In-house movement vs Sellitta /eta

Why do we think that an inhouse movement is better than a standard eta / sellita ?!

We don't.

;)

So what do you think in detail?! Like Hublot is always hated for using eta in their classic fusion for 8k

METAS... 15000 Gauss... Co-axial..... Silicone hairspring... Spirate regulation... 10. Year service intervals....

That's why, & yes it is "better" which is why I spent so much rather than being content with my Sellita's or ETA's - I wanted the most accurate precise robust and reliable mass produced mechanical movement I could afford.

But not all in house movements are created equal....

I can confirm that I'd have preferred my Breitling Superocean Heritage to have had a more generic movement when it started to lose 30 seconds a day and my local watch guy couldn't fix it. Luckily I had a 5 year warranty (which I either didn't know or had forgotten) so it cost me nothing but would have been a pricey fix otherwise. It's nothing but another way to get your cash, let's be honest.

In details? Well if we look at the history of most of the brands we will find that they never had a problem with sharing components with each other and it was only lately, and mostly due to the influence of reviewers, that it became a point of contention.

Also, the definition of "in house" is pretty vague because except for Seiko and Rolex which are fully integrated, there's not a single brand that I can think of which can claim that it manufacture every component in its movements.

Lastly, I see this as a typical case of a feature without any apparent benefit for the end user. Unless the movement has some extraordinary complications, a watch movement is a watch movement and is a watch movement.

Thanks !!

Thanks for your input

See what you mean here

This takes me back to when Indian motocycles went from using S&S engines (very good) to developing their own PowerPlus 100. In the end, it bankrupted them.

Haha, get your point here.

Nomos does :)

I highly doubt if they manufacture all the parts in their movements.

I think I learned that here:

https://youtu.be/YNVeKBHIWiY?si=2WeRQohMgeKVkOP6

Actually, they do

It's a bit like choosing between a Hyundai and a BMW. You could argue both do exactly the same job, but one is clearly better than the other..

...which one is better depends entirely on your personal requirements.

Thank you!!

It definitely happens, but to say there’s a big chance it will happen is a bit of a stretch IMO.

Hey Pat,

Solid question and good points, I think we’ve just been so marketed to that we instinctively think inhouse is better. As a number of people in this thread have mentioned, most “in-house” movements aren’t strictly speaking in-house, they’re modified versions of more standard movements. Like “swiss made” is really squishy it’s more marketing than an indication of a watch’s level of quality.

I think the in-house thing is solely for the benefit of the company not the consumer. Maintenance is typically a high margin service vs retail - I could be wrong here but this is true for autos and even planes, I expect similar economics to hold for watches. So controlling it is obviously better for the company. Better (hopefully) QC is just icing on the cake.

We all grew up with that person who was insecure to the point where their only reaction was “you think you’re better than me?”

This mentality, is a bit sad. Most people do not think because they have X premium product that they are a better person. If they do, well that person sucks too. The possession of a better product doesn’t equal better person. If one cannot get beyond that point in life, it’s a non starter discussion wise.

Better for you doesn’t equal better. Yes, one’s home in the middle of nowhere may be great, if not perfect, for them, but is it “better” than a private beach front property on the French Riviera? No.

Like every other hobby, there are various levels of design, complexity, and quality the more you’re willing to spend. The market, not the individual decides what’s better.

If you value a basic movement that can be serviced or replaced cheaply? Cool. Someone else may value a hand made, assembled, finished, and more complicated movement? Also cool.

The whole folks wanting to argue which is better has become silly. A handmade in house movement from GO is better than an ETA movement in the same manner the Riviera home is better.

One can appreciate a great reliable basic movement the same way they can appreciate one made to a different level. Refusing to acknowledge either side is more a reflection on perspective vs. objectivity.

I don’t think we do, depends what it is however there is a difference in quality, accuracy v time etc. the likes of Omega with the coaxial is fundamentally different as is the spring drive from GS, both movements should provide more longevity and less wear in theory as they are designed to reduce the use of lubricants, so I think the question is within a £ band does it matter? Or do you care? If you want robust movements that can be past to future generations then I’m not sure there will be many that survive. Residual value or sentiment normally drives this. The cost of servicing has increased and availability of watchmakers is decreasing at an alarming rate so I think most of the current trends may favour design and disposal. Hope I’m wrong though.

The cost of servicing has increased and availability of watchmakers is decreasing at an alarming rate so I think most of the current trends may favour design and disposal. Hope I’m wrong though.

I'm afraid you are right. We may soon find ourselves in a situation where luxury watchmakers can charge whatever they want, and owners of standard movements will at a minimum have to learn how to swap movements. Welcome to the modding community. 😁

Yip. I was thinking of buying an SW200 for my spares hahaha

Right. I know that I can take an NH35 apart and put it back together. It might come in handy in the not so distant future.

Mostly in-house movements have a longer power reserve than e.g. a Sellita SW-200.

Some of them feature advanced escapement technologies (Omegas Co-Axial or Nomos Swing System).

That are just a few features I value when looking for a watch.

I don't even know what "in house" means? The company that owns brand A also Owns brand B? Swatch could give ETA to Breguet and all of a sudden we can all afford Breguet movements 🤔

Get you.we can agree on that I may used too harsh wording here :p

Haha..true. "inhouse " is super stretchy word nowadays..actually it meant that the company/brand has a "patent" for the technical work/how the movement is built

I am totally ok with my ETA movements in quite a few of my older watches, some are modified such as my Breitling Navitimer 1461, after a full service they are terrific, my watches from Breitling with the BO1 movement are admittedly very good. I have 2 Oris watches with unregulated Selitta movements that I feel are overpriced.

Agreed! 😎

Good point.

It's also interesting to me that Breitling and Tudors Senessi movements are in-house but Longines movements are made solely for the brand by ETA.

Seems to me the only difference between the two is the efficacy of their marketing.

The only reason that I'm ever impressed to learn a brand uses in-house movements is because it's then a creator of watches as opposed to an assembler of watches (to really over simplify it).

Every time I hear someone say 'but they use in-house movements' as if it's a measure of quality, reliability and performance I think 'Yep, and I've got a statue stuck in NY Harbour you might be interested in!'.