CHINESE WATCH MOVEMENT INDUSTRY - GIVE YOUR OPINON

[mnazri.tan]

I come across with following statement which rather intrigue me. I wish to get everyone opinion on this issues. Just to understand market opinion on general. Are we ready to embrace the wave of cheap product from china, or we rather keep to the origin...

Affordability crisis
Several Chinese manufacturers now produce a variety of tourbillon movements.These movements are bought as ébauches by some foreign manufacturers and incorporated into watches that meet the requirements of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry to be sold as Swiss watches. The availability of cheap tourbillons has led industry spectators to worry that another Quartz crisis may occur, where the Swiss watch industry will not be able to adapt quickly to cheaper complicated mechanical watches produced in other countries.

From another source

The legal and intellectual property status of clone movements has yet to be determined. Many of today's popular ETA movements are based on decades-old movements, some of which were developed by marques which went bankrupt in the 1960's and 70's. If these movements were patented, are the patents still valid? The most prevalent Miyota and Seiko movements are similar-aged. Are their designs still protected by law?

what do you guys think?

[tonykpk]

Hi all, i have not seen a China made movement before, but the watch finishes looks alright. Just like the car industry, nobody is rushing for China made cars. I think its a different  segment from the Swiss made compare to the chinese made. The japan made watches have been there for decades , but people do not rush to buy japan made, thus the impact will not be that big. China domestic consumption is huge ,so they will sell very well at home with their lower pricing n also to third world countries.Later i think the Swiss watch manufacturers that does not produce their own movements might buy from Japan  or China..

[meoramri]

I got a Parnis with a swan neck Seagull (Manual Handwind) movement - 17J



Its working fine.

There are many Chinese made movements. This is a link to a website that tests all Chinese movements: http://www.ofrei.com/page1119.html

[mnazri.tan]

once the swiss industry almost collapse due to japanese quartz....even bond turn to seiko quartz

[hanz079]

About Patents, it is my understanding that they lasts 25 years.
Anyone who have the machinery to make say ETA 2824 or 2892 is free to do so.
Correct me if I am wrong.
As for china made movements, I am under impression that they are a hit or miss thing.
Lucky? You will get a good one... Unlucky? It will run fast or slow about 30 seconds an hour.
Problem of quality control perhaps?

[TheHobbit]

The capacity is there, but sadly so is the rush. All they need is to slow down a tad and revisit the fact that the need to make money is not always the primary goal, more so at the start.

[mnazri.tan]

So i suppose if any chinese watch maker suddenly realize they should tighten up their QC and slow down their production output , they could beat swiss movement maker....and before you know it, mid range brand like longines, oris, epos or even tag heur could end up replacing the ETA to say Tianjin ...(provided the quality improved)....would u buy an Oris with good quality Chinese movement? I would perhaps...

[myric]

I think some chinese watch makers had realised and started to focus on quality & branding, so as the pricing. 

Just like Tianjin & Seagull, btw, I found Seagull in Baiyun international airport recently, and the minimum pricing on basic auto watch is about equal to Tissot (RM1000 plus).

[Watchnewby]

Wow! Even a Chinese watch also cost equivalent to a Tissot price.
In this case, which would one choose?

[jefnando]

Wow! Even a Chinese watch also cost equivalent to a Tissot price.
In this case, which would one choose?

As a WIS, I'd go for the seagull. A Rm1k tissot will be a simple quartz watch if you remove the name.
A rm1k seagull on the other hand will definitely pack more technology than its price tag. Not sure if you get what i mean, buy a seagull and you'll know.