These are the most frequently asked questions brands ask before launching a project.
All answers are based on real-world production experience—using actual data, not vague estimates.
If your question is not listed here, please contact us directly.
HTIMES manages every order end-to-end. Design, sampling, production follow-up and final inspection are run directly by our own engineering and QC team in Dongguan. Dongguan is the world’s most mature watch-component supply corridor, which is exactly why we’re based here.
Since 2009, we have manufactured watches for buyers in over 30 countries, encompassing mass-market quartz watches, Swiss and Japanese mechanical watches, and high-specification OEM projects for renowned brands.
In this industry, long-term survival is no accident. It reflects a company’s ability to maintain consistent quality across multiple production batches, cope with supply chain disruptions, and cultivate relationships with component suppliers—capabilities that can only be developed over time.
Our production range covers:
Quartz watches – standard, solar-powered, and multi-function models
Mechanical watches – automatic and manual winding, equipped with Swiss or Japanese movements
Dress watches, sports watches, field watches, and tool watches; case materials include 316L stainless steel, Grade 5 titanium, and brass
Custom dial configurations – printed, applied, and skeletonized
Sapphire crystal, mineral glass, and anti-reflective glass are available
Integrated bracelet and strap design – stainless steel, mesh, leather, rubber, and NATO materials.
If your needs do not fall into the above categories, please let us know. We will provide an honest assessment based on the specific circumstances, rather than making a hasty promise.
Please submit your project brief through our contact page. The more detailed your technical information—such as movement preferences, case material, water resistance targets, surface treatment specifications, expected production volume, and timeline—the faster we can provide you with a valid response.
We do not respond to vague inquiries, nor do we provide catalog prices. Each quotation we provide is tailored to a specific project.
Yes. Most of our clients are international buyers from Europe, North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Our organizational structure is export-oriented: from document processing and compliance certification to all client communication, the entire production process is conducted in English.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing): You supply the design specification. We engineer it to production feasibility and manufacture to your exact requirements. The design IP remains yours.
ODM (Original Design Manufacturing): You select from or adapt our existing case and movement library. Development time and tooling cost are lower because we are modifying proven designs rather than building from scratch.
The right model depends on how differentiated your product needs to be and what your development budget allows. We can advise after reviewing your brief.
In most cases, yes — with a feasibility review first. Send us your design files (CAD, technical drawings, or annotated reference images). Our engineering team will assess production feasibility and flag any specification conflicts before we quote.
Common issues we catch at this stage: case wall thickness insufficient for the target water resistance rating; movement clearance conflicts with the dial design; crown placement incompatible with the case geometry. Finding these before tooling saves significant time and cost.
Yes. New case development begins with CNC-machined physical prototypes from your CAD files. We do not commit to production tooling until you have approved a physical sample. Full new-case OEM programs — including mold development — are quoted separately from per-unit production costs.
Switching manufacturers mid-range is one of the higher-risk transitions a brand faces. We handle it systematically:
We will not promise a seamless transition if the documentation handover is incomplete. We will tell you exactly what is missing and what the options are.
Yes. Private label is one of our core services — we produce watches under your brand name and logo, with custom dials, case-backs, straps, and packaging, while you retain ownership of the design and tooling.
The process follows the same route as our ODM model: you pick a base design, we adapt the dial, engraving, and finishing to your brand, and you take full ownership of the result.
Our sampling follows a defined three-stage sequence:
Stage 1 — CNC Prototype: A machined physical sample produced from your design files. Used to verify dimensional accuracy, movement fit, and overall proportions before any production tooling is committed.
Stage 2 — Functional Sample: A working watch built using production-intent components. The first unit that can be worn and functionally tested.
Stage 3 — Golden Sample: The approved reference standard that mass production is measured against. Signed off by both parties before production begins.
Each stage has a defined approval gate. We do not advance to the next stage without written sign-off from you.
Sample fees cover engineering time, machining, and component costs. They are not refundable if you cancel the project after samples are produced.
For clients who proceed to production orders meeting the agreed MOQ, sample costs are typically credited against the production invoice. This is project-specific and stated in your quotation.
Revisions that correct dimensional errors or finishing inconsistencies on our side are covered at no additional charge. Revisions that represent design changes initiated by the client — new dial layout, different case shape, changed movement — are treated as new sample requests and quoted accordingly.
The clearer your initial specification, the fewer revision cycles you will need. We recommend supplying final technical drawings before sampling begins, not concept mood boards.
Total sampling timeline — brief to approved Golden Sample — typically runs 8–14 weeks for new designs. ODM adaptations of existing cases are faster.
Minimum order quantities vary depending on the product type:
Standard ODM Quartz Watches (existing molds, custom dials/hands): 100-300 units minimum order per style
OEM Service, existing case molds, custom components: 100-300 units minimum order
Brand New OEM Customization, using brand new molds: Higher minimum order quantity, subject to project specifics.
We do not compete for orders below these thresholds. If your current order volume does not meet these thresholds, we will inform you directly rather than accepting orders that we cannot profit from and responsibly fulfill.
After gold sample confirmation and receipt of deposit:
100-1000 units: 6-8 weeks
1000–5000 units: 8–9 weeks
Over 5000 units: Determined at the order stage based on current production capacity.
If the lead time for special movements (e.g., Swiss ETA/Sellita, Miyota 9 series) is longer than that for standard movements, the delivery time may be extended. We will indicate this at the quotation stage, not during production.
Yes. Our production system is built for large-volume programs. Customers who initially order 500 pieces and then increase production to 5,000-10,000 pieces each time are a core part of our business model.
If you anticipate increased production, please inform us during the project briefing stage. We can reserve capacity, pre-order parts in bulk, and rationally allocate mold amortization, thereby reducing unit costs as production increases. See how we run large-volume watch production.
Please inform us of your delivery deadline when placing your order. We will do our best to accommodate your delivery needs and strive to meet your requirements. Even if we are unable to do so, we will inform you in advance.
Our QC operates at four points across every production run:
Incoming Material Inspection: Components — movements, crystals, cases, dials — are inspected before entering assembly. Out-of-specification parts are rejected here, not discovered at final inspection.
In-Process Inspection: Dimensional checks and functional tests at defined assembly milestones throughout production.
Pre-Shipment 100% Inspection: Every unit is individually inspected against the approved Golden Sample before packaging. This is not a statistical sample check — it is 100% inspection.
Water Resistance Testing: All units rated for water resistance are pressure-tested to the specified depth rating before shipment.
Movement installation and dial fitting are performed in controlled, dust-managed assembly environments — a cleanliness standard typically associated with Swiss-level production. Our QC team supervises these steps in person at each partner facility.
Yes. Your own QC team or appointed inspectors are welcome to inspect production on site — always accompanied by our project team, who coordinate the visit and stay with you throughout. This way you get full visibility into production without dealing with factory coordination yourself. Third-party inspection by agencies such as SGS or Bureau Veritas is also accommodated. Visits must be scheduled in advance.
Claims must be submitted with photographic documentation and unit identification within the post-delivery claim window specified in your production agreement.
Defects that are clearly manufacturing-origin are addressed by replacement or credit, depending on quantity and circumstances. We investigate every substantiated claim — we do not make clients fight for resolution. Defects resulting from transit damage, misuse, or client-side modification fall outside our responsibility.
Intellectual property protection is a crucial concern when collaborating with any Chinese manufacturer. Here are our measures:
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) must be signed before any design files are shared. Our standard NDA is mutually agreed upon and covers design data and commercial terms.
Design files are stored in an access control system. Only the engineering team responsible for your project can access your files.
We do not share design information among clients. Your case geometry, dial pattern, and specifications are not visible to other buyers.
We do not produce counterfeit products for competing brands.
We will not use our clients’ products for marketing without their written permission.
Yes. We sign an NDA before any design or commercial information is exchanged. If you have a preferred NDA format, we will review it. If not, we will provide our own agreement.
Tooling and molds developed for your project — case molds, dial molds, and custom component molds — become your property once fully paid. We keep them in storage in Dongguan for use in your production. If you move production elsewhere, we will return the molds to you in accordance with your written instructions after all outstanding balances are settled.
Tooling funded by the client belongs to the client. This is explicitly stated in our production agreement.
Yes. Private label production — dial printing, case engraving, crown branding, caseback text, and branded packaging — is a standard part of our OEM service. Please provide artwork files in vector format (AI or EPS). We complete a pre-production artwork proof before printing.
Watch manufacturing pricing has several components:
We issue fully itemised quotations. There are no hidden setup fees or ambiguous line items.
Standard structure:
First-time orders follow the standard structure above. Long-term clients with established payment history may discuss adjusted terms.
We invoice in USD. Payment is accepted via T/T (bank wire transfer). For large orders, L/C (Letter of Credit) can be arranged — contact us to discuss.
Several factors drive per-unit pricing:
We explain the driver behind every pricing change. “Prices went up” is not an acceptable explanation from us — we provide the specifics.
US import tariffs on watches are applied to the declared value of your shipment and vary by material, movement origin, and tariff classification. We factor tariff exposure into your quote so there are no surprises at the landed-cost stage.
For a full breakdown of how tariffs and materials shape your final cost, see our article on the real cost of watch OEM in 2026.
We support CE, RoHS, and other international compliance certifications required by the EU, the UK, and other regulated markets. Certification requirements must be confirmed during the project briefing phase, not after production. Some certifications need to be decided during the design phase, particularly RoHS material restrictions.
We provide export logistics and documentation services from factory to port, including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, and compliance documents. We can recommend sea, air, and express freight forwarders, or connect you directly with your designated freight forwarder.
Watch boxes – standard cardboard boxes, pillow-shaped boxes, or hard-top boxes, with materials and finishes customized to customer requirements.
Brand inserts, hang tags, and warranty cards.
Export carton configurations must comply with your warehouse labeling specifications.
Packaging and production quotes are calculated separately. Branded packaging requires vector artwork files and has a separate production lead time – typically 2-3 weeks for the first batch.
Post-production support includes defect claim investigation and resolution, reordering arrangements based on existing gold sample references, and provision of complete production documentation upon request.
We are not responsible for consumer-facing warranty services. After-sales support is the manufacturer’s responsibility to the brand owner, not the manufacturer’s responsibility to the end consumer.
Yes, we can arrange DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping to the US, EU, and most major markets. Under DDP, we handle export clearance, freight, and import duties so your total landed cost is clear before you commit.
The exact terms depend on your destination and order size, and are confirmed in your quote.
Submit your brief — our engineering team responds within 1 business day.