Seagull 1963 40MM Sapphire Crystal ST1901 Movement Men's Chronograph Watch 1963 SU1963S40

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Like the last model, this doesn’t scream Chinese design. What it does well though, is give you an attractive dive watch at half the price of a Swiss model. Although the USSR was not interested, China was. After purchasing the caliber 175, the Chinese government assigned the Tianjin Watch Factory to develop a reliable watch for airforce pilots. The case is made of polished 316L stainless steel. On mine, the crystal is acrylic. This is more authentic and easier to polish. Faithful to the original, both versions of crystals are domed, lending a vintage feeling. I’d definitely take this German-inspired minimalism over the multitude of mediocre Scandinavian influenced designs.

This Seagull model does what it says on the tin. It’s a Bauhaus model. Simple, spartan and with a pared-down look.

The text on the dial of this watch varies between models, which leads some people to question the authenticity of certain models. As I mentioned, the original project 304 featured the Seagull ST3 in it. However it has since been updated to the ST19. As the name and text “19 ZUAN” on the dial indicates, it has 19 jewels.

The colour palette, the bold numerals and the 24mm canvas strap. They all look practical for a military or field watch. Like the 1963 chronograph, this piece feels authentic. The Tank Commander is up there among my top Chinese watches. It’s unashamedly Chinese and references their military history. It’s a great alternative to the 1963 chronograph if you want something more rugged.Over the years, they’ve released multiple takes on the Seagull 1963. There are many different remakes, each emphasizing different design elements. Special features have included: 19 and 21 jewels, different dial colors, acrylic crystal and sapphire, and a range of dial sizes. Seagull has faithfully remade this 1960s piece - albeit with a larger 40mm case. They’ve taken an iconic aviation watch and recreated it down to the smallest details.

If you thought that all Chinese watches were cheap pieces or fakes, stop. Look at those five Seagull watches again. These are undoubtedly quality watches. As well as the reliable automatic movement, there is a sapphire crystal and a substantial stainless steel bracelet. I don’t judge American cuisine based on the cheapest item on McDonald’s menu. And I don’t judge Chinese watches based on the bottom rung of the ladder. In my opinion, these reissue watches are all “copies” of the original, so I wouldn’t worry about this. Just enjoy this bit of Chinese watchmaking history on your wrist. Initial Thoughts All of our Seagull 1963 watches are subject to strict quality control, which is why we offer a 1-year warranty and 14 day no-questions-asked return policy.If you’re a fan of The Slender Wrist, you probably want to know if this watch will fit a smaller wrist. Rest at ease — with 38 mm, 40 mm and 42 mm diameter versions, Seagull’s got us small wrist dudes covered. The Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch Group, commonly referred to as simply “Seagull,” is one of the biggest watch manufacturers in China by volume. I want to show you something much better. Still affordable and still Chinese. Watches that represent great value for money but also have excellent workmanship and an interesting heritage. After several prototypes, the final version was unveiled in 1963, becoming the official watch of the Chinese Air Force. Despite the monumental effort it took to develop ‘the 1964,’ only 1400 watches were manufactured. Seagull 1963

I don’t have any problem with the power reserve. About the movement, sometimes I used the timer, and it worked fine. The cream dial is authentically vintage and cleverly uses colour to separate the different functions. The numbers and indices are gold, the hour hands blue and the chronograph hand is red. The effect is impressive.The stainless steel Seagull 1963 is available in different sizes: 38mm, 40mm and 42mm. Its length is 14mm. The top finish is polished and gives the watch a classic finish. Despite its vintage appearance it’ll therefore retain the looks/quality for longer. The bezel is well designed with a small rounding, thus providing the best viewing possibly from different angles. In the 1960’s Venus needed more space for the caliber 188 chronograph movement. They put the rights, plans, and machinery necessary to manufacturer their older model, the caliber 175, up for sale. I’m a big fan of watches influenced by Bauhaus design. Obviously, most of these tend to be German. So it’s interesting to find this design aesthetic used by a Chinese brand.