Movements
I don't know squat about watch movements. I'm just getting into this hobby but would imagine that brands like Omega and Rolex have some of the best movements. So my question is, What is the best movement I could get into for under $1500? You can be as technical and geeked out as you want! If possible tell me why that movement is so good? Tried and true? Lab tested?
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Frank
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
New Orleans, LA, USA
Member since
Last active: 15 hrs ago
6.75” / 17.15 cm
Do you want to spend 1500 on a movement or do you want a movement in a watch for 1500 ?
Chances are you’ll never see it (unless it’s a clear case back) but regardless of that, you want one that can be worked on by your local watch repair shop rather than by the original manufacturer. Therefore you want a watch with a Selita SW200 in it, common across many microbrands.
Nomos Club Campus hand wound with an exhibition case back $1800.
New or are you open to vintage?
Laco has you covered if you’re a Flieger guy. You can customize it as well!
Look for a pre owned Omega with the 8500 caliber movement. Try to pay about the 1500. Then send it to Omega for a full service and you just got something that will last a lifetime for 2300
How are you categorising’best’?
Chances are you’ll never see it (unless it’s a clear case back) but regardless of that, you want one that can be worked on by your local watch repair shop rather than by the original manufacturer. Therefore you want a watch with a Selita SW200 in it, common across many microbrands.
Seiko NH35, Powermatic 80 or 50 or whatever Hamilton uses in their Khaki Field line
As evidenced by the comments above, best movement is a bit like best car engine. Do you want to maximize hp, maximize torque, look cool when you lift the hood, be easy to work on, cheap to find service/parts for, something else? If you want high power reserve, an eta 2824 or sellita sw200 is not a good movement for you. If you want high beat rate, the powermatic 80 is not a good movement for you. If you want something cheap to service and replace parts on, something pretty like a Nomos movement is not a good movement for you. If you want something nicely decorated to look at, most movements in watches under $1500 will not be good movements for you, because it's just not really prioritized that often in that price range. Have to come up with some priorities to sort movements by.
New or are you open to vintage?
I was gonna ask the same thing, such incredible vintage options out there!
Oh god, is that an ai generated image of a movement?
Oh god, is that an ai generated image of a movement?
Looks screwey to me! But I'm no watchmaker
Best movement? Probably the one in the Citizen Caliber 0100. 🤔
Looks screwey to me! But I'm no watchmaker
Horrifically uncanny.
Maybe a used Nomos?
Or a vintage Omega…
I would go for either a Hamilton, a Certina, a Mido or Tissot. All members of the Seatch Group, all with movements made by ETA. IMHO
This question opened a worm hole for sure😂
Do you want to spend 1500 on a movement or do you want a movement in a watch for 1500 ?
Best movement in a watch that cost 1500 or less
New or are you open to vintage?
Vintage is fine
How are you categorising’best’?
Great question. Best would be most reliable and serviceable. Not really interested in sending it to China
As evidenced by the comments above, best movement is a bit like best car engine. Do you want to maximize hp, maximize torque, look cool when you lift the hood, be easy to work on, cheap to find service/parts for, something else? If you want high power reserve, an eta 2824 or sellita sw200 is not a good movement for you. If you want high beat rate, the powermatic 80 is not a good movement for you. If you want something cheap to service and replace parts on, something pretty like a Nomos movement is not a good movement for you. If you want something nicely decorated to look at, most movements in watches under $1500 will not be good movements for you, because it's just not really prioritized that often in that price range. Have to come up with some priorities to sort movements by.
I guess I don't want to spend too much more than $1500 on a watch but with all the micro brands out there I don't want to get screwed with a bad movement. A good movement to me is one that is accurate and can be serviced without sending it to China. I don't really care about the looks of the movement. Thanks for all the great info
Oh god, is that an ai generated image of a movement?
Possibly. I just looked at Google images under watch movement and picked one
How much are you willing to pay for service, and I may have an answer for you. 😉
300
300
Then I would stay with a Swiss standard movement. A nicer grade, but still a standard movement.
My suggestion: neo vintage Omega Sea Master. I got one from the 90s with an ETA 2892-2. That's one of the best movements that's still easily serviceable by a local watchmaker. Keeps great time!
Welcome to the world of watches. It’s quite the rabbit hole. I’m not going to tell you what to buy, but I’ll give you some advice, from another guy who is relatively new to the world of horology (bought my fist about a year ago). If you are really interested in the topic of movements, do some research. There are a lot of resources out there on the web, something as basic as this post on the Teddy Baldassarre web site may be a good starting point. There are also some really great books, this for example goes through a lot of what you many want to learn about. Some of the basic things that you will want to make decisions are:
What type of movement am I looking for:
Quartz
Manual winding
Automatic
Another question you will want to decide on is how important is local, readily available service, if something does go wrong. For example, an industry standard Swiss mechanical movement is an ETA 2824. Pretty much as generic as you get, which is good in a lot of ways. Almost anywhere you go this can be repairedand parts are readily available. But ifyou want to get into more complex movements, say something along the lines of an Omega co-axial movement. Maybe a local repair shop can handle that, maybe not. It may need to be repaired by sending it back to the manufacturer. But I do want to preface this with stating that it’s possible your watch won’t need to be touched for 20 years. There are a lot of variables that go into this, but overall good modern watches are built very well, but it’s still something you should plan for and at least understand what may be required if service is needed. Good luck with your choice.
The best movement under 1500 is definitely Citizen H804. Solar radio controlled quartz, 1/20s chronograph, power reserve 6 months, power reserve indicator, day date, perpetual calendar to year 2099, anti-magnetic, resistant to shocks, where it locks the hands in place in a thousandth of a second when it detects shock. If the hands misalign somehow, you can micro-step them back into position with no need to disassemble the watch. The accumulator will last 10-15years, after which you get it replaced for 50€ and another 10-15 years of service are ahead of you. No other service needed, no additional costs as with mechanical watches (400€ every five years? Cmon).
Don't be fooled by these deranged mechanical people. They already lost the game for the best movement in 1970.
Best movement? Probably the one in the Citizen Caliber 0100. 🤔
But it definitely isn't a sub 1500$. Unfortunately. The AQ6100 looks absolutely fantastic though. Citizen is winning the game. Silently, with no great press attention.
In that price range I think the best is going to be a higher grade of ETA 2824 or Sellite SW200. I have a few and they run just as well as my Omegas and Grand Seikos.