Reference Guide
Bill's comprehensive table on major watch brands and their movement sources offers an invaluable resource for collectors. This foundational post, originally shared in 2024, continues to spark vital discussions about horological independence, shared calibers, and the nuanced relationships between manufacturers and their suppliers. His work provides a crucial starting point for understanding the intricate ecosystem of watch movement production.
| Brand | Company | Movement Source |
|---|---|---|
| Audemars Piguet | Audemars Piguet | Audemars Piguet, Vaucher |
| Baume & Mercier | Richemont | ETA |
| Blancpain | Swatch | Blancpain, ETA, Frederic Piguet |
| Breguet | Swatch | Breguet, Frederic Piguet, ETA |
| Breitling | Breitling | ETA, Valjoux, Breitling Manufacture (B01) |
| Bulgari | LVMH | Bulgari, La Fabrique du Temps |
| Cartier | Richemont | Cartier, JLC, Piaget, ETA, Valfleurier |
| Casio | Casio | Casio |
| Citizen | Citizen | Miyota |
| Girard-Perregaux | Kering | Girard-Perregaux |
| Glashütte Original | Swatch | Glashütte Original, ETA |
| Grand Seiko | Epson | Suwa/Epson (Spring Drive, Hi-Beat) |
| Hamilton | Swatch | ETA |
| Hublot | LVMH | ETA, Zenith, Hublot Manufacture |
| IWC | Richemont | IWC, ETA, Valjoux |
| Jaeger-LeCoultre | Richemont | JLC |
| JeanRichard | Kering | Girard-Perregaux |
| Lange & Söhne | Richemont | Lange Manufacture |
| Longines | Swatch | ETA |
| Montblanc | Richemont | Montblanc, ETA, Minerva |
| Omega | Swatch | ETA, Omega Manufacture |
| Orient | Seiko | Orient |
| Orient Star | Seiko | Orient |
| Panerai | Richemont | Panerai, ETA, ValFleurier |
| Patek Philippe | Patek Philippe | Patek Philippe Manufacture |
| Piaget | Richemont | Piaget, ETA |
| Rolex | Rolex | Rolex |
| Royal Orient | Seiko | Orient |
| Seiko | Seiko | Seiko |
| Swatch | Swatch | ETA |
| TAG Heuer | LVMH | TAG Heuer, ETA |
| Tissot | Swatch | ETA |
| Ulysse Nardin | Kering (formerly) | Ulysse Nardin, ETA, Le Locle, Lamania |
| Vacheron Constantin | Richemont | Vacheron Constantin, JLC, ETA, ValFleurier , Lamania |
| Zenith | LVMH | Zenith Manufacture |
| Brand | Parent Company | Movement Source |
|---|---|---|
| Baltic | Independent | Miyota, Sellita |
| Christopher Ward | Independent | Sellita, ETA, SH21 (In-house) |
| Farer | Independent | ETA, Sellita |
| Horage | Independent | K1 (In-house) |
| Kurono Tokyo | Independent | Miyota |
| Ming | Independent | Sellita, Schwarz-Etienne |
| Moser & Cie | Independent | H. Moser Manufacture |
| Norqain | Independent | Kenissi, ETA |
| Oak & Oscar | Independent | ETA, Sellita |
| Ressence | Independent | ETA base with ROCS system |
| Tudor | Rolex | Kenissi, ETA (historical) |
It was the main reason I purchased my 177 in 2008. It had the same robust construction as my Colibri pocket watch from 1979. The Patek 5070 series was strong because of its core movement. Richemont or Swatch should leverage their movements across brands.
This one As wanted an alarm with an AS5008 movement. Think that's probably more to do with my obsession with alarms rather than anything else. I'm fairly relaxed otherwise - I just need to like watch & think that it offers fair value (however you do that!) and be able to afford it. Cheers JML
IWC and Baume's "in-house" movements are also mainly Valfleurier movements.
Of course asking $35k (in 2024 Dollars / Euro) for a stainless steel timepiece means it had better have lots of reasons to be that expensive. This is where smart and educated consumers know what to avoid (hype).
I can appreciate pretty beautifully crafted movements as much as the next guy, but for the most part it;s the dial/case/hands combination that I care about. The move to in house movements was also designed to make you send in the watch for in house expensive service as well. And are those pretty movements as rugged as the less impressive Rolex plain Jane movements? my 2 cents.
I'm really not happy with very expensive, so called luxury watches, being equiped with base 100$ movements. Almost fraudulent in my book. I would be more OK if those watches were being marketed as fasion excessories, but more often then not, sellers claim high quality, bogus heritige and fine horology. Not cool ! Watches not having in-house movements is an old and fine practice, witch in it self is OK by me. Once noticed a lengthy review in Hodinkee of a expensive sportswatch from a prominent br
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