The difference between in-house and non-in-house movements in Swiss watches

　　The movement isMechanical watchthe heart of a watch, and it can be said to be the most important part, much like the engine of a sports car. It can be said that the price of a watch largely depends on the quality of the movement. This is a major reason why Tissot's prices are lower than Patek Philippe's. Today, I will briefly explain the classification of watch movements.

　　There are several ways to classify movements, and we can categorise them from the perspective of in-house production. Generally, they can be divided into two types: in-house movements and non-in-house movements. In-house movements refer to those independently developed and produced by the brand itself. Non-in-house movements still dominate the market because they are less expensive to produce and can be mass-produced, making them suitable for brands with very extensive product lines. Well-known brands like Tissot, Longines, and Mido use these types of movements; it is just that these brands use high-grade movements from the ETA company, which guarantees quality.

　　It is not just these brands that use non-in-house movements; major brands like IWC, Cartier, Omega, and Panerai have all used ETA movements in the past. If we look further back, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet also used Jaeger-LeCoultre movements. It is rumoured that when Jaeger-LeCoultre was developing that movement, all three of those brands contributed funds, which shows that both time and money are indispensable when developing a movement.

　　The introduction to in-house movements is much simpler because every brand is different, and their in-house movements are also different. An in-house movement represents a brand's independent watchmaking strength; it is a symbol and the best way to showcase their watchmaking technology.

　　When buying a watch, this difference can be used as a reference. If you are just getting into watches, it is recommended to buy a watch with a non-in-house movement as an entry-level piece; when you have a better understanding of watches, you can consider purchasing one with an in-house movement. However, an in-house movement is not necessarily better than a non-in-house one; it is just a different perspective to consider.

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