Is The PT5000 A Good Watch Movement?

You may have seen the Geckota G-02 Divers is now available using the PT5000 watch movement. With this new option on the site, we thought it would be worth running through the movement with you all and explaining why it is an interesting new option. The PT5000 comes from the Chinese movement manufacturers H.K. Precision Technology (HKPT) and is a new addition to their offerings. The movement is automatic with the ability to be hand-wound. Smooth seconds hand fans will be pleased as the watch beats at 28,800 VPH. The movement comes in with 25 jewels, 25.6mm in diameter and a height of 4.6mm. The benefit of this size is that it can fit in a variety of case sizes making it very appealing to brands. Watch movement enthusiasts will recognise those stats as being very similar to the ETA 2824-2 and the Sellita SW200. Much like the Sellita, the PT5000 is a clone of the ETA 2824 watch movement.

The origins of a classic

HK Precision Technology has been smart and (just like Sellita has been doing with the SW200 for years) has created this new movement based on an already proven ETA formula. The ETA’s movement design isn’t protected by any sort of patent due to the age of the design, hence all of the clones available. The ETA 2824 is commonly known as the benchmark for an entry-level swiss-made movement. You’ll more than likely have experienced this design from many brands including Tudor, Hamilton, Sinn, Stowa and more. There is a reason the movement is commonly referred to as a workhorse in the industry... The ETA movement ticks a lot of boxes. It's a well designed, robust movement that is easy to source spares for. It will keep on ticking for years and years without any fault. 9/10 trusted watchmakers will have no problem confidently working on the movement, for that added reassurance. You really get a lot for your money - and that’s not even considering the reputation it carries. However, it’s not all positive for the ETA 2824. The company is owned by Swiss giants Swatch Group which means the ETA’s time existing outside of the group is rapidly running out. Swatch Group know they’re onto a winner with the 2824 so naturally, they want to keep the good stuff to themselves. This is where companies like Sellita and HKPT come in. This tightening of supply has created the possibility for other companies to clone the design and meet the demand Swatch Group have left in their tracks.

The top of its class

With the design being so easy to copy the quality of many copies out there is varied. There are as many (if not more) poor examples of clones that exist than good examples. This is where the PT5000 stands head and shoulders above the rest. Chinese made movements have a generalisation associated with them that they’re ‘poor quality’ and ‘unreliable’. HKPT were determined to challenge this perception so took their highest grade version of the PT5000 to Glashutte in Germany to have its accuracy reviewed by the Chronometer Observatory. (This couldn’t be completed at COSC as they only test Swiss movements). "According to the China Horologe Association, the standard set by the Chronometer Observatory at Glashutte is the world's most rigid. The observatory has seven testing categories, and only allows a mechanical watch a deviation ranging from minus 3.8 seconds to plus 5.8 seconds within a day" - ChinaDaily.com Since then the movement has become China’s first watch movement to reach chronometer certification. Read more about this here. So in our eyes, the PT5000 has proved itself as a fantastic alternative to the ETA aligning well with our beliefs and aims with the Geckota range. Check out the G-02 Diver using the PT5000 here.