How Movement Access is Changing Independent Watchmaking
The independent watch market has moved beyond the point where a decent case and a basic movement are enough to satisfy buyers. In 2026, the industry is seeing a structural change in how movements are sourced and used.
Technical specifications are now the primary way brands prove their value. High-end complications that were once restricted to luxury houses are now available to smaller manufacturers, altering the baseline for what an affordable watch should do.
The Miyota 9075 and the GMT Market
The Miyota 9075 is the main driver of this change. It brought "flyer" or "true" GMT functionality to a wider audience. For a long time, an independent jumping local hour hand was a feature that allowed luxury brands to charge a significant premium. If you wanted a watch that let you change time zones without stopping the movement, you had to pay for a high-end Swiss caliber.
In 2026, that price barrier is gone. The 9075 is a high-beat movement running at 28,800 bph that gives micro-brands the ability to sell true travel watches for under $1,000. This has shifted collector expectations. The "caller" GMT, where you adjust the 24-hour hand instead of the local time, is now seen as a compromise. By supplying this movement to small brands, Miyota has forced the entry-level market to provide better mechanical utility.
Addressing the Chronograph Shortage
The success of the GMT has led to a demand for similar progress in chronographs. For years, the Seagull ST19 was the only real option for an affordable mechanical stopwatch. However, ongoing issues with sourcing and quality control have made it difficult for brands to rely on.
In 2026, more robust Japanese and Chinese alternatives are filling this gap. These newer movements use column wheels and vertical clutches to improve reliability and provide better tactile feedback. Brands are trying to move away from the idea that a budget chronograph is a disposable item. The focus is now on movements that are durable enough for daily use and can be serviced easily.
The Need for a Swiss Flyer GMT
While the Miyota 9075 is successful, there is still a demand for a Swiss-made equivalent that independent brands can buy. Collectors want a refined alternative from suppliers like Sellita or Soprod that offers the same flyer functionality with Swiss origins.
Swiss manufacturers have generally been slow to offer a mass-market flyer GMT to small brands; they often keep these movements for larger groups or higher price brackets. This has allowed Miyota to control the sub-$1,500 segment. If a reliable Swiss flyer movement becomes widely available to independents, it would allow them to compete more directly with established names like Tudor or Longines.
New Performance Standards
In 2026, the conversation is about how a watch performs in real life. A 40-hour power reserve is no longer the standard. Buyers are looking for movements that offer 70 hours or more, so a watch can be left off over a weekend and still be running on Monday.
There is also a move toward better tool-watch features, like improved lume on chronograph subdials and third-party accuracy certifications like COSC or METAS. The availability of better movements has ended the monopoly on complex complications. The brands that are succeeding in 2026 are those using this new access to offer mechanical features that were previously too expensive for most people.
