I Tested a Cheap Chinese NH35 vs a Genuine Seiko NH35 - Scam or Smart Buy?
I tested a cheap Chinese NH35 movement against a genuine Japanese Seiko NH35 to find out if the cheaper version is actually good - or if it’s a risky buy for watch modders.
The NH35 is probably the most popular automatic movement for DIY watch builds and Seiko mods, but prices have been rising. So when I found a Chinese “independently developed NH35” for almost half the price, I wanted to see how it compares in real use.
In this video, I compare both movements visually and test them in several ways: assembly experience, finishing, hand-wound power reserve, rotor winding efficiency, rotor noise, and 24-hour accuracy.
The results were more interesting than I expected.
Is the Chinese NH35 a scam, or actually a smart budget option for your next build? Let’s find out.
Links to both movements will be in the description below.
Disclaimer: This video is based on one sample of each movement. Another Chinese NH35 may perform better, or worse. This is not a laboratory test, but a real-world comparison from a watch modder’s perspective.
Some links may be affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the channel.
✅ Movements
Japanese NH35 - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3d...
Chinese NH35 - https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3h...
⏱️ Video Chapters / Navigation
00:00 Intro
00:56 Visual comparison
03:28 Assembly experience
06:44 Hand-winding power reserve test
09:59 Rotor winding efficiency test
15:33 Accuracy test
17:44 Final thoughts
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Tags:
#NH35 #ChineseNH35 #SeikoNH35 #NH35Movement #SeikoMod #WatchModding #WatchMovement #AutomaticMovement #AliExpressWatchParts #AliExpressNH35 #NH35Clone #ChineseWatchMovement #DIYWatch #DIYWatchBuild #WatchMod #Watchmaker #Watchmaking #WatchAssembly #PowerReserveTest #WatchAccuracy #AutomaticWatch #SeikoMods #BudgetWatchBuild #MechanicalWatch #WatchEnthusiast #WatchMinded