flamenco
2881
Chinese Horology
Like to share a recent acquisition, fresh outta the box. Most the most expensive nor the most refine, but very attractive and excellent value for money (lets jus say you cannot even get leather straps from the tops brands for the same money)
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Seagull Chronograph, Model no. 1963 / Sea-Gull (Tianjin) 1963 Chinese Air Force Re-Issue:
“The Tianjin Watch Factory became famous throughout China for producing the first Chinese watch in 1961. The factory was assigned to manufacture the first Chinese aviation watch (chronograph) for the Air Force of the People's Liberation Army. The code of the assignment was "304".
The factory pre-manufactured three batches of the aviation watch by October 1962. In the end of the year 38 leaders and experts (industrial ministry, air command, and naval equipment supervisors) came together for the appraisal of the watch. After the meeting the Tianjin Watch Factory received permission to begin the mass production of the watch. In 1963 the factory completed and delivered 1400 aviation watches to the Chinese Air Force.”
This is the official remake of the watch as it was created in 1963; a unique and limited classic masterpiece. It has hand winding chronograph movement with 19 jewels and power reserve of over 40 hours. The watch is a special edition and comes with a wooden box and user manual.
The dial says "19 ZUAN", Chinese for "19 jewels". The symbols on the lower half spell "China - Tianjin Watch Factory".
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Here are 2 quick pictures of my actually watch. Came with a military khaki green NATO (not photographed) which I plan to swap with a leather and a milanese bracelet.
Stainless steel case
Domed acrylic crystal
Stainless steel caseback with inscriptions
Handwound ST19 chronograph movement, 21 Jewels
Blue hour and minute hands
Small seconds at 9 (blue hand)
Central red chronograph seconds
30 minute totalizer at 3 (blue hand)
WR 3 bar
White dial (more like silver to me!)
Applied gold colored markers
Diam. 37mm, Lug width 18mm, lug to lug 47mm
Domed acrylic crystal
Stainless steel caseback with inscriptions
Handwound ST19 chronograph movement, 21 Jewels
Blue hour and minute hands
Small seconds at 9 (blue hand)
Central red chronograph seconds
30 minute totalizer at 3 (blue hand)
WR 3 bar
White dial (more like silver to me!)
Applied gold colored markers
Diam. 37mm, Lug width 18mm, lug to lug 47mm
My research indicates that housed within is Venus 175. Seagull has purchased the tooling from Venus in the early 60ies.
Apparently, the watch comes in 3 variants. Which I hope to eventually lay my hands on to complete.
(photo credit: cnmark)
(photo credit: cnmark)
(photo credit: cnmark)
Will put up a more comprehensive review after I get better acquainted with it. Thanks for looking.
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Chinese Horology
Like to share a recent acquisition, fresh outta the box. Most the most expensive nor the most refine, but very attractive and excellent value for money (lets jus say you cannot even get leather straps from the tops brands for the same money) +++++++++++++...
Me too
I've accumulated a half dozen or more Chinese watches, mainly Sea Gull and Shanghai. Admittedly I rarely wear them but they are affordable and fun. Many of them were bought on a recent trip to China where I failed to gain entrance to the Shanghai Watch fa...
There is a shop
a shop at Xin Tian Di (starts with a " T" name which escapes me) that carries seagull. I got the 1963 online and the seller may have some pcs left, PM me if you like the url, and I could have placed an order for the BOTH of us Waited 2 weeks for my packag...
Tourneau @ Xin Tian Di
I bought one back in 2009 from that shop. Not very big range though. Best, Horo
Interesting countdown bezel...
..on the dive watch, SJX. Any further photos or details of that watch?
It's not a dive watch
The bezel is bidirectional. It's a reissue of a watch issued to the Chinese army in the 1950s apparently. - SJX
I will have to do some searching around..
...on that one. I'm interesting something of that nature. [Bidirectional bezels can be OK for diving (if not ISO) and actually better if you're just using them for a timer...but it's the countdown aspect that's cool]
Information is pretty scarce
If you google you'll find plenty of pages on this but I'm not sure how accurate it is since it's all English language. What I know is that this is the second generation reissue with 25 jewels, the earlier one had 22 jewels and was cheaper. The shop staff ...
Thanks, SJX.
Much appreciate it. I think this is the second watch you've put on my list....
You don't want to know him...
too well! He is dangerous to your bank account! Trust me! cen@jkt
I'm fortunate...
....so far it's only been an orange faced Seiko diver and now this SWC watch....A friend now lives in Shanghai, so I'm putting him on the hunt for that and a Seagull chrono... This message has been edited by BDLJ on 2011-09-28 16:59:34
i've occasionally seen an original military watch like yours SJX on 'thats auction site'
never considered buying one as i often wonder if they use the translation to misrepresent items. G
I bought one for my sis in law the last time i was in Hangzhou as they..
..have a Seagull boutique there. Grande date version with interesting Chinese writing to indicate day and date..and the dial is with guilloche. Sis in law works in Shangai. Or was it Suzhou, cannot quite remember..
Heard
the have a store in SIC, so possible you got this while in Suzhou. Never knew that they are quite a few of us who got the watch. A testiment to the great eye catching design. Will have to monitor its functionality for now, till then, I will will provide a...
Interesting find!
Hope to read more on this or come across them some day. Thanks for sharing. f
Thought
I saw a seagull shop in TST, I could be wrong. To be honest, never really looked at em until I chanced upon this re-issue. Am currently monitoring its functionality, tiil then, and I certainly provide an update. The venus looks great, jus wish they had no...
I think there is a Seagull..
shop somewhere but also never bothered. I will pay a visit sometime to see what they have. Look forward to further updates. Thanks! F
Seagull boutique is on Nathan Road ....
pretty near to the Halewinner and Oriental watch shop near Jordan MTR. I hope i am correct LOL.
Interesting pieces.
Seagull will attract more customers if the finishing of the movement can be improved. Thanks for showing the watches. Regards Ling
Indeed !
Got me intrigued enuf to buy one , tat will do for now untill I have had some time with it , and am sufficiently satisfied with its accuracy and functionality. Will certainly provide an update down the road.
Finishing? What finishing?
I don't think the chinese would give a attention to that. Actually it doesn't look that bad for a chrono that cost less USD250 Our beloved swiss sure didn't try that hard I think the chinese did more to spread the appreciation of classic chrono. Just my m...
Less than USD250 to get a chrono with column wheel?
You must be kidding. Actually, the chrono looks pretty good with a lot of blue thingy and moderate polishing. Is that movement from Seagull? Regards Ling
It is the same watch actually. Retail about USD 400 I got it used. Hence the low price.
The screw are chemically blue and most of the lever are disposalable but bare in mind the chinese has been making these venus 175 variant for close to 50 years. They may not be Dufour but 50 years of making the same thing will make you an expert on that c...
Its actually cheaper than that now.
Got mine for less than USD250 + shipping Apparently they are at least 3 or perhaps up to 5 variants of this very same watch floating the market (used or otherwise). I think the resllers speced them differently when they got Tianjin watch company to manufa...
I had one of those ...
Seagull 1963 re-edition chronographs and, initially, I was impressed with the vintage design. An old pic of my ex-mine: The watch, as everyone with less than 40mm, stayed with my daughter. After few weeks, she complained about the precision and I took to ...
Great Picture, Excellent Composition !
Nilo ! Never knew u had an eye on this. Yes I have my concerns with the accuracy as well and have been keeping it running since I got the watch, so far so good. "fingers crossed" However, I think I will keep mine nonethless A bit late but thanks for the e...
Thank you
Flamenco, To take good pictures requires almost the same skills of watch collecting. Try, try and try again. Thank you.
What a coincidence... I just prepared a brief review of the same watch!
I just posted a short review of this watch on another forum! Here is an abbreviated version... Mine came equipped with a olive colored nato, but looks nicer with a dash of color. The red of the new nato goes nicely with the red of the chrono seconds hand....
Great
review and photo. U could have started a new thread, which your review deserves! Mine is no where near a review, its more like an estatic reaction after a 2 week wait ! Btw, I had to upload some of your excellent photos onto my iphone ! Loved the pictures...
A trio of Chinese watches and Xi'an warriors
Bought the Xi'an warriors (NIB with papers ) in Xi'an from a street vendor for 10 RMB. Found out I overpaid by about 8... The one on the right is a true dual time zone - the two times are not linked, so 15 min or 30 min difference is no problem. And yes, ...
Excellent Trio
Excellent review and great photos of the 1963 re-edition !! The regulator and retrograde looks fantastic ! Pls share more details and pictures Pls tell me if you got em online or direct thru a seagull store in China.
Where to find Tianjin and Perpetual watches...
Flamenco, very glad you enjoyed the pictures, and also that you enjoy them on your iPhone I got the Tianjin chrono and Chunlei dual time from sellers on another forum. I've never seen the Chunlei brand anywhere else. The Tianjin can be purchased from onli...
Thanks Mate !
Most certainly will check em out ! Jus hope the wife shares the same excitment............. she does not know about the 1963, yet ;-)
i have the sea-gull military chrono as well, a good well built watch
when i bought mine i went for the clear caseback as well as the solid back. unlike you Flamenco i cleaned the writing off the clear back so you can see the movement better. very quick and simple and in no way detracts from the look of the watch i dont thi...
i've got another seagull as...
i've got another seagull as well, its a handwind, very very cheap dress watch so i've never shown it here. i do like the dual time zone model. will have to look out for that one. the caseback is quite easy to clean off. i think its on the inside so you ob...
Pictures of mine
I have one of these too. In fact, I even got one for a buddy of mine. The difference is his has a sapphire glass face while mine is acrylic. It comes in a nice wooden box The Sapphire one is on the right. Display back for both Another pic of mine, this ti...