Summary
This article is a deep guide for brand owners who want to upgrade their quality. Finding a Swiss movement watch manufacturer is the best way to make your brand feel expensive but keep costs managed. We will talk about why you should choose Swiss engines (like Ronda or Sellita) and how to put them into high-quality cases made in China. We discuss the difference between “Swiss Made” and “Swiss Movt,” the cost difficulties, and how to verify if a factory is telling the truth. After reading this, you will know how to source luxury watches. Finally, we introduce a partner who can help with low MOQ.
Finding a reliable Swiss movement watch manufacturer is the dream for many new brand owners who want to enter the luxury market. It is the perfect balance. You want the prestige and the history of “Swiss,” but maybe you cannot afford the very high “Made in Switzerland” price tag. This is a very common situation.
In the watch industry, there is a secret. You do not need to make the whole watch in Switzerland to have a Swiss heart. You can have the best of both worlds. You can have a high-end case made by a top factory in China, and put a genuine Swiss movement inside it. This is a strategy used by many famous microbrands today. But, it is not easy. It requires knowledge, patience, and a partner who knows what they are doing.
After reading this blog, you will be able to understand the complex world of sourcing Swiss movements. We will help you avoid the fakes, understand the costs, and build a product that is both beautiful and functionality. Let’s move forward into the details.
Why You Should Choose a Swiss Movement for Your Custom Watch?
Why is the word “Swiss” so powerful? It is just a country, right? No. In the watch business, “Swiss” means trust.
When a customer sees “Swiss Movt” or knows the engine is Swiss, they automatically think the watch is better. This is the power of branding. Even if a Japanese Miyota 9015 is a fantastic movement (and it is), the average customer will pay more for a Swiss Sellita SW200. This is just the truth of the market.
If you are building a brand that sells for $300, $500, or $1000, you almost must use a Swiss movement. It justifies the price.
There are three main reasons to choose a Swiss movement watch manufacturer strategy:
Perceived Value: The customer feels the watch is worth more money. You can charge a higher margin.
Longevity: Swiss movements like ETA or Sellita are designed to last for 20, 30, or 50 years. They are easy to repair. Any watchmaker in the world knows how to fix an ETA 2824.
Marketing Story: You can tell a story about heritage and precision. It is easier to sell a story than just a product.
However, you must be careful. The cost is high. A Swiss automatic movement can cost 3 times or 4 times more than a Japanese one. You need to be sure your customers are ready to pay for this.
Can a China Factory Be a High Quality Custom Watch With Swiss Movement Maker?
This is a question many people are afraid to ask. Can a factory in China really handle Swiss movements properly?
The answer is yes. But not all factories.
You see, a Swiss movement watch manufacturer does not have to be in Geneva. The “Manufacturer” is the company assembling the watch. The best strategy for most brands is to source the movement from Switzerland (imported to China) and manufacture the case, dial, hands, and strap in China. Then, the assembly happens in a dust-free clean room in China.
Why do this?
Because the cost of case manufacturing in Switzerland is crazy high. A stainless steel case made in Switzerland might cost $100. The same quality case (same 316L steel, same sapphire glass, same polishing) made in a top Chinese factory might cost $25.
If you combine a $25 high-end case with a $100 Swiss movement, you have a fantastic watch for a good cost.
If you make everything in Switzerland, the cost is too high for a startup.
So, you are looking for a china watch factory swiss movement specialist. You need a factory that has:
Experience importing movements (it is a legal and tax headache).
Clean rooms (dust is the enemy of Swiss movements).
Testing equipment (Swiss movements need precise regulation).
This is very important. Do not just pick the cheapest factory. A cheap factory will ruin a specialized Swiss movement with dust or bad oil. You need a premium partner.
What Are the Best Movements for Private Label Swiss Movement Watches?
When you talk to your manufacturer, you need to sound like an expert. You cannot just say “I want Swiss movement.” You must specify which one.
Here are the most common choices for private label swiss movement watches:
1. The Quartz Kings: Ronda
If you want a battery-powered watch, Ronda is the standard.
Ronda 763: Very basic, very cheap. Good for fashion watches.
Ronda 5-series (like 515): The workhorse. Metal parts, repairable, very strong.
Why choose it? It allows you to put “Swiss Movt” on the dial without the high cost of mechanical.
2. The Automatic Standards: Sellita and ETA
This is for the luxury watches.
ETA 2824-2: The legend. But very hard to buy now because Swatch Group restricts supply.
Sellita SW200-1: This is now the industry standard. It is almost identical to the ETA 2824. It is reliable, accurate, and easy to service.
STP (Swiss Technology Production): A newer player. Good finishing, sometimes cheaper, but harder to find parts for repair.
3. The High-End: Soprod and La Joux-Perret
These are for very expensive watches. If you are a new brand, maybe stick to Sellita first.
Comparison Table for Your Selection
| Movement Type | Brand | Price Level | Difficulty to Source | Best For… |
| Quartz | Ronda | Low ($10-$20) | Easy | Fashion brands, Entry luxury |
| Automatic | Sellita | High ($150+) | Medium | Professional Diver, Dress Watch |
| Automatic | STP | Medium/High | Medium | Unique designs |
| Automatic | ETA | Very High | Very Hard | Heritage brands |
How to Verify If Your Manufacturer Is Telling the Truth?
This is a scary part of the business. You pay for a custom watch with swiss movement, but do you get one?
Some bad factories might put a clone movement inside. A “Asian clone” of an ETA 2824 looks almost the same as a real ETA 2824. But the quality is different.
How can you check? You must be smart.
First, ask for photos of the movement before assembly. Real Swiss movements come in specific trays. They have specific stamps.
The Stamp: Look for the logo. ETA logo, or Sellita “SW” logo stamped into the metal near the balance wheel.
The Finish: Swiss movements usually have cleaner decoration (perlage or cotes de geneve) than cheap clones.
Second, ask about the “Lead Time.”
This is a big hint. Swiss movements are not always in stock in China. A Swiss movement watch manufacturer often needs to order them from Switzerland. This takes time. Maybe 1-3 months just to get the movements. If a factory says, “We have 1000 pieces of ETA 2824 ready tomorrow,” be suspicious. Unless they are a very big factory, this is rare.
Third, trust your partner.
You need to build a relationship. A good manufacturer wants your business for 10 years, not just 1 order. They will not lie to you for a few dollars. This is why finding a reputable partner is so important. It is very important.
The Difficulties You Will Face (And How to Solve Them)
Building private label swiss movement watches is not all sunshine. There are problems. You need to be ready.
1. The “Lead Time” Problem
As we said, getting the movements takes time. Switzerland is slow. They have many holidays. Customs clearance into China takes time.
Advice: Plan your production 6 months in advance. Do not rush.
2. The “MOQ” Problem
Swiss movement sellers (like Sellita) often require big orders. 500 or 1000 movements. If you only want to make 50 watches, it is hard to buy the movements directly.
Advice: You need a manufacturer who has stock or who can combine orders. You need a partner who supports low quantities.
3. The “Swiss Made” Label Law
Many people are confused. Can I write “Swiss Made” on my watch?
If you assemble in China: NO. You can write “Swiss Movt” or “Swiss Movement”.
If you assemble in Switzerland: YES (but 60% of value must be Swiss).
Advice: For most new brands, “Swiss Movt” is enough. Customers care about the engine. Assembling in China saves you huge money. Do not obsess over the “Swiss Made” label on the dial unless you have a huge budget.
The Importance of Assembly Quality
We must talk about assembly.
You can buy the best Sellita SW200 engine. But if the person putting it into the case is eating lunch and has dirty hands, the watch will fail.
Swiss movements are tight. The tolerances are small. A small dust particle can stop the watch.
A high-quality china watch factory swiss movement specialist will have:
Laminar Flow Hoods: These blow clean air over the watchmaker’s desk.
Finger Cots: Watchmakers never touch parts with skin.
Vacuum Testing: They test the case for leaks before and after the movement is inside.
When you choose a partner, ask them: “Do you have a clean room?” “How do you test for water resistance?”
Their answers will tell you if they are professional. A good factory is proud of their clean room. It is essential for swiss made vs japan movement watches because the expectation of quality is higher for Swiss.
Summary of Your Strategy
So, let’s review. You want to start a watch brand. You want high quality.
Decide your price point. If it is over $300, choose Swiss Automatic. If it is $150-$300, maybe Swiss Quartz or Japan Automatic.
Design a unique case. Use 316L steel and Sapphire.
Find a manufacturer in China who specializes in high-end quality.
Verify they can source real Swiss movements (check lead times).
Ensure they have clean assembly rooms.
Start with a small order to test the market.
This is the path to success. It is not easy, but it is the smart way. You get the quality of a $2000 watch for a production cost that allows you to make a profit.
Why Aigell Watch is Your Best Partner for This
If you are looking for a Swiss movement watch manufacturer that understands these problems, you should talk to Aigell Watch.
Aigell Watch is unique in China. We are not a low-end factory. We are a high-end specialist.
Real Access: We have established supply chains for Ronda, Sellita, and other Swiss movements. We don’t use fakes. We guaranty it.
Low MOQ: We know the struggle of new brands. We support custom watch orders starting at just 50 pieces. This is very rare for projects involving Swiss movements.
Expert Assembly: Our workshop is set up for high-precision assembly. We treat a Sellita movement with the respect it deserves.
Full Customization: We can design your case, your dial, and your hands to perfectly fit the Swiss engine.
We help you navigate the difficulties. We handle the import of movements, the customs, and the quality control. You just focus on selling your brand. If you want to build a legacy, Aigell Watch is here to help you build it.
FAQ
Q1: Can I put “Swiss Made” on the dial if I manufacture in China with a Swiss movement?
No, you cannot. To use “Swiss Made,” the watch must be assembled and inspected in Switzerland, and 60% of the value must be Swiss. If you assemble in China with Aigell, you can print “Swiss Movt” or “Swiss Movement” on the dial. This is still a very strong mark of qualitys for customers.
Q2: Which is better, Sellita SW200 or ETA 2824?
They are almost the same. Sellita used to assemble movements for ETA. The design is identical. Today, Sellita SW200 is easier to buy and parts are easier to find. For a new brand, Sellita is usually the better choice because supply is more reliable.
Q3: Why is the lead time longer for Swiss movement watches?
Because the movements must travel from Switzerland to China. This involves shipping, customs clearance, and sometimes waiting for the Swiss factory to produce them. It can add 4-8 weeks to the production time compared to Japanese movements.
Q4: Can Aigell Watch help me source the movements?
Yes. We handle the entire sourcing process. You do not need to call Switzerland. We have the accounts and the logistics to bring the movements to our factory safely and legally.
Q5: What is the MOQ for a Swiss movement custom watch with Aigell?
We support an MOQ as low as 50 pieces. This allows you to launch a high-end luxury collection without investing hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is the best way to start a private label swiss movement watches brand.
