz advantages
● Achieves an extraordinary precision of only ±1 second per day
● 9S series is favored by watch enthusiasts for its complex functions and exquisite craftsmanship
● Seiko gradually shows its competitiveness in the high-end market
Suggestions：
For Seiko movements are a game-changer for new watch brands. The 4R series delivers top-notch performance at an unbeatable price, while the Spring Drive line offers cutting-edge tech that can set your timepiece apart in a crowded market.
2. Miyota
Overview: Miyota, a subsidiary of Citizen since 1959, has become one of the world's largest watch movement manufacturers. Known for high cost-effectiveness and reliability, Miyota is widely used by many well-known brands such as Fossil, Orient, and Casio.
Left to right MIYOTA 9015 8215 2035
Characteristics:
● Movement range includes automatic movements (such as 8215), quartz movements (such as 2035)
● Recognized in the market for stability and precision
● 9015 series is considered a high-quality automatic movement
● Particularly suitable for small brands
Suggestions：
For brands with budget constraints seeking reliability, Miyota is the go-to solution. Need a slim design? The 9015 series delivers. Looking to launch entry-level automatics? The 8215 series is your best bet. For massive quartz production, the 2035 movement offers unmatched stability and dependability.
Chinese Movements
With the development of China's watchmaking industry, more and more Chinese movements are emerging in the market, especially from enterprises with independent R&D capabilities that are gradually becoming competitive with international first-tier brands.
1. Sea-Gull
Seagull ST1901 Mechanical Watch Movement
Overview: Sea-Gull is one of China's leading movement manufacturers, known for its high cost-effectiveness and diverse movement products. Since its establishment in 1955, Sea-Gull has continuously developed, becoming one of the world's largest mechanical movement producers. Its product range covers automatic, manual, and quartz movements. It’s movement output accounts for 25% of world output. In other words, for every four watches unearthed, one has a Seagull movement.
Characteristics:
● Known for stability and precision
● ST series movements (such as ST1901 and ST2130) are favored for their high quality and reliability
● Compared to Swiss and Japanese counterparts, Sea-Gull offers more competitive pricing
● Makes it an ideal choice for brands with limited budgets
● Has made breakthroughs in complicated watches, including tourbillon movements
Suggestions：
● For brands with tight budgets, Sea-Gull is a highly cost-effective choice
● The stability and reliability of Sea-Gull movements have made it a supplier for some international brands
Summary And Compare
When choosing watch movements, first consider your brand positioning, budget, market demand, and product features. Here is a summary comparison table for you evaluate different movement options:
Naviforce Service
We hope this information serves as a useful reference whether you are a watch enthusiast or looking to start your own brand—choosing the right movement not only ensures performance but also helps gain an advantage in market competition. As Naviforce Watch—a professional manufacturer—we offer wholesale and custom watch services while maintaining long-term cooperation with Seiko to power our products reliably. If you’re interested in starting your own watch brand or want more information about our custom services, feel free to contact us for free consultation.
Post time: Jan-20-2025
