The cost of a brand watch has two parts. The development fee is a one-time cost for the tooling and sample behind each design — for most projects it starts from around $500 and often sits around $1,000, depending on how many parts are custom-made. The unit price is the cost per finished watch, built up component by component, and it depends on your design, the movement and the quantity.
Because both depend on the design, we quote after we’ve seen it — and every quote shows the full breakdown, so you can see exactly where the cost sits and what would change it.
What You See on an HTIMES Quote
Each design gets its own quotation sheet, in USD. It has two blocks: the unit price, itemised by component, and the one-time development fee.
Block 1 — Unit price, itemised by component
| Line on the quote | What decides the cost |
|---|---|
| Case | Size, shape, material, finishing, and whether it is an existing case or developed for you |
| Dial | Colours, printing, applied logos or indices, texture |
| Hands | Standard shapes or custom-shaped hands |
| Movement | Chosen to match the functions you want and your target retail price |
| Crown | Standard or screw-down, plain or engraved with your logo |
| Case back | Solid or see-through, engraving, edition numbering |
| Crystal | Type of glass and any coating |
| Strap or bracelet | Material, colour, branded buckle or clasp |
| Packaging | A box designed for your brand, or your own packaging |
| Assembly | Assembling each watch to the approved sample |
| Unit price per watch (USD) | The total of the lines above, for the quantity quoted |
Block 2 — Development fee, one time per design
| Line on the quote | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Tooling | Moulds for the parts made specifically for your design — case, dial, hands, crown, buckle |
| Sample | The physical sample in final materials, for your approval |
| Project management | Coordinating suppliers, drawings and approvals through development |
| Total development fee (USD) | Typically from around $500, often around $1,000 — quoted per design |
The development fee is paid once per design. Reorders of the same design use the same tooling.
What Moves the Cost Up or Down
- How many parts are custom. Every part developed specifically for your design adds tooling. Starting from existing cases and parts keeps the development fee low; a fully original case and dial raise it.
- The movement. We recommend a movement based on the functions you want and the price your watch will sell at, rather than the other way round.
- The case structure. More complex shapes and more separately moulded parts take more tooling.
- Quantity per design. Once the sample is approved, most first runs are between 100 and 300 pieces per design. Larger quantities bring the unit price down.
- Packaging. A box shaped and finished for your brand, or your own packaging supplied to us.
Why We Quote After Seeing Your Design
Two watches that look similar in a photo can be priced very differently once you count the custom parts, the movement and the finishing. A price given before we have seen the design is a guess — and a guess is either padded to be safe or revised later. Neither helps you plan.
Seeing the design first lets us quote every line, flag where a small change would save cost without changing how the watch looks, and give you a timeline we can keep.
What to Send Us for a Quote
- Your design — a sketch, a rendering or reference images are all fine
- The functions you want (time only, date, chronograph, and so on)
- Your target retail price and where the watch will be sold
- The quantity you have in mind per design
- Your packaging needs
- Your launch date, if you have one
No finished drawings yet? We can turn your references into renderings first, then quote from those.
From Quote to Delivery
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Design and approval | Allow a month or more — longer if a licensor reviews each version |
| Sample in final materials — quantity confirmed in parallel | Around 30–45 days |
| Production, checked against the approved sample | Around 45–60 days |
See what happens at the sample stage and how development works from first conversation to delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to develop a watch for our brand?
There are two parts: a one-time development fee per design, typically from around $500 and often around $1,000, and a unit price per watch that depends on the design, the movement and the quantity. We quote both after seeing your design.
What does the development fee cover?
Tooling for the parts made specifically for your design, the physical sample, and project management through development. It is paid once per design.
Why can’t you give a unit price before seeing the design?
Because the unit price is built from each component — case, dial, hands, movement, strap, packaging — and each depends on your design. Quoting from the design means every line is accurate.
Will the quote show the breakdown?
Yes. Every quote itemises the unit price by component and shows the development fee separately, in USD.
How many pieces does a first run usually involve?
Once the sample is approved, most first runs are between 100 and 300 pieces per design.
Can we use our own packaging?
Yes. We can develop a box for your brand, or you can supply your own packaging.
How can we keep the cost down?
Use existing cases and parts where they suit the design, choose a movement that matches your target retail price, and keep the number of custom-moulded parts to what really carries your brand.
Ready for a Quote?
Send us your design, the quantity you have in mind and your target retail price. You’ll get an itemised quote for each design, with the development fee and the unit price shown separately.
