During the period when most of the vintage Chinese mechanical watches at the AMCH/PR were made (roughly 1955--1975/80), watches were prohibitively expensive for most workers in the People's Republic.

A watch like a Shanghai, WuYi or Beijing would cost the equivalent of 3 or 4 months wages, and I don't mean a worker would have to save for for four months. I mean an average worker would have to save the equivalent of every penny made during four months. Then he could afford a higher end watch. Even a worker with a lower paying job would have to save perhaps the equivalent of a full months wages to buy a less common lower-priced watch like a Zhongshan.

Consequently, watches (even Zhongshans) were considered a real symbol of accomplishment and they were very highly prized. But saving the money was only part of the battle.

Even with the money saved, a worker would also need a ration coupon because many things were rationed. WUS moderator "Soviet" described the process like this: "There were coupons for watches, bicycles, furniture, etc. So when a coupon arrives, people in a working unit would discuss who this time should get the coupon. Usually it is the guy who needs it most would get it. For example, a guy was to get married, or the guy who never got a coupon, etc. It was very democratic."

So, here's a 1971 ration coupon for a Zhongshan watch that is now in the AMCH/PR collection along with the watches:
(the ration coupon is the top paper with the green printing. the print on the left side is from a 1972 PRC painting called "warm in the shop.")



and you might get one of these...






(Zhongshans are 9 jewel wonders but they were considered a "poor man's watch"...one month's wages. Many of these beauties have a 50 hour power reserve :D .)