The Miyota 9 Series
The movement powering our collection, and why we chose it.
When people ask what powers a Lorier watch, we're proud to say the Miyota 9 series. It's the family of Japanese automatic movements we use across our collection, and we think it's one of the best values in mechanical watchmaking today. Here's what it is, why we chose it, and which versions you'll find in our watches.
- What it is
- Miyota's premium automatic movement family, made by Citizen in Japan
- Miyota 9039
- Neptune, Falcon and Astra
- Miyota 9075
- Hyperion
- Key specs
- 28,800 vph, about 42 hours of power reserve, 24 jewels
What is the Miyota 9 series?
Miyota is the movement-making arm of Citizen, one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world. Its 9 series is the company's premium automatic line, a step above the Miyota 8 series.
Here's how the two calibers we use compare:
| Miyota 9039 | Miyota 9075 | |
|---|---|---|
| Used in | Neptune, Falcon, Astra | Hyperion |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds | Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, date |
| Height | 3.90mm | 4.92mm |
| Diameter | 26mm (11½ ligne) | 26mm (11½ ligne) |
| Beat rate | 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | 28,800 vph (4 Hz) |
| Power reserve | About 42 hours | About 42 hours |
| Jewels | 24 | 24 |
| Accuracy | -10 to +30 sec/day | -10 to +30 sec/day |
| Winding | Automatic and hand-wound, hacking | Automatic and hand-wound, hacking |
Why thinness matters
A movement sets the floor for how thin a watch can be. Every dial, crystal, caseback and gasket stacks on top of it. Start with a thick movement and the whole watch grows with it.
At 3.9mm, the Miyota 9 series is one of the slimmest automatic movements in its class. That gives us room to design watches that wear the way vintage watches did: low on the wrist, slipping easily under a cuff, with proportions true to the midcentury references that inspire us. A dive watch can stay a dive watch without feeling like a hockey puck.
The Miyota 9039
The Miyota 9039 is a no-date, three-hand automatic. It keeps the 9 series' slim 3.9mm height and skips the date wheel entirely.
We use it in the Neptune, Falcon and Astra because a clean, no-date dial is central to how those watches look. No date window means no interrupted dial, and no "phantom" crown position where the date would be set. Pull the crown and you're setting the time. That's it.
The Miyota 9075
The Miyota 9075 brings a true GMT complication to the 9 series, and it's what powers the Hyperion.
A "true" or "flyer" GMT lets you jump the local hour hand forward or back in one-hour steps without stopping the watch, while the 24-hour hand keeps tracking your home time. Land in a new time zone, pull the crown, click the hour hand to local time, and you're done. Your seconds keep running and your home time stays put.
For years, a flyer GMT at this price point was hard to find. The 9075 changed that, and it's exactly the kind of movement the Hyperion was built for.
Is the Miyota 9 series a good movement?
Yes. It's reliable, accurate for its class, easy for watchmakers to service, and built by one of the most experienced movement manufacturers in the world.
One honest note: the Miyota 9's rotor is audible when it spins, especially in a quiet room. Some people find that a drawback. Others like the reminder that there's something mechanical on their wrist.
For a watch meant to be worn every day, it's the movement we'd choose for ourselves, and it's the one we choose for you.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the Miyota 9 series?
Miyota rates the 9 series at -10 to +30 seconds per day.
What's the power reserve of the Miyota 9039?
About 42 hours when fully wound.
Can you hand-wind a Miyota 9 series movement?
Yes. All 9 series movements can be wound by hand through the crown, and they hack, meaning the seconds hand stops when you pull the crown out to set the time.
What's the difference between the Miyota 9015 and 9039?
The 9015 has a date. The 9039 is the no-date version with lower hand clearance to keep it slim.
Is the Miyota 9075 a true GMT?
Yes. The local hour hand jumps independently in one-hour increments, making it a "flyer" or traveler's GMT.
