Where are our fashion watches made?!

[GGN]

Anyone know? The more I'm on here, the more questions I find myself asking..!

I used to be a big fan of Sekonda in my teenage years. I didn't know until joining here that Sekonda started out by importing watches from Russia - the old ones look great In recent years they seem to make all of their watches in HK/China and are part of Time Products UK. But who actually makes their watches? And do they make them for other companies too? Just would like to know what I'm buying:)

Life was so much easier before I got interested in watches. I'm a car nut...it's so much more straight forward!

[Watchbreath]

It would be safe to say, China, but China is now starting to outsource to Vietnam.

[GGN]

What I mean is, is there one manufacturer/factory that builds the watches for all the different brands? I got a Casio HDA-600 watch recently and it has a Miyota movement inside (to my knowledge) and it is 'Cased in China'. It's well known that, for example, there is a printer factory that builds printers for all the major computer brands, they simply change the design to the brands request - but all the internals are the same. I'm wondering if it's the same for watches?

Thoughts anyone?

[CrystalBall]

Most fashion watches are made in China. I think that Sekondas are made in China with a Japanese (probably Miyota) movement. Japanese brands such as Seiko and Citizen are similar. The movement will be made in Japan, but the more affordable ranges are usually assembled in other Far Eastern countries (e.g. Singapore and Malaysia in the case of Seiko). In addition, they often use some Chinese components (e.g. Citizen straps and bracelets are clearly marked "China"). Some Swiss brands are either assembled in the Far East (e.g. most Rotary quartz, not sure about where) or again use components sourced from these countries. I have heard that Victorinox, Tissot and even Omega use straps and bracelets from Hong Kong/China on certain models. No doubt others do the same. The same may also be true for components such as cases, dials and crystals on some of the entry-level Swiss watch brands, although manufacturers will obviously try not to publicise this. The bottom line is that most affordable watches, in common with other consumer goods, are either made in the Far East or use components from there. Hope this helps.

[nectarios73]

...china

[por44]

Seems China does a lot outsourcing to Vietnam & Thailand (lower labor rates/costs)

[Aleric]

Agreed. The only well known watch company that I'm aware of that is up front about their Chinese outsourcing in Casio. Many of their watches say "Cased in China". I like that.

I think most of the Japanese companies frequently use Chinese or other asian countries resources for their final assembly "casing", including Seiko, Citizen, Pulsar, Orient, and Casio.

As for Tissot,they seem to have some special arrangements with HK in particular. On my PCR 100, the SS case back has "Made in Hong Kong" stamped in red ink on the inside of it. I wouldn't have known that unless I opened the watch.

[CrystalBall]

Yes, I've seen similar stamps inside Victorinox watches. Actually, the idea that a watch has to be made in Switzerland (or maybe Germany or Japan) to be good is false and based really on sentiment. These days, most products can be made to an equivalent standard in any country. There's no reason, for example, why an Omega watch couldn't be made to the Swiss standard in China. Just look at how cars and TVs etc. from Korea and Eastern Europe, which twenty or thirty years ago were regarded as cheap and nasty, are now mainstream and reputable. The same is true of Japanese products from forty or fifty years ago. Most of our digital cameras, computers etc. are now made in China, so I don't really see why watches should be any different.

[maddieking]

Most fashion watches are made in China, although Vietnam is becoming far more popular!