Japanese Miyota 8215 Automatic Watch Movement Review
The Miyota 8215 is a genuine Japanese automatic movement widely used in affordable and homage watches.
Key facts
- The Miyota 8215 is a genuine Japanese automatic movement with a sweeping seconds hand and date, costing around $40 to $60.
- It runs at 21,600 bph (6 beats per second), which suits vintage-style builds.
- It measures 26 mm across and 5.67 mm tall, with hand sizes of 1.52 mm hour, 1.00 mm minute and 0.17 mm seconds.
- The 8215 is non-hacking, so the seconds hand keeps running even with the crown pulled out to the third position.
- Build quality and the date change feel noticeably better than clone movements, but the rotor is known to be noisy.
The Miyota 8215 is a widely used movement in alot of budget automatic movement watches. It can be found in a range of Citizen, Invicta and also other popular watch brands. After i had played with a range of clone movements. I wanted to build a watch using a genuine Mitoya 8215 watch. Feautres including a sweeping second hand and smooth date. Built in Japan these movements have a feel of quality when working with.
Being a genuine japanese movement you think it will scream costly however it comes it at a great competive price. It costs between $40 - $60 depending on supplier of the movement. It is a solid movement to use and when working with the parts feel great, the Miyota 8215 runs at a 21,600 bph (6 bps) making it great for vintage style builds.
Miyota 8215 Technical Specification
These specifications are taken from the Miyota movements website — see the official Miyota 8215 specification
| Movement | Miyota 8215 |
| Beats Per Hour | 21,600 bph |
| Beats Per Second | 6 |
| Diameter | 26 mm |
| Height | 5.67 mm |
| Hour Hand | 1.52 mm (1.50 mm fits) |
| Minute Hand | 1.00 mm |
| Second Hand | 0.17 mm |
Miyota 8215 Stem and Movement Holder
When you receive the parts it comes with a temporary stem which can be used while building the watch. Additionally supplied is the stem to use with your crown and also a movement holder which supports the dial.
Back and Miyota 8215 Stem Removal
Stem removal on the 8215 is super smooth and easy. You press the little pin marked with the golden arrow and you can pull the stem out - make sure you remove the stem in the winding position. When you want to return the stem you just need to push in gently. Now one negative about this movement is the rotor and the sound it gives off. It is know to naturally be a nosier movement so bare this in mind for builds.
Close Up and Date Wheel
On this close up of the 8215 you can see the date wheel, its an excellent print date wheel and its so smooth when moving. When using the stem on this watch to change it feels so smooth you can see the clear quality difference over clones. The date font is clear and easy to read. It is also easy to apply a date wheel overlay to this movement.
Dial Hands
The dial hands on the 8215 are 1.52mm for the hour hands but a 1.50mm will fit. The minute hand is a 1.00mm and the 0.17 for the second hand. This movement is the perfect size on these again the quality of the exact sizing makes so much difference when applying the right size hands. One thing to note is the 8215 is non-hacking, meaning the second hand never stops moving even when the crown is in the 3rd position.
Frequently asked questions
What is the beat rate of the Miyota 8215?
The Miyota 8215 runs at 21,600 beats per hour, which is 6 beats per second. That slower beat makes it a good fit for vintage-style watch builds.
Does the Miyota 8215 hack?
No, the Miyota 8215 is non-hacking. The seconds hand keeps moving even when the crown is pulled out to the third position.
How much does a Miyota 8215 movement cost?
A Miyota 8215 typically costs between $40 and $60, depending on the supplier. That is good value for a genuine Japanese movement.
What hand sizes does the Miyota 8215 take?
The Miyota 8215 takes a 1.52 mm hour hand (a 1.50 mm hand also fits), a 1.00 mm minute hand and a 0.17 mm seconds hand.
How do you remove the stem from a Miyota 8215?
With the crown in the winding position, press the small release pin next to the stem and pull the stem out. To refit it, simply push the stem back in gently.
