In watches, what is the difference between Swiss and Japanese movement?

Answer 1

They occupy different segments of the market. Swiss movements like the Valjoux movements tend to be higher end and they pretty much have the market cornered on mechanical movements. At the low to midrange, you get better quality for your money with the Japanese quartz movements. Japan has some innovative ones like the Citizen ecodrive and Seiko Kinetic movements, but they are limited to Citizen and Seiko watches. Cheap swiss movements are pretty much limited to swatches, which are fine watches but are no better than their Japanese counterparts.