Watch Notes

Open the case back of almost any affordable automatic or microbrand watch and you will find one of two Japanese workhorses: the Miyota 8215 from Citizen's movement division, or the Seiko NH35. They cost about the same and do the same job, but they behave differently on the wrist. Here is how they compare, and which one to prefer when you buy. A Miyota 8215 behind an exhibition case back. Photo: Rosstomson , CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. In this comparison The short answer Specifications side by side The differences you'll notice How to tell which one you have Which should you choose? FAQ The short answer For most buyers, the NH35 is the more pleasant movement to own : it hacks, hand-winds smoothly and its rotor is quiet. The Miyota 8215 is just as reliable and is often slimmer and a little more accurate out of the box, but it traditionally doesn't hack and its rotor is famously noisy. Neither is a bad choice; the difference is in daily use, not durability...

The Seiko NH35 and NH36 power a huge share of affordable automatic watches, from the Seiko 5 Sports range to hundreds of microbrand divers. They look nearly identical on paper, so which one is in your watch, and does it matter? Here is a clear breakdown. A day-date Seiko 5. The day-and-date display is what separates the NH36/4R36 from the date-only NH35/4R35. Photo: Joe Haupt , CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. In this comparison The short answer Side-by-side specifications NH35/NH36 vs 4R35/4R36 How to tell which one you have How to set the day on an NH36 Which should you choose? FAQ The short answer The NH35 shows the date only. The NH36 shows the day and the date. Mechanically they are the same movement: same beat rate, same jewels, same power reserve, same accuracy specification. The NH36 simply adds a day-wheel complication. 21 NH35 / 4R35 date only WED 21 NH36 / 4R36 day + date The fastest way to identify the movement: a date window ...