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.
 Sellita SW200 mechanical movement identical ETA 2824  US $93.00
|
 Sellita SW200 automatic movement same as ETA 2824-2 US $93.00
|
 GORGEOUS 14K GOLD 17 JEWELS SELLITA LADIES COVER WATCH US $1,749.00
|
 Lady's 14KW Diamond Sellita 17 jewels w/ GF band 5859-4 US $299.99
|
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.
AFAIK ETA will not stop providing movements to outside companies. They will stop providing unassembled movements and the movements will be stamped ETA. They are still supposed to be providing full movements to 3rd parties, although their agreements and prices will be a barrier to many smaller firms, many of which will have to switch to ETA or non Swiss like Miyota.
Hi Tom,
Swatch keeps having ETA change their story. With the recently unlawful monopolistic practices probe by the Swiss government, we will have to see what ETA eventually decides to do.
If what you are saying is correct, then 3rd parties will still be able to get ETA movements but only if they are branded ETA in a prominent manner, offer little customization options, and are supplied to a 3rd party entity that can afford the significant cost investment that ETA is requiring. It will force all smaller or independent watch makers to look else were for movements.
wow!! This is a great site for us…we’re just starting to put up a watch manufacturing business.Actually, im just trying to study further more of how to make the best and a high quality kind of a watch,’til i reached here at your site.It’s very informative and giving me a best ideas and views, to share it with my Boss.Hope i could still read some more information from here..keep it up and More Power!!!
Glad to be of help. Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you in regard to your projects. Thanks for reading.
Nice and accurate posts !!!! 10+
…. do you know the name and the series in the hand wind movement shows in the post ??
Now many companies use the claro-semag cl-888 for a sostitution of eta 2824…..
Probably Sellita is only an anti-trust named company
I have yhe same in an unbranded military watch….
But I dont’ know the brand … best regards !!
Thanks for the comment! I don’t know the name of the movement in the post, but if you go to Sellita’s website you can find a catalog of all their movements and might be able to match it up. Take care.
You won’t post this, because you think you know it all, and well, if you can’t say something good…
FYI ETA for years farmed out 2824 (and 7750, etc.) production to Sellita. So they are not copycats, they are simply continuing to make what they have, just with their name on it. You did get it right that the copyright has expired, that, and some agreements with Swatch group, is why they can do this.
Geez, I wish I knew as much as you think you do.
The post is not 100% correct, as eta will continue to supply movement to outside companies after 2010. The will stop selling ebauches only.
[...] providers around. Marvin uses a wide range of such suppliers in its models. Manufacturers like like Sellita for example, who will surely pick up where ETA leaves off. Marvin uses ETA, Sellita, Soprod, and a [...]