The Most Affordable Automatic Watches Use This Japanese Movement

The Miyota 8215 movement powers entry-level mechanical timepieces from brands both small and large.

Published June 22, 2020

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Updated August 25, 2022

If you want a truly affordable automatic watch, your choices are likely to include a model that features a Japanese movement, among which is the Miyota 8215. It’s not beautifully decorated nor highly accurate, and it often doesn’t offer a seconds hand that stops when you set the time (i.e., “hack”), but it’s proven a sufficiently reliable “workhorse” movement over the years and offers about 42 hours of power reserve. In short: it’s sufficient for powering entry-level automatic watches. Here are some models that use it.