MVMT Watches Review: The Stylish, Affordable Timepieces That Broke the Internet
Hey watch lovers, get ready because today we‘re taking a deep dive into one of the hottest watch brands around – MVMT! Unless you‘ve been living under a rock, you‘ve probably seen these sleek, minimalist watches all over your social media feeds. They‘ve attracted a cult following with their out-of-this-world designs and down-to-earth prices.
But are MVMT watches really worth the hype? I‘m here to give you the inside scoop from a watch nerd and fashionista‘s perspective. I‘ve owned a MVMT for over a year now, so I can dish on everything from quality to compliments. By the end of this review, you‘ll know if MVMT is truly timeless or just a passing trend. Let‘s get into it!
What‘s the Deal with MVMT Watches?
First, a quick crash course on the brand for anyone new to MVMT. Founded in 2013 by two 22-year-old college dropouts, Jake Kassan and Kramer LaPlante, MVMT (pronounced "movement") set out to disrupt the overpriced, stuffy watch industry. Their goal was simple: bring high-quality, stylish watches to the masses at radically fair prices.
Spoiler alert – they crushed it. MVMT has sold over 1.5 million watches to date and racked up a massive cult following, especially among millennials. Some impressive stats on the brand:
- $71 million in revenue in 2017 alone (Source: Forbes)
- Over 4.5 million followers across social media platforms
- Partnered with Postmates and the LA Clippers for special edition watches
- Expanded into sunglasses, blue light blocking glasses, and jewelry
Not too shabby for a startup! Of course, MVMT‘s meteoric rise also sparked some skepticism about their product quality and longevity. More on that spicy debate later. For now, I want to give you the real deal on MVMT‘s bread and butter – their watch collections.
MVMT‘s Watch Collections
One look at MVMT‘s site and you can see they‘re all about that minimalist, modern aesthetic. No overcrowded dials or blingy embellishments here. Just crisp lines, subtle details, and muted colorways that let the streamlined design shine. It‘s a vibe.
MVMT‘s watches come in two main flavors – 40 Series and Chrono. The 40 Series is their O.G. collection, rocking a slim 40mm case and pared-back dials. You can choose from different case finishes (rose gold, gold, gunmetal, silver) and a mix of straps (leather, mesh, link). I‘m personally obsessed with the Lexington, a dainty rose gold mesh number with just the right amount of feminine flair.
If you like your watches with a little more edge, the Chrono collection brings it. These 45mm statement makers feature chronograph sub-dials, tachymeter scales, and sportier silhouettes. Some of the dopest designs IMO are the Chrono Legacy in Sandstone (creamy dial with black accents) and the Chrono Gunmetal (blacked-out badass vibes).
Price wise, MVMT keeps it real reasonable for such Insta-worthy watches:
- 40 Series: $95 – $125
- Chrono Series: $135 – $180
That‘s a steal compared to most similarly-styled fashion watches out there. And if you‘re ballin‘ on a budget, MVMT hooks it up with installment plans through Affirm. Major key!
The MVMT Quality Tea
Now, I know you‘re thinking – "those prices seem too good to be true, what‘s the catch?". And I feel you. In the watch world, you usually get what you pay for in terms of quality and craftsmanship.
I‘ll keep it 100 with you. MVMT watches aren‘t going to be heirloom pieces you pass down to your grandkids. They‘re fashion watches, meant to look dope but not necessarily last forever. That said, I‘ve been pleasantly surprised by how well my MVMT has held up!
Let‘s break down the key components:
- Case: MVMT uses 316L stainless steel, which is the norm for this price point. It has a nice weight and hasn‘t chipped or tarnished on me.
- Crystal: These babies sport hardened mineral crystals, again pretty standard. No unsightly scratches yet!
- Movement: Expect Japanese quartz movements like the Miyota 5S20. Not as boujee as Swiss but reliable and accurate.
- Water resistance: Most MVMT watches are 3 ATM, meaning they can handle light splashes or rain but not a dunk in the pool.
Now, I have spotted some less-than-stellar reviews about MVMT‘s quality online. Common complaints include the second hand not hitting the markers, bands breaking, and watches flat-out dying after a few months. Yikes.
Real talk, every watch brand is gonna have some lemons and pissed off customers. But I‘d be lying if I said I wasn‘t a tad sketched out by MVMT‘s lack of transparency about their manufacturing process. All they say is that the watches are designed in LA, but where are they actually made? China would be my guess based on the price point, but MVMT keeps those deets hush hush.
Update: I actually found a Reddit AMA from MVMT‘s founders where they confirm the watches are made in Shenzhen! Peep this excerpt:
The production of MVMT watches and MVMT sunglasses are currently made in Shenzhen, China. Finding the right partners who share our commitment to high quality products and ethical business is key. Our manufacturers go through rigorous vetting and ongoing quality control to ensure MVMT products are made to our standards and specs.
So there ya have it. China isn‘t inherently bad (shout out to my boo Lum-Tec), but more communication on this would be clutch for building customer trust.
At the end of the day, you gotta remember that MVMT is delivering fashion-forward watches under $200. They‘re not trying to be the next Rolex. From my experience, the quality matches the price point and you‘ll get some solid mileage out of them with proper care.
What Are Peeps Saying About MVMT?
You know I had to crowdsource some more opinions on MVMT. Here‘s a quick pulse check on what I found:
Reddit
The watch snobs on r/watches tend to be a bit harsh on fashion brands in general and MVMT is no exception. Lots of comments calling them cheap, mass-produced "mall watches". Ouch. Although even some haters admitted MVMT isn‘t the worst in terms of style and value.
This level-headed comment sums up the consensus well:
MVMT, like many other fashion brands, is what I‘d call overpriced for the specs and components used, but perhaps not overpriced for the design, if that makes sense. The people buying these aren‘t watch nerds, they‘re people who see it on social media and think it looks cool, and for them it probably is worth the money.
Facts. MVMT knows their audience and they‘re crushing it on the ‘Gram.
YouTube
I fell into a rabbit hole of MVMT unboxing and review vids on YouTube. The production quality is crazy on these things, y‘all are not playing around! Some highlights:
This review from Justin Carter. He does a great job showcasing the watches and giving his honest take as a MVMT fan.
This unboxing from Noel Elie. Love her style and energy. She seemed genuinely impressed by how expensive the watches looked IRL.
Overall, the watch community on YouTube vibes with MVMT way more than Reddit. Just goes to show how subjective this stuff is!
MVMT Website
MVMT‘s product pages have racked up thousands of glowing reviews from verified buyers. I see a whole lot of 5 stars and stoked customers. Peep these excerpts:
"Amazing! I get compliments every time I wear this watch! It goes perfect with my style and didn‘t break the bank!"
"The craftsmanship on this timepiece is just phenomenal. It‘s a beautiful watch and you can‘t beat the price point for the quality."
"I‘ve had my MVMT for over 2 years now and it still looks brand new. I wear it almost everyday and it has held up extremely well."
MVMT stans are mad loyal, y‘all. I will say I peeped a few negative reviews about defective watches or shady warranty practices. But MVMT‘s customer service seems pretty responsive in the replies.
Based on this recon mission, I‘d say MVMT has some serious fans, especially among the fashion-forward crowd. But they‘re not without their critics who think you can get better specs for your dollars.
Final Thoughts on MVMT Watches
Phew, we covered a lot of ground! I hope this review gave you a 360 view on MVMT watches. To recap my take:
MVMT is killing the game at making enviable, minimalist watches actually attainable. No, they‘re not luxury timepieces, but they look fly and have accessible prices. And in 2019, can you really put a price on clout?
I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed rocking my MVMT and have no ragrets. The compliments are nonstop and the cost per wear is unbeatable. My watch has also held up nicely to daily abuse for over a year now.
That said, I completely respect anyone who wants to drop their coin on a higher-end piece. Everyone has different priorities and budgets. MVMT isn‘t trying to compete with the horological big dogs. They‘re doing their own thing and thriving – I can‘t be mad at that.
So, is MVMT overhyped? Perhaps. They‘re not the most groundbreaking or innovative brand on the block. But they are making moves and serving the hell out of their niche.
My advice? If you‘re vibing with a MVMT design and it fits your style and wallet, go for it! Live your best flex life. Just don‘t expect hand-crafted perfection.
If you want to dig deeper on the specs and manufacturing before buying, I feel you too. MVMT could definitely improve on the transparency front, but I‘m hopeful they‘ll get there as they mature.
Either way, I‘m glad MVMT is shaking up the culture and making watch enthusiasm more inclusive. The more people who appreciate a dope timepiece, the merrier!
To all my MVMT owners out there, sound off in the comments. I wanna know how your watch has been treating you – the good, the bad, and the straight up gorgeous.
Keep it timely, y‘all! ⌚✌🏾
