What type of movement is in my watch?

A watch isn't just a beautiful accessory; it's also a precision instrument powered by a tiny engine: the movement. When buying a watch, it's important to know what type of movement it contains so you know how to maintain it. So join us as we delve under the hood of your watch! 

What is a movement? 

The movement is the watch's engine. It sets the hands in motion and turns the disc that displays the date. It is a very special (and fragile) mechanism made up of tiny parts like gears and bearings. 

Watch movements fall broadly into two categories: quartz (battery-powered) and mechanical (manually wound or wound by movement). 
You can read more about these types of movement in this article: ‘The differences between quartz and automatic’.

Note: A chronograph or moon phase is not a type of movement, but a function - or, in watchmaking terms, a complication - of a quartz or mechanical movement.

What is the difference between digital and analog?

Analog watches have hands that indicate hours, minutes, and seconds, while digital watches have numerals that display the time. Analog watches can have either a mechanical or a quartz movement. Digital watches usually have a quartz movement and an (LED) display. However, there are also mechanical digital watches without a display!

What types of watch movements are there?

Besides the two main groups of quartz and automatic, there are other common movements that are a combination of the two. These include solar quartz, whose battery is charged by (sun)light, and kinetic (or autoquartz), whose battery is charged by movement.

If you want to know more about these types of movement read the articles ‘Everything you need to know about a solar watch’ and ‘What is the difference between an automatic and an autoquartz watch?’.

Smartwatches don't usually contain a movement, but are small chip-controlled computers.

How do I know which movement is in my watch?

The instruction manual for your watch will tell you which movement it contains. If you don't have an instruction manual, the dial or caseback usually indicate the movement type. If a watch is Swiss Made or has a Swiss movement, this is often also indicated on the dial.

If there's nothing on the dial or caseback, you can recognize a quartz watch by the fact that the second hand ‘ticks off’ the seconds. With an automatic watch, the second hand ‘glides’.

If you want to know exactly which movement is in your watch, the caseback is the first place to look. It usually features a model or serial number. This number can often help you find more information on the brand's website.

If the watch is from a brand that hollandwatchgroup.com sells or has sold in the past, chances are you can find the movement on our website. Enter your watch's model number in the search bar, go to the watch, and scroll down to the specifications. The watch's specifications include the watch's movement part number and you can download the user manual (if available).

What are the most common watch movements?

The watch movement market is dominated by two Japanese manufacturers (Miyota and Epson/Seiko Instruments Inc.) and one Swiss manufacturer (ETA SA). These manufacturers supply movements to watch manufacturers that do not produce their own.

Other major watch movement manufacturers are the Swiss companies Ronda and Sellita, and the Chinese company Seagull.

In addition, Miyota (owned by Citizen), ETA (owned by Swatch Group), and Seiko also produce movements in-house for exclusive use in their own watches and watch brands under their parent company.

That is why the reliable  Miyota and Seiko Instruments "workhorses" can be found in numerous (fashion) brand watches as well as brands such as Lorus and Bulova that belong to the same group. 
ETA SA is the preferred supplier for well-known Swiss watch brands, such as Tissot, Hamilton, and Longines, as well as other Swatch Group brands such as Omega and Blancpain. 
Sellita specializes in high-quality automatic movements, and Ronda specializes in quartz movements. Both these brands are often used as alternatives to ETA.

Most commonly used movements ever in watches sold by HWG up to January 1, 2026:

What is a manufacture movement?

Manufacture movements are designed, developed, and produced in-house by the watch brand itself, rather than being purchased from an external supplier like ETA, Epson, or Miyota. This makes high quality, brand exclusivity, and a superior finish possible. 
In this sense, movements from brands like Seiko, Casio, and Orient -which already manufacture their own movements - are also manufacture movements, but the term is usually used for Swiss, mechanical movements. 
Well-known brands that manufacture their own manufacture movements include Rolex and Maurice Lacroix.

Enjoy your watch for years to come with proper maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential for a long-lasting enjoyment of your watch. It guarantees long-term accuracy, maintains water resistance, and prevents costly repairs. Luxury watches this way also retain their market value this. 

Take your mechanical watch to a watchmaker for a service every 3 to 5 years. They will check the accuracy, replace worn parts and gaskets, and lubricate the mechanism. The water resistance will also be checked. 
And, have the battery in your (solar) quartz watch replaced regularly by a jeweler or watchmaker.

You can also do a lot yourself to keep your watch looking beautiful: regular cleaning removes dirt, sweat, and oils that accumulate and can cause wear. Read more about this in the article: ‘How to keep your watch clean’.

If you have any questions about your watch movement, repairs or maintenance, please contact our Customer service department.