The Seiko NH35 movement explained: the heart of affordable automatic watches
The NH35 is a Japanese automatic movement made by Seiko, which has become the de facto standard for affordable automatic watches. Robust, repairable and accurate for daily use, it powers millions of watches worldwide, including Modora watches. Here is how it works and why it is so highly recommended.
What is the NH35 movement?
The NH35 (sometimes written NH35A) is a self-winding mechanical calibre produced by Seiko Instruments / Time Module Inc. (TMI), Seiko's movement division. Designed to be reliable and affordable, it is sold to countless brands and workshops, which has made it the benchmark movement for accessible automatic watchmaking.
How an automatic movement works
An automatic movement has no battery. A rotor swings with the movements of your wrist and winds the mainspring, which stores energy and releases it steadily to drive the hands. As long as you wear the watch, it winds itself. Left off the wrist, it keeps its power reserve for about two days.
The specifications of the NH35
- Type: automatic, with manual winding and second stop (hacking) to set the time precisely.
- Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (6 beats per second).
- Power reserve: around 40 to 41 hours.
- Jewels: 24 jewels.
- Display: hours, minutes, seconds + date.
- Accuracy: rated around -20 to +40 seconds/day, often better in practice.
NH35, NH36, Miyota 9015: the differences
The NH36 is the same movement as the NH35 but with a day + date display (instead of date only). The Miyota 9015 (from Citizen) is another popular calibre, thinner and with a higher frequency (28,800 bph), but often a bit more expensive. For the balance of reliability, price and repairability, the NH35 remains the safe bet.
Why Modora uses the NH35
Every Modora watch carries a genuine automatic Seiko movement, under a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The NH35 lets us offer real, reliable Japanese mechanics, easy to service at any watchmaker, from 279 CHF. Want to see it in action? Discover our skeleton and open heart watches, whose openworked dial lets you admire the movement at work, or browse all our automatic watches.
FAQ
Is the NH35 a good movement?
Yes. It is one of the most reliable and widespread automatic movements in its category, renowned for its robustness and ease of repair. It powers watches from many brands.
What is the power reserve of the NH35?
Around 40 to 41 hours. If you set the watch down one evening, it is still running the next day; beyond that, you need to wear it or wind it by hand.
Does the NH35 need a battery?
No. It is an automatic mechanical movement: it winds through the movements of your wrist, with no battery.
What is the difference between the NH35 and the NH36?
The NH36 adds a day-of-the-week display to the date. In every other respect (reliability, frequency, reserve), they are identical.
Can you wind an NH35 watch by hand?
Yes, the NH35 supports manual winding and second stop, which lets you start it and set the time precisely.
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