Custom Quartz Watch OEM
Engineering Precision Into Your Brand

Quartz movements power the majority of watches sold globally — not because they are a compromise, but because for most brand categories and price points, they are the correct engineering choice. Accurate, low-maintenance, and available across a full range of specifications, quartz is the foundation for everything from $20 promotional pieces to $300 boutique fashion watches.

At KODA, we have manufactured custom quartz watches for over 18 years — for startup labels placing 50-piece orders and for established brands running seasonal collections of 10,000+ units. This page documents exactly what we can build, what the trade-offs are, and how to make the right specification choices for your product and your market.

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1. Understanding Quartz Watch TiersS

Before selecting components, it helps to define which tier your product occupies. Most quartz watches fall into one of three categories:

Tier	Case	Crystal	Movement	Retail Range
Entry	Zinc alloy	Mineral glass	Chinese quartz	$15–40
Mid-range	316L S/Steel	Mineral glass	Miyota 2035	$40–120
Premium	316L S/Steel	Sapphire	Miyota GL10	$100–300

These tiers are not rigid — mix components across tiers to match your positioning and budget.

2. What You Can Customize

Every component of your quartz watch is available for customization. Below we explain not just what the options are, but how to choose between them.

Case & Shape

Options: Round, square, tonneau, rectangular, cushion.

316L Stainless Steel

Medical-grade, hypoallergenic, and corrosion-resistant. Achieves water resistance ratings up to 100M reliably. Heavier feel that most consumers associate with quality. Recommended for any brand retailing at $40+.

Zinc Alloy (Zamak)

Suitable for promotional, fashion, or sub-$30 retail products. Lower tooling cost on custom shapes. Important limitation: zinc alloy cannot reliably achieve 50M water resistance due to material porosity. Not recommended if water resistance is part of your product claim.
Case Size Reference — Men's: 38–44mm / Women's: 28–36mm / Unisex: 36–40mm

Dial Design

Your dial is your brand's most visible real estate on the product.

Printed logo: Minimum 0.3mm stroke width. Most cost-effective.
Applied logo (raised metal): Minimum 5mm height. Adds $0.50–1.20 per piece.
Caseback engraving: Laser engraving. Common for limited editions.
Applied stick indices: Minimum 1.5mm width. Adds $0.80–1.50 per piece.
Color accuracy: Provide Pantone references. First sample targets ±5%; final calibration on physical approval sample.

Strap & Bracelet

Genuine Leather (Cowhide): Natural texture variation. Most common for dress and business-casual.
Stainless Steel Bracelet: Adds $4–12 per unit depending on link construction. Requires case lug compatibility.
Mesh Band: Lightweight, adjustable without tools. Popular in minimalist aesthetics.
NATO Fabric: Most affordable. Standard in sport and military-influenced designs.
Silicone: Essential for water-sport positioning. Hypoallergenic.

Movement

Movement choice determines accuracy, cost, and brand story.

Chinese Quartz (PC21 / domestic): Accuracy ±20–30 sec/month. Best for fashion, promotional. Cost: ~$0.60–1.50/unit.
Japanese Miyota 2035 / GL10: Accuracy ±15 sec/month (GL10: ±10). Best for $50–200 retail. Cost: ~$2.50–6.00/unit.
High-precision options: ±5 sec/month available. For brands needing Swiss-level timing without Swiss Made certification.
What you do NOT need: Swiss ETA quartz movements ($15–40/unit) are only justified if your brand actively markets Swiss Made certification. Japanese movements offer equivalent consumer reliability at a fraction of the cost.

Crystal

Mineral Glass (Mohs 5–6): Will scratch with sand/keys over time. $0.30–0.80/unit. Standard for sub-$60 retail.
Sapphire Crystal (Mohs 9): Only diamond will scratch it under daily wear. $3–8/unit. Expected standard for watches above $80 retail.
AR Coating (anti-reflective): Eliminates glare by ~95%. Recommended for any sapphire crystal. Adds $0.50–1.00/unit.
Flat vs. Double-Dome Sapphire: Domed profile adds a traditional look. Double-dome adds ~$2–4/unit.

Surface Finishing Overview

Finishing strategy significantly affects visual identity and perceived tier. See Section 3 for detailed guidance. Key principle: finishing choices should match your consumer's lifestyle. A mirror-polished watch worn daily by an active consumer will show wear faster than a brushed-finish piece in the same conditions.

3. Surface Finishing Options

4. Key Features Available

Water Resistance

30M (3 ATM): Resistant to splashes and rain. Not suitable for submersion. Appropriate for dress and fashion watches.
50M (5 ATM): Suitable for recreational swimming. Not for diving. Achievable with standard push-pull crown.
100M (10 ATM): Water sports and snorkeling. Requires screw-down crown. Opens sport and outdoor positioning.
Important: Water resistance degrades over time, particularly with chlorine or saltwater exposure. Annual gasket inspection recommended for 50M+ rated pieces. KODA individually pressure-tests every unit rated 30M and above before shipment.

Luminous Hands & Indices

C3 Grade: Warm green glow. Maximum brightness. Standard for sport, outdoor, and tactical positioning.
BGW9 Grade: Blue-white glow. Cooler, cleaner appearance. Preferred for dress and luxury-influenced designs.
Technical constraint: Effective lume requires minimum 1.2mm index width. Very fine decorative indices cannot carry lume reliably.

Zinc Alloy (Zamak)

Mohs hardness 9: only diamond and certain industrial ceramics will scratch it under everyday conditions.
Common misconception: Sapphire is scratch-resistant, not shatterproof. A sharp direct impact can crack sapphire that mineral glass would survive through surface deformation.
Upgrade economics: Adding sapphire to a watch retailing above $80 is almost always the right call. The cost difference ($3–8/unit) is modest relative to the retail price improvement it enables.

5. How Our OEM Process Works

Step 1 — Inquiry & Quote (2–3 business days)

Submit your brief: target market, estimated retail price, approximate quantity, and reference images. We return an itemized quote breaking down per-unit cost by component, so you can see exactly where your budget is allocated and adjust accordingly.

Step 2 — Design Confirmation (3–7 business days)

KODA design team: concepts within 5 business days, no third-party agencies, no delays. Own artwork: provide AI/PDF (CMYK, fonts outlined) for dial; DXF/DWG or STEP files for custom cases. We review feasibility within 2 business days and flag adjustments before tooling is committed.

Step 3 — Sample Production (20–30 days)

1–3 physical samples manufactured on the same production line that will run your bulk order. This is not a prototype — it is the approval standard.

Step 6 — QC, Reporting & Shipment

100% movement accuracy test. Water resistance test on every unit where specified. Full visual inspection. QC report with pass/fail rates provided before shipment. Approval sample held for 12 months post-delivery.

Step 5 — Bulk Production (45–60 days from approval)

Your approved sample is the production reference. QC checks units against this standard throughout the run, not just at the end.

Step 4 — Sample Review & Approval

One to two revision rounds is normal — most frequently on dial color or finishing details. Every approved specification is documented in a written production sheet, signed before bulk begins.

6. Why Brands Choose KODA

No Tooling Cost on Standard Cases

Our case library covers 80+ profiles. Orders using library cases require no tooling investment, saving $500–2,000 and 2–4 weeks vs. suppliers that require custom tooling from 50-piece minimums.
In-House Movement Testing

Every movement is tested for accuracy in our facility before assembly. Any movement outside ±20 seconds per month (Chinese grade) or ±15 sec (Miyota) is rejected before it enters your watch.
Color Matching Standard

Dial color calibrated to Pantone reference using a spectrophotometer to within ±3 ΔE from your approved sample. Not a visual approximation.
Flexible Minimum Orders

50 pieces per style per color on standard specifications. Same terms for a first-time brand as for an established account.
18 Years, 500+ Brands

Clients across the UK, US, EU, Japan, and Australia — fashion labels, corporate gift programs, specialty retailers, and watch-focused brands. References available upon request.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will the bulk order match my approved sample?

A: Sample-to-bulk consistency is the most valid concern in OEM. Our approach: every approved specification is documented in writing before bulk begins. For orders above 200 pieces, we offer an inline pre-production inspection where you can review the first completed units before we run the full quantity. Confirmed production defects are replaced or credited — whichever works for your timeline.
Q: What is the actual difference between a 50-piece and 500-piece order?

A: Unit cost, not quality. Setup costs amortize differently across volume, which is why per-unit pricing drops at higher quantities. The production process, QC standards, and materials are identical regardless of order size.
Q: Can I supply my own design files?

A: Yes. Dial artwork: Adobe Illustrator AI or PDF, all fonts outlined, CMYK, minimum 5mm logo height for applied logos. Case profiles: 2D DXF/DWG or 3D STEP files. We review feasibility within 2 business days.
Q: What if I want to change specifications after sampling starts?

A: Minor changes (color adjustment, text revision) can be accommodated during sampling with extended lead time. Structural changes (case dimension, crown position, complication addition) require restarting the sample phase. We flag this risk early — which is why we invest time in the design confirmation step before production begins.