Thursday 8 September 2011

Seagull 1963 mechanical chronograph watch.


Seagull 1963 mechanical chronograph watch.

This is a special limited edition remake of the first watch created specifically for the Chinese air force during the early 1960s, complete with Chinese characters on the dial. The movement in these watches was reputedly based on the Swiss Venus 175 movement after the Chinese government purchased the original production equipment. Development of the original watches was at the Tianjin Watch Factory (now more widely known as the Seagull watch company and considered by many to be the finest watch manufacturer in China).

Features of the watch:

-Seagull ST-1901 hand wind chronograph movement with red central chronograph second hand, 30 minute chronograph counter at 3 o'clock and small second hand at 9 o'clock (ie: this hand runs continuosly when the watch is wound - the central second hand only activates when the chronograph timer is activated). Top button starts/stops timer. Bottom button resets timer. Central crown winds watch and sets time. Fully wound power reserve is approximetely 40 hours. (The ST-1901 is an evolution of the original Tianjin chronograph movement which was a 19 jewel movement compared to the current 21 jewel movement).



-The watch dial is an attractive pale gold with gold hour numerals and markers. Additional chracters, minutes and seconds tracks are black. Hands are blue except for the central chronograph seconds hand which is red. There is a red star beneath the 12 position. Below this is the label 21 Zuan (21 Jewels). Above the 6 position are the characters "China" and "Tianjin Watch Factory".

-Nato style nylon material strap.

-Stainless steel casing (including solid steel screw down case back). The case back is engraved with Chinese characters ("Tianjin Watch Factory"), a star logo and "1963". Diameter is 38mm.

-Acrylic crystal.
A beautiful, collectible watch that is very wearable and has a distinct yet classic style.


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