Author Topic: Our first made in China  (Read 16453 times)

Offline takashi78

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Our first made in China
« on: December 16, 2010, 06:54:16 PM »
You must be guessing why "we"  :P, thats because this is truly an impulse buy by me, Jacky and CK77.
After i sent both of them a link on this watch the 3 of us decided in 1hr to place an order.
This would be out first made in China watch.

Took about 1week to ship from HK to Malaysia.
Special thanks needs to go to Jacky for using his account to pay first and trusting that we will pay him back hehe :P

So what did we get?
Seagull made, 19jewel, TianJin watch factory 1963 first Chinese pilot watch re-issue :Dancing_banana:

This is how it came in


The box


This is how its packed. Head and nato seperate


Taken out of wrap and before assembly


Pic of see thru back, has printing on the glass


The dial.
I like how the dark cream dial has lots of contras. Chemical blue chrono hands, red chrono hand and gold markers.


Here it is assembled.


Wrist shoot


Sorry for the bad quality pics. We were at a coffee shop and the person who suppose to bring the camera cant make it last min :P
Remember to take better pics when you get it at home ya ;D

Its night i'm tired and so a detail impression would have to wait. And the other 2 can chime in.

Initial thoughts:
- Built quality is ok for the price paid.
- I like the look really something different and military look.
- Nato is barely acceptable at best. I figured taking it off less than 50 times will kill it.
- Chrono pushers one is sticking out longer than the other.
- Winding is ok, not too rough.

Now the BAD NEWS:
One of the 3 that arrived is sorta DOA (Dead on arrival). Why?
Because the chrono will start, stop but WILL NOT reset. So looks like we have to send it back to HK.
So a follow up report would be how good the customer service is.

Offline David_cheong

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2010, 07:57:35 PM »
Ha..now I see you people wanted to meet up at papparich....tonight.
Sorry...could not make it.

Both pcs looking stunning.

Just like my previous seagull..enjoys.
dc
I am almost a recovered watchaholic, but last checked shows only 70% recovered. How?

Offline danny

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2010, 08:06:18 PM »
Congrats to Peter, Jacky and CK77 on their latest acquisition.
The chrono has a very retro look to it. I would love to see a closeup of the display back. Are the movements based on the Russian Poljot?

 :Cheers:

Offline ck77

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2010, 08:15:24 PM »
Hey, where's my wrist shot?  ;D ;D
I have missed tonight meeting with them, can't wait to get my hands on it.  :Dancing_banana:

Danny, the movement is ST19 manual wind chorno.

Offline Gigi

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2010, 08:23:54 PM »
St-19 colum wheel chrono based on venus 175 movement

Offline danny

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2010, 08:28:26 PM »
Danny, the movement is ST19 manual wind chorno.

St-19 colum wheel chrono based on venus 175 movement

Thanks guys. I learn something new here everyday.
 :Cheers:

Offline Scott C.

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #6 on: December 16, 2010, 09:31:47 PM »
Congrats ;)

Should let me know so that i can join and snap some photos  :Cheers:

Offline HusH

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2010, 10:15:44 PM »
Congrats!  :Cheers:

Agree on what Peter said. Nato strap is pretty poor. I bought a leather strap to replace it soon after I got mine.

Also, the chrono pushers on mine has one longer than the other as well.

But the packaging for yours is much nicer. Mine just came in a tin box.

Nice piece nonetheless. Congrats again!  :Cheers:

Offline maximillian

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2010, 10:18:53 PM »
sigh the bad news is kinda pad considering youre paying for a legitimate watch..guess china has a long way to go in QC  :HammerHead:
musdus vult decipi ergo decipiatur.veritatem dies aperit.

Offline takashi78

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2010, 05:42:58 AM »
QC has always been and i believe for at least another 5-10yrs their downfall.
IF only they can get the QC right, things would be much much better.

Some update, the watch is kinda loud, can definitely hear it in a quiet room.

Offline kltime

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2010, 06:20:15 AM »
What is the brand of the watch-is it Seagull as well?

some Seagull movements are apparently a bit louder than normal esp the rotor.

Offline takashi78

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2010, 08:49:05 AM »
Made by Seagull.
Crown also has Seagull logo.

So far after around 13hrs since last wind the watch is about -5s.

Offline danny

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2010, 10:58:08 AM »
Made by Seagull.
Crown also has Seagull logo.

So far after around 13hrs since last wind the watch is about -5s.

Wow. Sounds like they forgot to lube the movement. It's losing accuracy fast.

 :Cheers:

Offline takashi78

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #13 on: December 17, 2010, 11:09:40 AM »
gigi or someone able to tell whats the accuracy spec of this movt?

Offline David_cheong

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #14 on: December 17, 2010, 12:00:01 PM »
My previous seagull...runs out by 8-12 secs per day. (same movement). And if you activites the chrono often, the accuracy lags more...la
Also, the resettting pointer will not sit exactly at '0'

Thats my personal experience.

dc
I am almost a recovered watchaholic, but last checked shows only 70% recovered. How?

Offline Coco

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #15 on: December 17, 2010, 12:25:19 PM »
good new toy  :)

Offline takashi78

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #16 on: December 23, 2010, 05:28:17 AM »
Over the week, watch worn only twice and wind every 24hrs. Placed dial up everyday.
The watch avg -5.7s per day.

Offline Gigi

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #17 on: December 23, 2010, 06:02:03 PM »
Over the week, watch worn only twice and wind every 24hrs. Placed dial up everyday.
The watch avg -5.7s per day.

Do you have any concern abt lossing that much time? For me i rather it to gain time then lose time...

Offline takashi78

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #18 on: December 23, 2010, 06:12:57 PM »
Not really. Fine by me.
COSC is also -4 so its not out by much.

Offline ck77

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #19 on: December 25, 2010, 01:18:14 PM »
Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas everyone  ;D

Finally received my Seagull 1963 Air Force Reissue from Jacky this week. As mentioned by Peter at the first post, this was our impulse buy  :D

As the name suggests, the design is paying homage for the first Chinese chronograph produced in 60s for the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Quote
In 1961 the Ministry for Light Industry received the order to develop a new 'aviator's watch' for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. This was designated Project 304. Around this time a seconds-only chronograph version of the ST-2A was prototyped, but it did not enter production. The Venus Watch Company, Switzerland, were wanting to offload the calibre 175 chronograph tooling to raise capital for development of their calibre 188. The USSR were not interested, but the Chinese were. The 175 was purchased for Project 304. By October 1965, the third test batch were completed and submitted to the Ministry and Air Force for approval, which was passed in December. By May the following year, 1400 chronograph watches had been delivered to pilots of the PLAAF.

source: http://www.tractionink.com/watch_wiki/index.php?title=Tianjin_Seagull

The dial is measuring 38mm (including crown), dial reads "19 jewels, China, Tianjin Watch Factory"


Red star with raised gold index


Signed crown, this is the only Seagull logo on the entire watch


Special request sapphire caseback. Decorated ST-19 manual wind non-hacking chrono movement, based on Venus 175.


A bit small on my wrist huh, should I keep it or sell it?


What I like:
- Reasonable priced
- Retro military look with matching nato
- Cream dial, red star, raised gold index, red chrono second hand

What I dislike:-
- Smallish in today's standard
- Red paint on the caseback blocking the clear view of the movement
- Questionable QC, chrono hand doesn't reset to zero in one of the three watches we received. (in the time of writing, replacement watch is on the way from the Hk seller)

p/s: pardon for the poor pictures, not enought sunlight today  :-[

Offline Scott C.

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #20 on: December 25, 2010, 01:50:00 PM »
Nice photos ;)

Show us next month  :thumbsup:

Offline takashi78

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #21 on: December 25, 2010, 03:41:34 PM »
You captured the blue hands nicely!

Offline Gigi

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #22 on: December 26, 2010, 07:23:41 AM »
How small is small? 36mm?

Offline ck77

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #23 on: December 26, 2010, 03:01:02 PM »
How small is small? 36mm?
38mm (including crown)

Offline kltime

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Re: Our first made in China
« Reply #24 on: December 27, 2010, 10:14:56 AM »
ck,

I think its a nice n unique piece, a conversation starter. Is this ur only chinese watch?