Are MVMT watches good quality, and are they worth it?+
Opinions are genuinely mixed. MVMT makes affordable quartz watches with clean, minimalist looks, and many buyers are happy with how they wear at the price. Critics counter that a lot of the cost goes into marketing and influencer promotion rather than mechanics, and the quartz movements are simple. The fair summary: a stylish, accessible everyday watch rather than a horological investment.
Why is MVMT so affordable compared to luxury watch brands?+
Two reasons. The watches run quartz movements, which are far cheaper to produce than mechanical ones, and MVMT built its business by selling direct online, skipping much of the traditional retail markup. That model is exactly what let two college dropouts launch the brand and quickly sell hundreds of thousands of watches. The trade-off is simplicity rather than complication.
What does the name MVMT mean?+
MVMT is pronounced movement, and the name is a deliberate play on words. It nods to the movement of time and of people, as well as to the movement, the mechanical component inside a watch. It is a neat encapsulation of a brand built around watches with a lifestyle, on-the-go identity.
What does MVMT actually sell besides watches?+
Watches are the core, but the range has broadened. MVMT started selling sunglasses in 2016, and also offers other accessories alongside its quartz watches. The throughline is the same minimalist, accessibly priced aesthetic across the categories.
Who founded MVMT and when?+
MVMT was co-founded in June 2013 by Jake Kassan and Kramer LaPlante, both college dropouts at the time. They funded the launch unconventionally, raising more than $290,000 through two crowdfunding campaigns on Indiegogo. It became a notable example of a direct-to-consumer brand getting off the ground via crowdfunding.
Is MVMT an independent company or owned by someone bigger?+
It is no longer independent. MVMT was acquired by the established watchmaker Movado in August 2018 for over $100 million, a figure that could have reached up to $200 million depending on performance. So while it began as a scrappy startup, it now sits inside a larger, long-standing watch group.
Is MVMT actually a popular, proven brand?+
By volume, yes. The company had sold over 600,000 watches by December 2016 and was estimated to have passed a million by September 2018. Its audience skews young: MVMT said that in 2017, 88% of its users were under 34 and 45% were under 24. It clearly resonated with a younger, style-led buyer.
Who is an MVMT watch best suited for?+
Given the brand's own data, the natural fit is a younger buyer wanting a clean, contemporary look without a luxury budget, which lines up with the under-34 audience that made up most of its users in 2017. It works well as a first design-led watch or a wardrobe of affordable everyday pieces. If you are after mechanical complication or long-term collectibility, look elsewhere.
How should I care for an MVMT watch?+
Treat it as you would any quartz fashion watch: keep it away from prolonged water exposure unless its rating allows it, wipe the case and strap to keep them clean, and have the battery replaced when the watch stops. A few reviewers have flagged clasp durability on some bracelet models, so it is worth checking the clasp is seated securely when you put it on.
Is MVMT a real American watch brand?+
Yes. MVMT Watches Inc. is an American watchmaker, founded in 2013, that sells quartz watches along with sunglasses and accessories. It rose quickly as a direct-to-consumer name before being bought by Movado in 2018, so it is a genuine brand with a real, if short, track record rather than a marketplace label.
