MVMT Watch Review: Luxury Meets Affordability

Finding a quality luxury watch that won’t cost you an entire paycheck can be tricky. Luckily, the MVMT watch by Movado fits the bill.

Price: $138

MVMT was started by two buddies in LA back in 2013. Jake Kassan and Kramer LaPlante wanted to disrupt the status quo of luxury accessories by creating a more accessible line of luxury wear that wouldn’t break the bank. They started with watches, but then began working on expanding their line to other luxury items.

They are huge into social media and used it to help start and grow their brand. They originally got MVMT watches off the ground by using crowdfunding. Which a lot of companies are using more frequently in recent years to help launch companies and see what the market can tolerate.

They pride themselves on sleek, minimalistic designs at a lower price point than other luxury watches. Which is fantastic, as long as the watches can stand the test of time.

As someone who owns a more traditional, much more expensive luxury watch, the MVMT was on par with that. Actually, for a watch that only cost about 1/10 of what my other luxury watch cost, this one was even better. I think a big part of it was that it didn’t cost nearly as much as my other watch, but felt just as good.

My MVMT Chrono Gunmetal Sandstone watch even looked a bit sleeker than my more expensive one too. It was easy to set up and looked modern on my wrist. This watch is more of an everyday luxury watch, as opposed to my more expensive luxury watch.

The band it came with was soft and smooth on my wrist. The movement was comfortable and lightweight, so it is easier to wear all the time. I got a ton of compliments on it within the first 3 weeks of wearing it. Much more so than I ever receive on my more expensive luxury watch.

My only complaints were that I chose the black on black face with numbers. This made it really difficult to read the time quickly. So, if I get another MVMT watch, I’ll choose one with more contrast on the face and numbers.

Even though the watch I chose falls into the water resistant category, having a leather band makes it difficult to wash dishes with the watch on. And the timer function wasn’t exceedingly useful to me. It’s difficult to read the timer areas because they are so small. So I could’ve done without that addition, personally speaking.

The overall performance of the MVMT watches is pretty straightforward. Once the box arrives, all you have to do is take the watch out and pull out the tab. Then you’re ready to set the time using the knob by pulling it out to the 3rd position. Rotate clockwise until you have the correct time and then push the knob back in.

Since MVMT watches are battery-powered quartz watches they never have to be wound. Which makes regular operation really simple. The only semi-complicated operation with these watches is the timer function.

The button on top of the time setting knob is used to start and stop the timer. There are 3 timer areas you can look at, depending upon what you’re trying to do with the timer. The far-left features the 60-second timer, the center area is for the 30-minute timer and the far right is the 24-hour timer.

If you want to reset the timer, just push the button below the time setting knob and you’re good to go. But, since the timer areas are so small, it can be difficult to see the timers with accuracy.

The MVMT watches come with a warranty to back up their manufacturing practices. They stand behind their products for at least that long. Which is more than I can say for some other watch brands. But, a lifetime warranty would be even better when it comes to standing behind the quality of their products.

Their products are considered minimalist and easy to use. So, generally, this means there are fewer parts and pieces that might break.

However, the movement technology they use is Japanese Miyota Quartz Movement. This technology is Japanese, but manufactured in China for the MVMT watches. This sends up a little red flag for me. The brand emphasizes how their products are designed in LA, but never mentions where they are manufactured. The fact that they are manufactured overseas might be why they don’t offer a lifetime guarantee on their products.

If you’re wanting to break into the luxury watch arena, then an MVMT watch may be a good place to start. Their price points are a heck of a lot cheaper than most other luxury brands. Plus, their watches are lightweight and have multiple different configurations to diversify your style.

I love my MVMT watch and still wear it regularly. It fits almost any style I’m going for, except the ultra fancy. So, for black tie events I prefer my more expensive luxury watch. But, if I had gotten the Rise Series instead of the Chronos, this one is fancier and would work nicely for those types of events.

MVMT offers an initial 10% off of your first order just for signing up for their mailing list. They also offer free shipping on orders. They are also known to run special discounts for certain holidays. So, keep an eye out for those sales if a holiday is on the horizon. Plus, they have an entire page that is dedicated to MVMT last sales also.

Anyone who might be considering the purchase of a luxury watch is bound to have questions. So, before you decide to dive in, take a look at some of the most common questions received by MVMT to help guide your decision.

Overall, MVMT watches are a fantastic option for anyone wanting to purchase their first luxury watch. Since they are exponentially more cost effective than the more expensive watch brands, it’s a good place to start.

Plus, their designs are sleek, modern, and lightweight. So they are good for everyday wear in almost any setting. The fact that they have a 2 year warranty and free returns on their products doesn’t hurt either. Therefore, giving MVMT a try might be a great way to go.