In the global fashion accessories consumer market, the customized watch product lines of different brands determine different procurement strategies. However, when connecting with the Chinese watch supply chain, the first core choice faced by purchasing managers is: should we choose OEM watch mode or ODM watch mode?

These two abbreviations, which are frequently mentioned in the watch manufacturing industry, represent two sets of completely different capital allocation, research and development cycle and quality control logic of the whole watch. As a leading watch design factory and source manufacturer that has been deeply engaged in the field of high precision whole watch customization for 20 years, FOKSY will deeply break down the meaning and hidden cost of the two for you in this article to help your brand accurately position the overseas market.

Click to learn about FOKSY's 20-year source factory's watch manufacturing strength: About FOKSY Watches

I. What is the OEM model in watch customization? (Self-developed design contract manufacturing)

1. Deep meaning

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), that is, the original equipment manufacturer, in the watch industry, this means that the brand owner holds the absolute soul of the product. You need to provide the complete industrial design of the wristwatch, 3D renderings, and CAD engineering drawings Even down to the selection of movement models (such as Citizen Meiuda, Seiko from Japan, or Rhonda from Switzerland), the three-dimensional CD pattern on the dial face, and the requirements for the geometric lines of the case, etc.

Factory (FOKSY) as your powerful hardware backing, in strict accordance with your technical parameters for high precision mold opening, fine steel forging, dust free assembly and overall quality control to build your exclusive OEM watch line.

2. Core characteristics: Absolute property rights and high barriers

• Absolute property rights protection: all the shell, literal, pointer molds belong to your brand exclusive, competitors can not be copied, with natural market exclusivety.
• High brand premium space: due to the original structure and appearance of the whole table, the product is not easy to fall into the homogenized price war, suitable for middle and high-end light luxury route.
• Target audience: Mature B-end enterprises that have a large scale, an independent design team, sufficient budget, and aim to establish a long-term brand moat.

II. What is the ODM model in watch customization? (Factory ready solution OEM)

1. Deep meaning

ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) is a more commercially efficient mode. In short, it is to directly use the whole table structure and appearance design scheme that has been developed and mature by the factory and verified by the overseas market.

Buyers do not need to pay expensive research and development costs and bear the risk of long mold opening, just choose the desired ODM watch shell structure in the factory's product library, and then by recombining the color of the dial, changing the material, laser engraving its own brand Logo in the crown/bottom/buckle, you can quickly package a new exclusive watch.

2. Core characteristics: Ultimate speed and low risk

• Zero mold risk: Avoid the cost of steel mold trial and error which can cost thousands of dollars, and put all the funds into the front-end marketing.
• Fast time to market: long structural mechanics development and engineering testing processes are cut out, and the whole table is usually delivered in only 20-30 days.
• Target audience: large Shopify/Amazon sellers who want to quickly scale their SKUs, fashion apparel brands looking for proximity cross-definition, and start-up teams with low initial cost testing.

III. Highlighting FOKSY's core strength: Comprehensive watch solutions and high-precision manufacturing capabilities

The essence of business competition lies in the battle of efficiency and differentiation. Choosing the OEM watch model means you are crafting unique core assets for the brand; By choosing ODM watch mode, you are intercepting the market's traffic dividend with the fastest speed. No matter which business path you prefer, FOKSY's strong full table manufacturing and research and development capabilities as a premier watch design factory will become the most solid back end of your brand.

If you are planning a brand new custom watch project, Please Contact our sales engineers and we will provide you with a free full table design evaluation, product art book and the most transparent B2B wholesale quotes!