Automatic Watches
Miyota Movements: The Powerhouse of Japanese Watchmaking
By Argos Watches
When you're looking at a watch, the most important part you might not even see is the movement, or what some people call the engine. Think about it: a watch without a movement is like a car without an engine – it just doesn't work. To tell time, a watch needs a reliable movement with lots of tiny gears working together. This engine is the main power source, so it needs to be strong, last a long time, and keep time accurately.
Today, we're going to talk about one of the most popular and dependable watch movements you can find: the Miyota movement. We'll take a quick look at where Miyota movements came from and then see why they're so common in watches that don't break the bank.
Today, we're going to talk about one of the most popular and dependable watch movements you can find: the Miyota movement. We'll take a quick look at where Miyota movements came from and then see why they're so common in watches that don't break the bank.
Miyota Movements: A Quick Look Back
How Miyota Got Started
Back in 1959, a famous Japanese watch company called Citizen decided to start its own company to make watch movements. They named it Miyota, which was actually the name of the town where they built their factory. So, the name Miyota is a nod to its hometown in the Nagano Prefecture of Japan.
Even though Miyota was founded in 1959, they didn't actually start making and selling their watch movements until 1980. Just a year later, they released their very first movement: the Miyota Calibre 2035. This was a big moment because it marked the beginning of Miyota becoming a legendary name in watch movements.
Even though Miyota was founded in 1959, they didn't actually start making and selling their watch movements until 1980. Just a year later, they released their very first movement: the Miyota Calibre 2035. This was a big moment because it marked the beginning of Miyota becoming a legendary name in watch movements.
The Miyota Calibre 2035 was a quartz movement, which means it uses a battery to work. We can actually thank another famous Japanese company, Seiko, for indirectly inspiring this. Seiko invented quartz movements in 1969, and because they were cheap and reliable, they quickly became popular. Citizen saw this as a great opportunity and put Miyota to work making these kinds of movements.
Besides making movements for their own Citizen watches, Miyota also sold their movements to other watch companies all over the world. In fact, Miyota even got into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1991 for selling a whopping 1.7 billion of just their Calibre 2035 movements!
Besides making movements for their own Citizen watches, Miyota also sold their movements to other watch companies all over the world. In fact, Miyota even got into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1991 for selling a whopping 1.7 billion of just their Calibre 2035 movements!
Miyota Today: Still Going Strong
In 2016, Miyota opened another factory in Saku City, also in the Nagano Prefecture of Japan. This helped them make even more movements, leading to a huge variety of different Miyota movements.
Over the years, Miyota has created a massive collection of watch movements, putting them into different groups like standard, slim, small, multi-function, chronograph (stopwatch), and automatic (self-winding). They're also known for making mechanical movements that don't use batteries.
Overall, Miyota is a really solid choice, and that's why so many watch companies choose them for their own watches. They trust that Miyota movements will be reliable. Compared to other popular movements like the Swiss ETA movements (like the ETA 2824-2 and ETA 2892), Miyota movements are often much cheaper. This is a big reason why so many watch brands around the world pick Miyota.
Right now, you can find Miyota movements in watches from tons of different brands, including Citizen (of course!), Casio, Timex, Bulova, and many smaller, newer watch companies called microbrands.
Now that we know a little bit about where Miyota movements come from, let's look at one of their most well-known movements: the Miyota 9015.
Now that we know a little bit about where Miyota movements come from, let's look at one of their most well-known movements: the Miyota 9015.
Miyota 9015: The Affordable Workhorse
The Miyota 9015 movement first came out in 2009. It was an improved version of Miyota’s older 8215 movement, which was first made in 1977. Like other Miyota movements, the 9015 is known for being very affordable. Compared to more expensive Swiss movements, the Miyota 9015 offers a good price for watch companies. Because it doesn't cost a lot to make, you see it in many watches from those smaller microbrands.
The Miyota 9015 is an automatic movement, which means it winds itself as you wear it. It can also store enough power to keep running for about 42 hours after it's fully wound. It has 24 jewels inside (tiny parts that help reduce friction) and beats at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. This is faster than the older Miyota 8215, which beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour, making the 9015 a better and smoother movement. You can especially see this in how smoothly the seconds hand moves.
Conclusion
Miyota movements have become the go-to choice for many watch brands for some really good reasons. They offer a great balance of being inexpensive, reliable, and offering a good range of features. From their early beginnings as part of Citizen to becoming a major supplier to the global watch market, Miyota has played a huge role in making quality watches accessible to more people.
Discover Quality Watches
Looking for a great watch that won't cost you a fortune? Then you should check out watches powered by Miyota movements! These movements are known for being strong and keeping time well. Lots of good watch brands use Miyota, so you can get a reliable watch at a good price. Whether you need a stylish watch for special occasions or a tough one for everyday wear, Miyota has you covered without breaking the bank.
Another great choice is Seagull watches. This brand is known for making its own mechanical movements, which is pretty cool! Seagull watches combine old-school watchmaking with prices that are easy to handle. They have all kinds of styles, from simple and clean to more detailed and fancy, so you’re sure to find something that fits your taste and your budget.
Another great choice is Seagull watches. This brand is known for making its own mechanical movements, which is pretty cool! Seagull watches combine old-school watchmaking with prices that are easy to handle. They have all kinds of styles, from simple and clean to more detailed and fancy, so you’re sure to find something that fits your taste and your budget.
Start Your Watch Journey Today!
Finding a good, quality watch is like going on a treasure hunt, and it’s really exciting! Whether you like the accuracy of Miyota or the classic feel of a Seagull, the perfect watch for you is out there.
Take a look at a great selection of high-quality watches today at Argos Watches!
Take a look at a great selection of high-quality watches today at Argos Watches!
