MVMT Watch Review | Are MVMT Watches Finally Worth Buying?
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Now, you've probably seen ads for the watch brand MVMT. MVMT, or 'Movement,' is a brand frequently shilled by some of the internet's biggest personalities, who promote them as being of incredible quality, design, and craftsmanship. Some even claim these Chinese-made 'affordable luxury' watches are better than Rolex, despite being less than 1% of the price!
Due to these extreme marketing tactics and their sub-par products, MVMT quickly became the laughingstock of the wristwatch community. Many reviewers, myself included, have panned them for being overhyped junk with little substance. In fact, it's speculated that MVMT was originally rebadging Alibaba watches due to the glaring similarities I've previously showcased.
I found the designs incredibly generic and crude, the leather straps atrocious, and the build quality non-existent, all for a retail price that didn't add up! Essentially, they belonged alongside last night's supper – a total waste of money for anyone after a half-decent timepiece. There were much better options from other brands; you could even get near-identical watches for a fraction of the price directly from China through AliExpress.
Are such criticisms still valid, though? You see, it's been almost five years since I reviewed MVMT on my old channel, and in that time, a lot has changed.
Acquisition
Not only has my hair disappeared, but MVMT was purchased by the Movado Group, a huge conglomerate that owns multiple fashion watch brands. They've since released a string of other designs, some of which look more original.
Are these watches still that terrible? Has the acquisition led to an improvement in the quality of their goods, meaning these influencers are now telling the truth?
MVMT Watch Review
Well, I've gotten hold of some of MVMTs current models to find out. Thanks to Amazon for effectively covering the cost of these. First up, the all-new 'Field.' This sells for £99 on the MVMT website and £75 on Amazon. To my knowledge, this released after the Movado takeover.
The second piece is the 'Chrono,' which sells for between £120 and £270 (or $130 to $300) at full price, depending on the chosen color and case material. I managed to get this unit for £104, or close to $120, on Amazon UK.
The Chrono is one of MVMT's oldest pre-Movado collections. I chose this because I'm keen to discover if the aging models have been updated and improved or if they're just as bad as when they originally released.
Watch Construction
In terms of first impressions, I immediately noticed a weight increase. Previously, with the 40 series and Classic watches, the cheap, lightweight construction was apparent within seconds; those lot didn't even feel like metal. I have to say, this time, that's not the case. The steel used in both of these pieces not only looks slightly better but feels relatively substantial, rather than wafer-thin.
MVMT Field
MVMT Chrono
The material used here is the industry-standard 316L steel, and each features a brushed finish, which is the optimal choice for both styles. Some brands attempt fancy polished finishes at this price and usually end up with a cheap-looking final product; case and point, the Stuhrling watches I reviewed a couple of weeks back!
Field watches, given their purpose, tend to suit matte finishes, and the same can be said of the black-cased chronograph, which could have ended up looking like plastic if a glossy finish had been used. So, whether a purposeful or accidental move, I think MVMT has taken the right approach.
In addition to the brushing, these cases are sharply cut and genuinely rival most big brands in the same price bracket. In fact, Timex, who previously beat MVMT in this category, continues to produce many chrome-plated brass watches at this price, which now look pretty feeble in comparison.
Water Resistance
Additionally, these two have received a nice water resistance bump, up from the meager 3bar splash-proof ratings I previously experienced. This is likely due to the use of screwbacks, rather than snapback rears.
The Chrono has 5ATM, while the 'Field' boasts a decent 10ATM, meaning you can easily swim with it on-wrist. In fact, my only real criticism of the Field's case is that the crown is positioned very low, which is a tad unsightly from a side-on perspective.
Dial Design
Talking about unsightliness, let's move on to aesthetics. I'm just going to say it; the Chrono is (and has always been) an ugly duckling. It targets the minimalist look but is, if anything, far too simple, with a design that looks unfinished rather than well-considered; this is evident from the handset, which is far, far too short for the watch it's fitted to. The skeletonized hands are so far from the hour markers that they look like they've been taken from a completely different watch, while the baby blue second hand color doesn't fit the monochrome look whatsoever. The indexes are uninspiring black cubes that look like they were chosen for cost-cutting reasons rather than artistic ones.
The final result looks cheap and toy-like. If you're after a minimalist chronograph, I think Braun and Junkers each do a much better job, despite their shortcomings.
Thankfully, the 'Field' is way more appealing. To be clear, it still looks relatively cheap, given that everything is printed to the dial, with nothing in the way of texture. Nevertheless, I think it's fairly good-looking. I never thought I'd say that about a MVMT watch!
Not only does the handset fit this time, but the whole color scheme works in harmony, and it feels like the finished look had a properly thought-out purpose from the start. While the font style is run-of-the-mill, this piece does have extra touches, including a neat dark date window at 6 o'clock, which is positioned high but still fits reasonably well. There's even a raised chapter ring that has bright orange triangles at every 90 degrees, matching the tip of the second hand and fairly decent luminescence, especially on the two main hands.
Yeah, for once, it seems like someone with an ounce of skill has designed a MVMT watch! It's only taken them a decade! If this were smaller, I'd consider wearing this.
Dimensions
Indeed sizing is still a bit of a hurdle. The Chrono is huge, at 45mm, meaning it's pretty much reserved for BFG.
The Field is still fairly beefy, at 41.1mm, so it won't be viable for small wrists, though its 48mm lug to lug and 10.2mm thickness mean it should suit most arms. Does a field watch need to be this big? Probably not, if anything, this is the genre where small watches shine. Still, I'll take 41mm over 45mm any day.
Watch Crystal
I'll also take sapphire over mineral, though I'm afraid that upgrade hasn't yet happened; these pair are still using the lower-tier mineral glass, which is cheaper to produce and less scratch-resistant than the preferred sapphire. While I wouldn't go so far as to call sapphire the new 'norm' for around $100, many AliExpress brands are offering this as standard now, so mineral shouldn't be particularly praised.
Straps
The straps are also something that probably doesn't deserve praise. The one on the field isn't bad, it's a fairly thick canvas two-piece band with quick-release tabs for speedy changes. It features no lining and is a tad scratchy, but is suitable for most users.
MVMT Field
MVMT Chrono
That fitted to the Chrono, on the other hand, is complete garbage, comparable to the leather bands I encountered on the last MVMT watches. Ok, it's probably a fraction better, with a more supple feel that doesn't warp as easily, but overall it looks extremely cheap, and the faux-suede-like surface is bound to accrue grime in no time, just like its forbearers. Unless you want to be walking around with a worn-out band after a couple of weeks, you're going to need to budget for a replacement strap if you buy the Chrono.
Watch Movement
Powering both watches is the infamous 'Miyota Quartz' movement. MVMTs founder likes to tell you how much of a big deal these are time and time again.
In reality, these are just dirt-cheap Japanese movements that are fairly reliable but aren't any better than most other bargain bucket quartz movements. Specifically, the 'Field' is rocking a bottom-of-the-barrel unadjusted Miyota 2315, which is about as basic as it gets. It's still pretty accurate, but the hands are inconsistent when it comes to hitting markers, and the second hand will bounce and recoil a fair amount compared to other movements I've tried from Seiko and Casio. It's fine but don't believe any 'affordable luxury' hype surrounding these; it's just not true.
Ironically, my case removal tool isn't large enough to fit the giant rear of the Chrono, so I can't confirm what's inside. However, given the pecker-like hands, I'd guess it's something similar.
Inside the case back, you also see the stamp confirming that these watches are still made in China, despite any American marketing you might have seen.
Final Thoughts
So, are MVMT watches any good these days? Well, I wouldn't call myself 'impressed,' though I will say I'm fairly surprised. Both watches are better than the horror show I combatted previously. The Chrono, while poorly designed, at least has a solid-feeling case. Meanwhile, the Field is an unexpectedly capable watch that, if you can find it at the right price, rivals or even supersedes Timex and others. Would I wear it? Probably not, though I can't say it's a terrible watch for $75, which is major progress as far as MVMT goes.
I would still urge you to shop around, as the Field (like other MVMT watches) does vary in price significantly. I've frequently seen this selling for under £60 or $70 on Amazon, which is much fairer than the price on the MVMT website, though that can be reduced with discount codes or offers. At the lower figure, it's honestly a respectable choice, but at the higher end of that range, it's much harder to justify.
Whether these upgrades result from Movado's influence or the owners of MVMT becoming fed up with being memed online, I'm unsure, but the improvements are appreciated nonetheless. If this brand is about getting people into watches, it's good news that fashionistas will have a slightly better jumping-off point than before. Some of their range is still trash-tier, no question about that, but hopefully, we'll see more offerings like the Field in future.