Why Ixdao is not a Factory Brand

There have been a lot of rumors circulating about Chinese watch brands. Some YouTubers and influencers label us as “factory brands”—but in many cases, that’s simply not true.

Many well-known Chinese microbrands—such as Ixdao (us), Heimdallr, and Thorn—do not own manufacturing facilities. Some brands may claim otherwise for marketing purposes, but the reality is that they don’t.

Manufacturing in China is extremely competitive. Owning and operating a factory comes with major pressure, high fixed costs, and constant operational demands—leaving very little time to build and grow a brand unless you are a large, established manufacturer like Seagull, Shanghai, or Peacock.

Instead of producing every component in-house, most brands outsource parts production to specialized suppliers and then complete final assembly. Many choose in-house assembly specifically to improve quality control.

At Ixdao, we are a small team consisting of:

1 Watchmaker

1 Head of Operations

1 Marketing

1 Quality Control

1 Warehouse & Shipping

We do not manufacture parts ourselves. Instead, we work with experienced suppliers who have a long history of producing watch components for many respected brands. We are a Chinese microbrand — not a factory brand.

In our early years, our operations were mainly focused on B2B. Now, we are shifting more toward B2C, meaning more orders will be shipped directly by us, with fewer agents in between. In 2025, we began this transition, and thanks to the success of models like the “E” and the Warrior, we were honestly overwhelmed by the volume of orders. Things became chaotic at times, and the scale exceeded our expectations.

For 2026, we have improved our assembly workflow and adjusted order quantities for key components. This will allow us to fulfill orders more efficiently and ship faster, with minimal waiting time.

We also have exciting new releases planned— including a fitted rubber strap for the Warrior, an upgraded 904L stainless steel GMT Sub, the 5303 GMT, and more.

For now, we will be taking a break for Chinese New Year, and we will return by the end of February 2026.

Wishing you a Happy New Year! 🎉