Most watches companies do not make their own movements. Quality watch makers buy their movements from mostly ETA, the quasi-government owned movement powerhouse. In 2010 however, ETA will stop selling its movements to outside companies. It will continue to provide movements for it's house brands, of which there are several. ETA is part of the Swatch Group which makes a number of brands as seen in the link. When ETA stops providing movements to out-side brands, they will have to go elsewhere for movements.
Sellita is a growing movement maker in Switzerland, but has had a bit of a copycat history. They mostly copied ETA movements. Can they do this? Well, probably, at least in the US. Most ETA movements have been around for a while and in the US Patents last for 20 years only. Because movements are machines, they only intellectual property protection they would have is a patent, and presumably the European patent laws are similar to those of the US. Take the ETA 2824-2 movement, which has been around since the 1970s. Because over 20 years has passed since the, copycats are free to make the movements, the only barrier would be technology. Meaning Sellit and other movement makers would have to have the proper machinery to produce the delicate movement parts. China on the other hand would never even think to check on infringing intellectual property rights before copying something.
We can assume that Sellita has such technology because large brands such as Invicta have been buying from them at large for years. It is predicted that Sellita will step in ETA's shoes and start providing movements on a mass scale in the next few years. Right now, Sellita has a reputation for being a bit lower quality, but that will change in the coming years with high production, and consumer demand. We shall wait and see what role Sellita has in the next few years.
HAMPTON 17 JEWEL SWISS-SELLITA WATCH MOVEMENT-VINTAGE
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US $5.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Oct-11-2008 6:36:41 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Mens Vintage Swiss 17j M/Wind Sellita Watch N/Crystal
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US $22.50 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Oct-11-2008 10:15:07 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
4605: SELLITA 17 JEWELS VINTAGE 1960 .
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US $10.00 End Date: Saturday Oct-11-2008 20:45:00 PDT Add to watch list |
Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com
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With the announced phase out of the ETA movement to non Swatch Brand watches, is it your take to hold off a year or two before purchasing a watch w/ a Sellita movement (like buying the 1st year of a car)?
I have read on some sites that the biggest concern for Sellita movement is the “lack of knowledge/parts” in the watch repair industry concerning this movement, not so much the ability to keep time, etc. Would you agree?
I have Tag today (quartz chrono) that I love and I am think about 9937OB w/ Sellita movement, what do you think of this specific watch?
I am going to investigate the Marcello C now after your posts.
OhioHead
Thank you for the comment, you bring up a couple of good points.
No one can really be sure what is going to happen in 2010 when ETA ceases to provide movements, and Sellita is just one of the many movement makers that can step in. The reason I mentioned them is that lots of established watch makers are using their movements. You mentioned wanting to get the Invicta Diver (I assume that is what you meant by 9937OB)that uses the Sellita movement. Invicta has been using their movements for a while now, with success, and I would not worry about the availability of parts.
It is true that watch mechanics are primarily uses to working on ETA movements, but most of the Sellita movements are so similar, that almost all of them ought to be able to figure things out. Further, when it comes down to it, most of your watch maintenance needs are going to be pretty basic unless you really damage the thing. Meaning oiling and adjusting.
I also have a Quartz Tag Heuer (Link model), but to me it is more of a fashion watch. Tag Heuer does a great job of making a watch that looks classically good, but I don’t get that feeling of wearing a unique machine when I wear it.
If you are looking for a classic looking diver’s watch, the Invicta is not a bad idea, but I would ask you what you are looking for in terms of quality. You seemed to be happy with the looks of the Marcello C watches, and rightly so. A Marcello C watch will have a superior fit and finish to that of an Invicta. The Invicta however is cheaper and easier to come by. If all that you are looking for is a “classic looking” diving watch, the Invicta might do, but the Marcello C is really a much higher quality timepiece. Let me know what you end up doing!
Best,
Ablogtoread
[...] movement in the watch is going to be either an ETA or Sellita movement. Ablogtoread.com wrote an article regarding Sellita’s presence here. Occasionally there are other potential makers, but this is rare. So you ask yourself, “I [...]
Appears to me to be a lot of personal unsubstantiated opinion in your review of the SW200. I have not heard of any authoritative complaints about SW200 quality. Anything I have heard is that the quality is fine. There are plenty of others using the SW200 beside Invicta without problems. Although Invicta does use the SW200 in some watches, I am pretty sure the Invicta Pro-Diver (9937) uses a Myota movement and not an SW200.
Hi Jim,
I appreciate your feedback. I don’t think I made any statements which alluded to the fact that Sellita movements are low quality. In fact, part of the underlying point of the article was that Sellita movements were respected movements, most of which were very good versions of existing ETA movements.
However, as is true about watch movements, the longevity of a movement has everything to do with the quality control of the company making the movements, and Sellita is still paving its track record as ETA has a well established reputation for quality. All signs thus far point to the fact that Sellita movements perform just as their ETA counterparts do.
You mentioned Miyota movements as well, which are not always known as being the highest quality movements. Not all movements are made the same, and there are plenty of good Miyota movements along with their lower range, or older movements. Thanks for reading and take care.