Inside the Movement Info Page: What Powers Your SQND CITY Watch (and What's Next)
One of the things I'm proudest of on the new site is the Movement Info page. It's the page I wish existed when I first started buying and building watches: one place with the specs, how to wind it, how to set it, and what to expect from every movement I use.
Every watch I ship comes with a movement guide card that has a QR code linking right to it, so the info is always a scan away.
What's on the page today
Seiko NH series automatics
These are the heart of most SQND CITY builds. All of them are self winding mechanical movements that beat at 21,600 times an hour, with hand winding, hacking seconds, and about 41 hours of power reserve.
NH35: date at 3 o'clock. The workhorse of the modding world.
NH36: day and date at 3 o'clock.
NH34: an independent GMT hand for tracking a second time zone.
NH72: a skeletonized movement with open bridges and no date, so you can see everything working.
Seiko VK series mecha-quartz chronographs
These power my chronographs. Quartz handles timekeeping for accuracy, and a mechanical module runs the chronograph for that crisp push and instant snap back reset.
VK63: a 24 hour indicator and date.
VK64: a two register layout.
VK67: a running seconds subdial for the classic racing chronograph look.
The page covers how to start, stop, and reset the chronograph, how to zero the hands if they ever drift, and when to change the battery (about every 3 years).
If you're not sure which type fits you, I broke it down in plain language in my post on automatic vs mecha-quartz.
What's coming next
As SQND CITY grows, I want to offer more options, both for different styles and different price points. Here's what I'm testing and planning to add:
Epson YN55
A Japanese automatic from Epson, part of the Seiko family. It fits NH35 cases, uses the same size hour and minute hands, and in my testing it's a great fit for no date watches. I'm using it in the upcoming Meigs pilot line. I wrote a full comparison of the YN55 vs the NH35 and NH36 here on the blog.
Miyota 8215
Made by Citizen's Miyota, this is one of the most proven automatics in the world. It runs at 21,600 beats an hour with about 42 hours of power reserve and 21 jewels, and it's rated at about minus 20 to plus 40 seconds a day. Newer versions hack, while older ones don't. It needs its own cases and dials, so it opens the door to a completely new family of designs.
Miyota 8215 automatic movement. Photo: Alexofcourse / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Unmodified.
Seiko VH31
A really cool quartz movement with a sweeping seconds hand. Instead of ticking once a second like normal quartz, it moves four times a second, so it has a smooth, almost mechanical look. It's rated at about plus or minus 15 seconds a month, runs on a battery that lasts around 2 years, and it's a true no date movement. Perfect for clean, minimal, grab and go builds.
And more
I'm always testing. As I add new movements, I'll add them to the Movement Info page with the same setup and care instructions, so you always know exactly what's inside your watch and how to take care of it.
Why this matters to me
I don't ever want anyone to buy a watch from me and wonder what's inside it. Every listing names the movement, and the Movement Info page backs it up with everything you need to know. It's part of building trust, and trust is everything for a small brand.
Have a movement you'd love to see me build with? Send me a message. I'm always open to ideas.
Hector, SQND CITY
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