Exploring the Miyota 9039 Movement: A Comprehensive Guide

The Miyota 9039 movement is a high-quality, slim, and reliable automatic movement produced by Citizen’s Miyota.

9039 movement is part of Miyota’s premium 9000 series, designed to compete with higher-end Swiss movements in terms of both performance and reliability.

Introduced in the mid-2010s, the 9039 was developed specifically for watches without a date function, ensuring a cleaner dial design and catering to minimalist aesthetics. This movement has become popular among both  established brands and micro brands due to its robustness, and impressive accuracy.

• Type: Automatic
• Jewels: 24
• Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (vph) or 4 Hz
• Power Reserve: Approximately 42 hours
• Diameter: 26.00 mm
• Height: 3.90 mm
• Rotor Direction: Uni-directional
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
• Accuracy: -10 to +30 seconds per day
• Hacking: Yes (seconds hand stops when the crown is pulled out)
• Hand-winding: Yes
• Calendar: None (no date complication)

The Miyota 9039 and the Seiko NH35 are both popular movements in the watchmaking industry, but they cater to slightly different needs and preferences.

• Accuracy: The Miyota 9039 generally offers better accuracy (-10 to +30 seconds per day) compared to the NH35 (-20 to +40 seconds per day).
• Frequency: Both movements operate at a frequency of 28,800 vph, ensuring smooth sweeping seconds hands.
• Jewels: The 9039 has 24 jewels, whereas the NH35 has 24 as well.
• Power Reserve: The 9039 has a 42-hour power reserve, similar to the NH35.
• Height: The 9039 is significantly thinner at 3.90 mm compared to the NH35’s 5.32 mm, making it more suitable for slim watch designs.
• Hacking and Hand-winding: Both movements feature hacking and hand-winding capabilities.
• Date Function: The 9039 is a no-date movement, while the NH35 typically includes a date function.

Here is a comparison chart of the popular automatic movements between Miyota 9039 and Miyota 9015, Miyota 90S5, Seiko NH35 and Sellita SW200.

The Miyota 9039 is utilized by various brands, especially those focusing on minimalist designs. Some well-known models featuring the 9039 include:

• Baltic Aquascaphe
• Timex Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic
• Richard LeGrand Odyssea
• Zelos Mako V3
• VAER A5
• Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver
• Boldr Venture

Setting the time on a watch powered by the Miyota 9039 is straightforward:

1. Pull the crown out to the second position. This stops the seconds hand, allowing for precise time setting (hacking function).
2. Turn the crown to set the desired time. Rotate clockwise or counterclockwise to move the hour and minute hands.
3. Push the crown back in to start the movement. The seconds hand will resume moving, and your time is set.

The Miyota 9039 boasts several technical features that make it a preferred choice for many brands:

• Etachron System: Enhances the precision of the movement.
• Anti-Shock Device: Protects the movement from shocks and impacts, ensuring durability.
• Unidirectional Winding: Efficiently winds the movement in one direction to maintain the power reserve.
• High Durability: Made with high-quality materials to withstand the rigors of daily wear.

The replacement price for a Miyota 9039 movement can vary depending on the source and region. Generally, the cost ranges is around $70. This price makes it an attractive option for both watch enthusiasts looking to replace a movement and watchmakers seeking a reliable, cost-effective component for their designs.

While the Miyota 9039 is highly regarded, it does have a few shortcomings:

• No Date Complication: The lack of a date function might be a downside for those who prefer having a date feature on their watches.
• Noise: Some users report that the rotor can be noisier compared to other movements, which might be noticeable in quiet environments.
• Limited Availability: As a premium movement, it might not be as readily available as some more common alternatives like the NH35.

The Miyota 9039 movement stands out as a robust, accurate, and slim movement ideal for minimalist and elegant watch designs. Its overall performance and reliability make it a worthy choice for watch enthusiasts and manufacturers when the Swiss movement like Sellita SW200 is over the budget.