The Value of the Mechanical Movement and Minber's Path of Choice

Have you ever stopped to truly admire the watch on your wrist? Why are so many people fascinated by mechanical timepieces? Perhaps it's because within this small space, hundreds of components work together in precise coordination. And have you ever been curious: "Why do watches that look similar have such large price differences?"

Aside from brand premium, choices in design and materials, finishing, and decoration, the selection of the movement is also one of the key factors affecting a watch's price. Next, Minber will take you into the world of movements, from basic to top-tier, to understand their mysteries and appreciate their value. Of course, we will also share the principles Minber adheres to in making choices about movemen

First Tier: The Foundation – Universal Movements

Universal movements refer to those mass-produced by specialized movement manufacturers and supplied to numerous brands, such as those from Sellita, ETA, Miyota, etc. These movements offer advantages like stability, reliability, high cost-effectiveness, and ease of maintenance and repair, making them a practical choice for entry-level and mid-range models from many well-known brands.

However, their limitation lies in a lack of uniqueness or a certain level of visual aesthetics. For example, for consumers seeking individuality and beauty, buying a skeleton watch only to find a common, uniform movement inside can inevitably weaken the sense of exclusivity and distinctiveness.

But Minber believes that for original or custom watches, within specific price points, selecting a high-quality universal movement and performing calibrations that exceed standard specifications can also bring a pleasant surprise. This is a very practical and wise choice for both consumers and businesses. Minber follows the "Performance First Principle"; even when using universal movements, their accuracy, stability, and other performance metrics must meet our stringent standards to provide reliable value for consumers.（ Below are some Minber watches featuring original designs and selected Japanese or domestic movements）

                              

Second Tier: The Advanced Choice – Top-Tier Enhanced and Proprietary Movements

Enhanced movements refer to the practice of some high-end brands purchasing universal movements and significantly improving the movement's accuracy, aesthetics, and performance through deep finishing, beveling, replacing key components, etc. Going a step further, they develop proprietary base movements, achieving unique designs and higher technical specifications.

This is the core manifestation of Minber's technical capability.We possess fully independent research and production capabilities. We established our own quartz movement factory in 2017 and mechanical movement factory in 2022, and have successfully launched dozens of mechanical movements. Our developed "proprietary movements" are not created by following trends, but rather to achieve specific performance goals (longer power reserve, better anti-magnetism, more accurate timekeeping) and design aesthetics (more beautiful skeletonized effects).

For example,the Minber 9191-1 watch uses a Minber self-developed advanced mechanical movement, providing a long 60-hour power reserve.

                                                                                                         

Furthermore,in the new "Crystal Pavilion" watch, which features a comfortable transparent TR90 case, Minber employed its self-developed advanced mechanical movement, Caliber 2805, to achieve the specific slimness required by the case design, present a more beautiful skeletonized effect, and realize the intended architectural aesthetic for the watch. Its precise internal structure under the transparent case resembles a miniature building—the transparent case acts like a glass curtain wall, and the skeletonized movement symbolizes the internal steel structure—achieving a high degree of unity between the movement structure and the case's visual language. This is the origin of the "Crystal Pavilion" name and embodies Minber's pursued "Aesthetic Matching Principle."

Third Tier: Hallowed Art – In-House Complex Movements

In-house complex movements represent the highest sanctuary of watchmaking, meaning completely independent research, development, and production, often carrying complications like perpetual calendars or minute repeaters. The value of these movements lies not only in function but even more in the ultimate finishing, handcrafting, and combination with traditional art. These movements are expensive and are often collector's items. Minber holds these in the highest respect.

Minber is currently a mechanical watch brand that integrates original design, self-developed movements, and trendy styles. Although we possess independent R&D and production capabilities and dozens of self-developed mechanical movements, we are deeply aware that there is still a distance to reach the highest sanctuary. Therefore, we focus our R&D efforts on the more fundamental yet crucial aspects of accuracy, stability, and aesthetics. We believe that solidifying the foundation is a more responsible approach on the path to that sanctuary. Our self-developed movement factory is proof of this commitment. 

                       

Minber's Movement Selection Philosophy: What Suits Best Is Best

After understanding the different tiers of movements, you might ask, what movements does Minber currently use, and how does it select movements for its watches? Currently, Minber uses movements from Japanese and domestic sources, as well as its own self-developed movements. For movement selection, Minber's core standard is "Not blindly pursuing the vanity of 'in-house,' but steadfastly adhering to the wisdom of 'what is most suitable.'"

1. Performance First Principle: Timekeeping accuracy and stability are non-negotiable fundamentals. All movements must undergo factory calibration stricter than universal standards.
2. Aesthetic Matching Principle: The movement is part of the overall watch design. Especially for designs involving skeletonization, visual harmony and unity are crucial, whether using an enhanced universal movement or employing a self-developed movement.
3. Long-Term Reliability Principle: A luxury watch is also a long-term investment. Minber always fully considers the movement's durability and future maintenance costs to ensure the watch remains a long-lasting companion for the consumer. 

               

In summary, Minber respects the maturity and stability of universal movements, is proficient in achieving enhancement through modification, and possesses the capability to realize its own and clients' design ideals through self-developed movements.

Minber's choice of movement is always based on a reverence for time and a responsible attitude towards the wearer, following the principles of Performance First, Aesthetic Matching, and Long-Term Reliability. For custom clients, we also provide the best advice based on respect. We believe that while the grade of a movement is objective, the choice is subjective wisdom. We always hope that every customer who chooses a Minber watch is not only selecting a precise timepiece but also embracing a lifestyle that understands 'what is truly important.' While the grade of the movement is certainly important, it is the thought, calibration, and sincerity infused by the brand that truly touches people.