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When a brand asks Eji for a quote, the answer is never a single number – and that is a good thing. A custom mechanical watch can be built to very different price points depending on the choices you make. Here is a transparent breakdown of where your budget actually goes.

1. The Movement – Your Biggest Cost Lever

The movement is the heart of the watch and usually the largest single cost factor. An imported automatic mechanical movement, a Seagull multi-function chronograph movement, and a reliable quartz module sit at very different price levels. Choose the movement that matches your brand positioning – not simply the highest specification on paper.

2. Case Material and Finishing

316L stainless steel is the industry standard for a reason: it is durable, hypoallergenic, and takes brushed, polished or PVD gold finishing beautifully. Alloy cases lower the cost but sacrifice feel and longevity. Complex case shapes and multi-step finishing also add labor cost.

3. Crystal: Sapphire vs. Mineral

Sapphire glass is virtually scratch-proof and immediately signals quality. Mineral glass keeps the entry price tight. Many successful brands use sapphire on their hero models and mineral glass on entry-level models – a clean way to build a price ladder.

4. Dial Work

Printing techniques, luminous applications, applied indices and multi-layer dials each add cost. The dial is where a watch looks expensive, so this is one of the best places to invest.

5. Strap and Packaging

Steel bracelet, rubber, leather or nylon; a standard box, a gift box, or fully custom packaging with a warranty card – accessories quietly move the unit price in both directions.

6. Order Quantity

Tooling and setup costs are amortized across the whole run, so larger orders reduce the per-piece price. This is why we always quote several quantity tiers side by side.

Starting a watch brand has never been more achievable – but the path from idea to production is full of decisions. Here is the roadmap we walk with first-time founders at Eji.

1. Define Your Positioning

Before anything else, finish one sentence: “A [price band] watch for [audience] who love [story].” Every later decision – movement, materials, packaging – flows from this sentence.

2. Choose Your Path

Private label: pick proven base models and customize the dial, strap and packaging. Fast to market, friendly minimums. Full custom: design a watch that exists nowhere else. Longer timeline, exclusive result.

3. Design and Sampling

Your idea becomes 2D drawings, then a 3D technical structure, then physical samples – typically within 10 to 15 days. You revise until every detail is right, and the approved golden sample becomes the production standard.

4. Brand Every Touchpoint

Dial logo, caseback engraving, strap, buckle, box, warranty card – each touchpoint is a branding opportunity. Plan them together so the unboxing experience matches the watch.

5. Production and QC

Mass production typically runs 25 to 40 days depending on model and quantity. Movement accuracy testing, water-resistance checks and a final inspection all happen before anything ships.

6. Launch and Restock

Sell-through data decides your second order. Plan restock capacity ahead of time so your best sellers never go out of stock.

Quality is not something we inspect at the end – it is built in at every step. Here is what actually happens to a batch of Eji watches before it is allowed to ship.

1. Incoming Material Inspection

Movements, cases, crystals, straps and dials are batch-checked the moment they arrive. Non-conforming lots are returned before they ever touch the assembly line.

2. In-Line Assembly Checkpoints

QC stations sit between assembly stages, not only at the end. Each stage – movement fitting, dial and hand setting, casing, sealing – has its own pass criteria.

3. Instrumented Testing

Every mechanical watch is verified on a timegrapher for accuracy; diver models are pressure-tested to their rated depth (100m for our A003 diver); and sample pieces undergo shock and drop testing.

4. Extended Duration Testing

Sample watches from each batch run continuously for 48+ hours to catch defects that only appear over time – amplitude drop, hand alignment, date changeover.

5. Final Visual Inspection and Packing

Every single watch is inspected under standardized light, then sealed with protective film and packed. A batch is only released when all stages are green.