One quarter of the world's mechanical watch movements...

...are now made by Tianjin/Sea-Gull, so, I thought I'd put together a short history of the company using watches from my collection (with only a couple of exceptions):

Here's some Tianjin/Sea-Gull watches in order of build with some introductory notes...

Tianjin/Sea-Gull started in 1955 with just 4 workers that were asked by the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to gather in a small workshop and build a wristwatch. The company is now the world's largest single manufacturer of mechanical and automatic movements.

The four workers built a very few watches called Wuxing or ?? or 5 stars (I don't have one) and because of this success, the company began making watches on a larger scale for general distribution and sale to PRC citizens. Here's a borrowed picture of the Wuxing from Joel Chan's wonderful MicMicMor Vintage Watch site.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...han1/5star.jpg

The first general distribution watch built by Tianjin was...

WuYi (5.1) or May 1st (simple: ?? trad: ??)

This is an earlier Wuyi model, likely late-50s or very early 60s. The use of the older/simpler zuan symbol ? instead of the more complicated "jewel" character ? indicates before around 1964, same as with A-581 watches.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...i_51__face.jpg

"Shoubiao chang" means "watch factory", so: "Tianjin Watch Factory" and a nice example of the kinds of engraved casebacks common on vintage Chinese watches of the period.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...yi_51_back.jpg

An earlier 17 jewel "no anti-shock" 62-A movement. Although a very reliable and well-finished movement in its own right, once the 62-A was adequately improved with shock-proofing, the 62-A was then renamed the ST-2 model. Very clearly based on an FHF 25 movement, the watch was most likely produced on machinery purchased from Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon as (unlike the less-than-honest practices of some Hong Kong based manufacturers in modern times) it was very much the practice of the PRC in those years to legally purchase designs and plants/production machinery like they did for the 1963 Air Force chronograph which I'll show later, here.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...1_movement.jpg

Somewhat later during the 1958 to 1966 WuYi production run, the logo changed from 5.1 to WuYi in script...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...yi_2__face.jpg

...the caseback changed to reflect the movement upgrade...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...2_caseback.jpg

and the movement was now shockproof, 18 jewels and anti-magnetic. Now designated ST2A, these were the last models in WuYi production history.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...2_movement.jpg

Meanwhile, in 1961, the Tianjin factory was asked to produce a chronograph for aviators of the People's Republic's Air Force (People's Liberation Army Air Force/PLAAF). Since such tooling did not exist in the country, the Chinese government negotiated for--and purchased--the designs and tooling for the Venus 175 chronograph movement which Venus wanted to sell so they could develop the 188 calibre. In 1966, 1400 Tianjin chronographs were provided to PLAAF pilots.

Here's a borrowed photo from MicMicMor of the original PLAAF chrono:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...7181632433.jpg

This event would benefit Tianjin/Sea-Gull in an unpredictable way some 40 years later. At about the same time Tianjin/Sea-Gull was looking to expand the market for its own branded watches in the North American and European markets, a commemorative re-issue of the original PLAAF chronograph was being produced in China. As it happens, a couple of entrepreneurs asked for quantities of the watch as did a few European distributors and the "1963 Chinese Air Force Re-Issue Chronograph" became an almost instant hit, with most sellers running out of stock in fairly short order. Sporadic further issues come to market occasionally and the 1963 re-issue has done much to increase the visibility of Sea-Gull watches in the targeted markets.

Here's one version of the re-issue (there are a few with minor cosmetic differences) from my collection:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...63_sneaker.jpg

...and the modern Tianjin/Sea-Gull version of the movement based on the PRC purchased Venus tooling and plans...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...3_movement.jpg

Meanwhile back in the 1960s (1966 to be exact) the Tianjin factory created the very first 100% Chinese designed and built wrist watches and re-named the product DongFeng (?? or "East Wind") which were produced until 1973.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...feng_close.jpg

These watches contained the robust, accurate and finely finished 18,000 BPH ST5A (again, 100% Chinese designed and built) movements--a 19 jewel product with jewelled mainspring barrels. Here's the ST5A hand-wind:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...g_movement.jpg.

According to my observations, this watch runs about one second out per day on the wrist. :thumbright:.

The movement was so well-designed and accurate that the Tianjin factory was one of a very few factories exempted from the late 1960s edict that had the vast majority of Chinese watch factories cease production of any movements of their own design in favour of what is known as the "Unified" or "Chinese Standard" movement.

In 1973, Tianjin was given permission to export Chinese made watches and at this time the Sea-Gull "brand" was born and became China's very first export watch. Also, the ST5 movement was further improved to 21,600 BPH. Note the English wording on the dial...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...gull_st5_1.jpg

...and the lovely (and now iconic) Sea-Gull caseback (actually 18mm lugs--I squeezed a 19 onto it :roll: ) :

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...jewel_back.jpg

The movements in these upgraded models are hand-finished in what has become known as "Sea-Gull stripes" and, since the engraving is hand-done, these movements are each unique and sought-after by collectors. They certainly show the pride these workers took in their products.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan..._stripes_0.jpg

As well as hand-wind versions, automatic (ST5D) models were also produced. Although not extremely rare, they are still quite uncommon, especially compared to handwinds:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...-gull_29_1.jpg

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...ll_29_back.jpg

...and here's the ST5D automatic movement:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...s/M/ST5D_1.jpg

The ST5D was a first high point in vintage Chinese watchmaking. Very robust and accurate with a date mechanism but too late in the game to be as big a seller as the movement deserved.

Also--during this time--Tianjin did release a very few models under its own "brand" but most were commemorative models for one thing or another. Conjecture has it that explains the "J" on the dial of this example (the black face is much rarer than a whitish-faced version):

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan.../M/tianjin.jpg

...with an unstriped but "Dongfeng" signed ST5 movement (which dates this watch to somewhere between 1966-1973)...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...n_movement.jpg

...and the plain (usually limited or special issue) plain caseback:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...anjin_back.jpg

The next high point in Tianjin/Sea-Gull watchmaking was the very rare ST7 automatic wrist watch. Certainly, this watch owes a lot superficially to the Rolex "date-just" models so popular around the world at the time, but the clear "made in China" labelling, prominent Sea-Gull logo and hanzi date clearly show this is not an attempt to produce a fake or replica (and Sea-Gull was hardly the only watch to emulate the styling). This watch marks a very serious, but failed, attempt by Tianjin Sea-Gull to enter the export market with contemporary western styling and state of the art technical quality. The dial is marked 29 jewels, but both the movement and the rotor mechanism are marked 28 zuan (jewels), and 28 is correct.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...s/M/st7_1a.jpg

This watch contained a first class movement with micrometer regulation...that, as I noted, could not find a market: the Chinese either couldn't afford it or, if they could, were more interested in the extremely recent influx of cheaper or flashier, and often quartz, watches--and export market customers were not aware of the high capacity for quality of Chinese manufacturers. Evidently, fewer than 3500 of these beauties were made. This example runs less than three seconds out per day, more than 35 years after it was built and with no known regulating. Unfortunately, the movement is no longer produced.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...a_movement.jpg

So, simultaneously having to deal with the double-whammy of a bunch of previously unavailable foreign models which were then entering the PRC Chinese market and the quartz revolution that was hammering mechanical watchmakers all around the world, Sea-Gull attempted to survive by producing a smaller, less-robust but also less expensive movement known as the ST6--a movement that is still common today in both mechanical and automatic versions, and that was Tianjin/Sea-Gull's first major world-wide money-maker (even though times stayed tough for quite a while).

Here's a picture of the ST6 borrowed from MicMicMor:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...lchan1/st6.jpg

Although versions of the ST6 (with no huge movement spacer) are, even today, very common in womens mechanical watches and automatic, variations with spacers also find their way into mens watches:

First. a late 70s stylish-at-the-time mens small watch:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...6__ostrich.jpg

and something more controversial--an extremely rare Sea-Gull lookalike/homage of the wonderful Rolex Submariner that was built during the unhappy times at Sea-Gull during the early 1980s when the company was barely surviving and looking for ways to stay in business and keep its workers employed. This watch contains the automatic version of the ST6.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...ullriner_1.jpg.

(From MicMicMor) The ST6 automatic movement:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...chan1/st6a.jpg

Obviously things have improved greatly for Tianjin/Sea-Gull (as I noted at the beginning) and so, here--to close this post--is a much more recent 2008 example of a very affordable (around $225) Sea-Gull M185SP mechanical/automatic watch made by Sea-Gull for the world market. This still currently available watch is a favorite of mine because it is clearly Chinese (note the date) and...I think it's gorgeous :D

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...M185_face2.jpg

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...M185_crown.jpg

It contains the very common Sea-Gull ST16 Movement (used by a huge number of manufacturers around the world) - Sea-Gull's entry-level automatic movement, known for being simple, robust and accurate with very little second-hand stutter -- and it handwinds and hacks. A very competitive movement in it's price class, the ST16 is even the ebauche used in the legally-Swiss Claro-Semag 888.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...5_movement.jpg

(A very complete history of the Company is available here at the Chinese Watch Industry Wiki)

fascinating stuff, thanks for posting. do you know of a good source to pick up older chinese watches? i'm tempted to try out an auto or maybe a chrono.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ktmog6uk

fascinating stuff, thanks for posting. do you know of a good source to pick up older chinese watches? i'm tempted to try out an auto or maybe a chrono.

---

Autos are fairly easy to come by but vintage Chinese chronos are essentially impossible to find on the used market since only one vintage chrono (the 1963) was ever made.

Sea-Gull ST5D autos turn up occasionally on Ebay and can also be found on Taobao but there's a learning curve in order to use Taobao (the instructions are here and it's not impossible, I do it all the time now, and I taught myself ). Newer Chinese affordable auto s can be found at Sea_Gull's USA site.

Re-issue 1963s are mostly found used on the various boards although I hear tell that another batch of re=-issues might be in the works. The European sellers who had them (WatchUnique an WereldHorloges) are sold out AFAIK.

If you're just looking for a relatively inexpensive and reliable intro to vintage Chinese autos, though, keep an eye on Ebay. There's one right now that looks OK to me. The price isn't incredible but it's not horrible either and it appears to be in good shape.

Oh--the Chaika Sea-Gulls are Russian, not Chinese (just to avoid confusion)

Watch Talk - and TZ-UK - at it's very best!

Thank you for an enjoyable and enlightening post.

R

very good post, good history, i still prefer the cats as props though :D



cheers
mike :wink:

A very interesting and informative post, that will suprise a lot of people I expect!

Great post!

Nice interesting post.

Aside from the Venus reissue the movements do look rather agricultural but a great insight into a largely unknown watch industry.

I can't help thinking how the Chinese watch industry (albeit many years later) is similar to Seiko's history in the early days. I wonder if they will mirror their success?

Thanks for posting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ralphy

Watch Talk - and TZ-UK - at it's very best!

Thank you for an enjoyable and enlightening post.

R

---

Could not express myself any better.

Wonderful read :salute:

Thanks for the post. It is very informative, and accompanied by excellent pictures.

Best wishes,
Bob

Thanks for possibly one of the best knowledge based posts I have read for a long time now.... :wink:

Great write up :D

Thank you, I enjoyed this very much. I'll move it to "Classic Posts" when it starts to slide down the page.

Eddie

Very interesting read, thank you for taking the time to post.

Jim

Excellent informative read,great stuff :wink:

Thanks for posting this and the other pieces on Chinese watches. Something I knew nothing about.

A superb post... and a timely reminder of why I still drop by here. :)

Great post, AlbertaTime, much appreciated. :)

Thank you for posting - fascinating and informative :thumbright:

That's fascinating stuff mate - always more to learn about watches.

I want to thank you all very much for your kind and appreciative comments, and I want to thank Eddie for his generous gesture of moving this post to the "Classic Posts" section. I'm new here but I'm very aware of TZ-UK's fine reputation so I couldn't be more pleased.

All well deserved plaudits AT. I always enjoy your posts on WUS & it's great to see your contributions over here :D

I do like the Sea-Gull M185SP mechanical/automatic.

Thanks for opening up a whole area of watches I knew nothing about.

Excelent post. A real classic.

Thank you!

Interesting stuff - their first attempt wasn't half bad - I'll just go and google to see if there is a reissue....

Thank you for that information. A great read and one worth sharing.

Having just discovered this post i must say thank you for the detail and the gap filling
Another TZgem.

Great post!

Coincidentally, 1/4 of the world's population have Chinese movements in them. :D

{Updated due to old photo re-directs)

Just over a full one quarter of all the world's mechanical and automatic watch movements are now made by one single Chinese company: Tianjin/Sea-Gull, so, I thought I'd put together a short history of the company using watches from my collection (with only a couple of exceptions and/or borrowed pictures):

Here's some Tianjin/Sea-Gull built watches in order of build with some historical and descriptive notes...

Tianjin/Sea-Gull started in 1955 with just 4 workers that were asked by the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to gather in a small workshop and build a wristwatch, and Tianjin/Sea-Gull is now the world's largest single manufacturer of mechanical and automatic movements. The four workers built a very few watches called Wuxing or 五行 or 5 stars (I don't have one) and because of this success, the company began making watches on a larger scale for general distribution and sale to PRC citizens. Here's a borrowed picture of the Wuxing from Joel Chan's wonderful MicMicMor Vintage Watch site.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...han1/5star.jpg

Now, getting to the watches I do have :) ...

WuYi (5.1) or May 1st (simple: 吴仪 trad: 吳儀)

This is an earlier Wuyi model, likely late-50s or very early 60s. The use of the older/simpler zuan symbol 占 instead of the more complicated "jewel" character 钻 indicates before around 1964, same as with A-581 watches.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...i_51__face.jpg

"Shoubiao chang" means "watch factory", so: "Tianjin Watch Factory" and a nice example of the kinds of engraved casebacks common on vintage Chinese watches of the period.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...yi_51_back.jpg

An earlier 17 jewel "no anti-shock" 62-A movement. Although a very reliable and well-finished movement in its own right, once the 62-A was adequately improved with shock-proofing, the 62-A was then renamed the ST-2 model. Very clearly based on an FHF 25 movement, the watch was most likely produced on machinery purchased from Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon as (unlike the less-than-honest practices of some Hong Kong based manufacturers in modern times) it was very much the practice of the PRC in those years to legally purchase designs and plants/production machinery like they did for the 1963 Air Force chronograph which I'll show later, here.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...1_movement.jpg

Somewhat later during the 1958 to 1966 WuYi production run, the logo changed from 5.1 to WuYi in script...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...yi_2__face.jpg

...the caseback changed to reflect the movement upgrade...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...2_caseback.jpg

and the movement was now shockproof, 18 jewels and anti-magnetic. Now designated ST2A, these were the last models in WuYi production history.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...2_movement.jpg

Meanwhile, in 1961, the Tianjin factory was asked to produce a chronograph for aviators of the People's Republic's Air Force (People's Liberation Army Air Force/PLAAF). Since such tooling did not exist in the country, the Chinese government negotiated for--and purchased--the designs and tooling for the Venus 175 chronograph movement which Venus wanted to sell so they could develop the 188 calibre. In 1966, 1400 Tianjin chronographs were provided to PLAAF pilots.

Here's a borrowed photo from MicMicMor of the original PLAAF chrono:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...7181632433.jpg

This event would benefit Tianjin/Sea-Gull in an unpredictable way some 40 years later. At about the same time Tianjin/Sea-Gull was looking to expand the market for its own branded watches in the North American and European markets, a commemorative re-issue of the original PLAAF chronograph was being produced in China. As it happens, a couple of European distributors asked for quantities of the watch as did a few other entrepreneurs and the "1963 Chinese air Force Re-Issue Chronograph" became an almost instant hit, with most sellers running out of stock in fairly short order. Sporadic further issues come to market occasionally and the 1963 re-issue has done much to increase the visibility of Sea-Gull watches in the targeted markets.

Here's one version of the re-issue (there are a few with minor cosmetic differences) from my collection:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...63_sneaker.jpg

...and the modern Tianjin/Sea-Gull version of the movement based on the purchased Venus...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...3_movement.jpg

Meanwhile back in the 1960s (1966 to be exact) the Tianjin factory created their first 100% Chinese designed and built wrist watches and re-named the product DongFeng (东风 or "East Wind") which were produced until 1973.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...feng_close.jpg

These watches contained the very robust, accurate and finely finished 18,000 BPH ST5A (100% Chinese designed and built) movements--a 19 jewel product with jewelled mainspring barrels. Here's the ST5A hand-wind:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...g_movement.jpg.

According to my observations, this watch runs about one second out per day on the wrist. :thumbright:.

The movement was so well-designed and accurate that the Tianjin factory was one of a very few factories exempted from the late 1960s edict that had the vast majority of Chinese watch factories cease production of any movements of their own design in favour of what is known as the "Unified" or "Chinese Standard" movement.

In 1973, Tianjin was given permission to export Chinese made watches and at this time the Sea-Gull "brand" was born: China's very first export watch. Also, the ST5 movement was further improved to 21,600 BPH. Note the English wording on the dial...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...gull_st5_1.jpg

...and the lovely (and now iconic) Sea-Gull caseback (actually 18mm lugs--I squeezed a 19 onto it :( ) :

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...jewel_back.jpg

The movements in these upgraded models are hand-finished in what has become known as "Sea-Gull stripes" and, since the engraving is hand-done, these movements are each unique and sought-after by collectors. They certainly show the pride these workers took in their products.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan..._stripes_0.jpg

As well as hand-wind versions, automatic (ST5D) models were also produced. Although not extremely rare, they are still quite uncommon, especially compared to handwinds:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...-gull_29_1.jpg

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...ll_29_back.jpg

...and here's the ST5D automatic movement:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...s/M/ST5D_1.jpg

The ST5D was a first high point in vintage Chinese watchmaking. Very robust and accurate with a date mechanism but too late in the game to be as big a seller as the movement deserved.

Also--during this time--Tianjin did release a very few models under its own "brand" but most were commemorative models for one thing or another. Conjecture has it that explains the "J" on the dial of this example (the black face is much rarer than a whitish-faced version):

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan.../M/tianjin.jpg

...with an unstriped but "Dongfeng" signed ST5 movement (which dates this watch to somewhere between 1966-1973)...

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...n_movement.jpg

...and the plain (usually limited or special issue) plain caseback:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...anjin_back.jpg


The next high point in Tianjin/Sea-Gull watchmaking was the very rare ST7 automatic wrist watch. Certainly, this watch owes a lot superficially to the Rolex "date-just" models so popular around the world at the time, but the clear "made in China" labelling, prominent Sea-Gull logo and hanzi date clearly show this is not an attempt to produce a fake or replica (and Sea-Gull was hardly the only watch to emulate the styling). This watch marks a very serious, but failed, attempt by Tianjin Sea-Gull to enter the export market with contemporary western styling and state of the art technical quality. The dial is marked 29 jewels, but both the movement and the rotor mechanism are marked 28 zuan (jewels), and 28 is correct.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...s/M/st7_1a.jpg

This watch contained a first class movement with micrometer regulation...that, as I noted, could not find a market: the Chinese either couldn't afford it or, if they could, were more interested in the extremely recent influx of cheaper or flashier, and often quartz, watches--and export market customers were not aware of the high capacity for quality of Chinese manufacturers. Evidently, fewer than 3500 of these beauties were made. This example runs less than three seconds out per day, more than 35 years after it was built and with no known regulating. Unfortunately, the movement is no longer produced.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...a_movement.jpg

So, simultaneously having to deal with the competitive double-whammy of a bunch of previously unavailable foreign models which were then entering the PRC Chinese market and the quartz revolution that was hammering mechanical watchmakers all around the world, Sea-Gull attempted to survive by producing a smaller, less-robust but also less expensive movement known as the ST6--a movement that is still common today in both mechanical and automatic versions, and that was Tianjin/Sea-Gull's first major world-wide money-maker (even though times stayed tough for quite a while).

Here's a picture of the ST6 borrowed from MicMicMor:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...lchan1/st6.jpg

Although the ST6 is very common in women's mechanical watches with no huge movement spacer, it also finds its way into mens watches:

First. a late 70s stylish-at-the-time mens small watch:

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...6__ostrich.jpg

and something more controversial--an extremely rare Sea-Gull lookalike/homage of the wonderful Rolex Submariner that was built during the unhappy times at Sea-Gull during the early 1980s when the company was barely surviving and looking for ways to stay in business and keep its workers employed. This watch contains the automatic version of the ST6. (Mind you--the smooth sweep and build quality on this thing astonished Don/Falcon4311 when he saw it fist-hand)

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...ullriner_1.jpg.

(From MicMicMor) The ST6 automatic movement:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...chan1/st6a.jpg

Obviously things have improved greatly for Tianjin/Sea-Gull (as I noted at the beginning) and so, here--to close this post--is a much more recent 2008 example of a very affordable (around $225) Sea-Gull M185SP mechanical/automatic watch made by Sea-Gull for the world market. This still currently available watch is a favorite of mine because it is clearly Chinese (note the date) and...I think it's gorgeous :D

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...M185_face2.jpg

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...M185_crown.jpg

It contains the very common Sea-Gull ST16 Movement (used by a huge number of manufacturers around the world) - Sea-Gull's entry-level automatic movement, known for being simple, robust and accurate with very little second-hand stutter -- and it handwinds and hacks. A very competitive movement in it's price class, the St-16 is even the ebauche used in the legally-Swiss Claro-Semag 888.

http://www.amchpr.com/Chinese_Mechan...5_movement.jpg

(A very complete history of the Company is available here at the Chinese Watch Industry Wiki)

Thanks for another superb post which should convince the sceptics that parts of the Chinese watch industry really do pose a threat to the Swiss monopoly.

Eddie

Aside from that PLAAF chrono and its re-issue they certainly make 25% of the worlds ugliest watches too IMO. :lol: :wink:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swanbourne

Thanks for another superb post which should convince the sceptics that parts of the Chinese watch industry really do pose a threat to the Swiss monopoly.

Eddie

---

I appreciate your very kind comment. Thank you, Eddie. :D

I think the sceptics will have to see it first hand and up close, but that's OK...because they will. http://www.rongood.net/emot/yeah_dance.gif

Great read! thanks for the research and writing it up!

I was looking into one of the 1964 re-issues or whatever they are called, think I'm going to have to get one now!

Thanks a lot for this very informative information, Ron.

Vortex89, I believe you mean 1963 (Airforce) re-issue. I used to have one of those. The quality is fantastic! It is hand wound movement, and the case size, if I am not mistaken, is around 39 mm. It comes with solid and display sapphire caseback versions. The crystal is acrylic. Have you got one yet?

Capt. Serdal

That is a very interesting post. I wonder how long until they make 50%, 75%, 90%! I am sure they make many great watches but the fact that some much of what I own is made in China makes me want my watch to be different but I am sure I will get one eventually.

where did all the pictures in your post go?

Thank you very much for writing this exceptionally fascinating post :) Really good background knowledge and very educational, indeed !

I will now have to add both a vintage seagull and a modern to my collection :shock:

China is such a huge market, my son rides a vespa scooter, recent press releases talked about vespa breaking into the domestic chinese market. Why, in one year the chinese buy more scooters that vespa has ever manufacured in its entire history!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Raffe

where did all the pictures in your post go?

---

I had changed websites and so the links became broken. They're fixed now and all the photos have returned.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlbertaTime

I had changed websites and so the links became broken. They're fixed now and all the photos have returned.

---

Thx

thanks for sharing that. thats a very informative post. now i know where this brand has its roots. was considering getting a seagull tourbillon sometime back. its sparked my interest again..

Nicely done. Thanks!

It's posts like these that start me looking at watches with fresh eyes and will probably cost me as I feel the urge to buy one.
Great review

Awesome post.

Thanks for the post, a great read.

Super interesting,

As a newbie that was a interesting read, thanks.

Sent from my SM-T310 using Tapatalk

Nice post thanks!

An excellent read as i really had no idea how many they account for - thanks!