I'm continuing now to backtrack through some of my older videos. Today, I'd like to tell you about my Seagull 1963 (海鸥 1963). Sometime last year when I was starting with my watch journey, I came across this chronograph on Instagram. It’s a reissue of the 1963 model which was given to the Chinese air force, back in the day.
Knowing the reputation that "Chinese-made watches" get in the watch community, I can't help but feel some defensiveness on behalf of the Chinese (being of Chinese ethnicity, myself). I wanted something on my wrist that's proudly Chinese.
After months of deliberation, I finally ordered the Seagull 1963. I ordered mine on Lazada Philippines for over $250. This particular model is 38mm, acrylic crystal dome case, and has a transparent back. It came with 2 straps: green NATO strap and brown leather strap.
Unfortunately, mine had a power reserve of only 16 hours as opposed to the 40+ hours it supposedly has. I didn't bother with the whole return process anymore and so I just kept it.
I use it as a weekend "fun" watch because having to wind it daily hurts my fingertips. This is how I learned that I need to avoid buying manual wind watches for myself. I managed to scuff it once. It was a tiny scuff mark on the acrylic crystal. After using Polywatch on it, the scuff was totally gone.
Fast forward to May 2020 though, it seems that Jody from Just One More Watch has uncovered that most of the Seagull 1963 that we all know and love is considered a "fake". It's a long explanation but best to view it here: https://youtu.be/dFLqBdcbhkc
So it turns out, what most of us have been buying and sharing isn't a real Seagull. While it uses the ST19 movement from Seagull, it's not an actual official Seagull-brand watch.
Fast forward to today November 2020, I checked through Aliexpress 11/11 and I cannot find the acrylic version anymore. I can only find the ones in Sapphire. The prices of these sapphire ones go for around $170+ now. I guess the proliferation of these watches from different manufacturers drove the prices down.
Sharing with you below my affiliate links:
On Aliexpress for the sapphire version of the Seagull 1963.
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Akp0eB
Seagull 1963 (Acrylic Crystal) on Seagull1963.org (affiliate link) - good option for within EU
https://seagull1963.org/product/seagull-1963-38mm-acrylic-sapphire/?ref=aliaseve
* I haven't bought from them myself, but they have a 4/5 rating on TrustPilot and they actively deal with customer issues. According to the owner, shipping usually takes 2-3 days within EU.
NOTE: When you use my affiliate links, I get a small commission from the website at no additional cost to you.
Sharing with you here the unboxing video I made last year:
2 Comments
Great article Eve. I got the 1963 before I read your article. At first I was surprised at how the watch looked on your wrist, and was wondering if I should've gotten the 38mm instead of the 40mm. Later I realized that you're a woman with smaller wrists than me, so I'm ok with the 40mm. BTW, I take from Jory's video, that Seagull can't claim to be the only "real" 1963 watch maker. They kind of lost that position and all they can claim is to be the real maker of the original movement. Makes for an interesting and uniquely Chinese horological timeline. You can still get the acrylic crystal if you look hard enough.
ReplyDeleteOne last thing, I've seen your videos before and really enjoyed them. Especially the Skmei watches and didn't know you also posted these articles. Great job, love seeing stuff in print as well as in video, keep up the great work.
I hadn't noticed someone commented on this! Thank you so much for checking this out. :)
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