2011 WUS Chinese Moonphase SE Project - DESIGN

[ColinW]

The ST2528 movement is the limit

http://www.tjseagull.com/wkt/25/2528w.pdf

Limit with regard to what? Complication placement or domed crystal? It seems to me one would just need to rotate the movement in the case and adjust the orientation of the numbers on the date wheel to move complication placement. However, I really don't know much about it and it maybe far more complicated than that.

Maybe that's why they're called 'complications'?

[Milanche78]

First of all, we do not know yet how much "freedom" do we have to change the current M308S version,
what are the options for the case, hands, hour markers. I am afraid that we will have to use those that are already in use in current sea-gull collection. We might only be able to modify the dial, change its color , pick style for numbers... and to engrave what ever we want on the caseback

I am not saying anything, but we might have more luck with the smaller company, like this Perpetual, though they do not have the moonphase model, but that does not mean they could not make it by our sketch.

[cleung]

I like the look of the chinese eight but I'm not sure I like the red moon, kind of likes like the rising japanese sun...

[paulie485]

I like Torsten's list:
1) Sapphire
2) Case = 40 mm minimum (given Martin_B's point about thickness of the watch due to moon phase complication)
3) Lug = 20 mm
4) Dial = white; like CN-Marks prototype (China Made as in 中国 制造 or China Tianjin 中国 天津 on bottom/rim of dial and 海鸥 in the old Dongfeng font style instead of current Seagull logo)
5) case back= see through with WUS limited edition plus serial number engraving on metal rim
6) hands = like CN-Marks prototype (no brevet style or Dauphine (M177s) style hands)
7) dial = CN-Marks prototype l (no roman numbers)
8) wrist band = without

my additional thoughts:
- No need to ship with wrist strap - we all have our own preference.
- Keep only Sea-Gull branding (chinese text or arabic numbers) on front, and WUS logo on back only, not the face.
- Blue hands on a white dial would be a very nice alternative to the CN-Marks hands.
- Sea-Gull is very good with Guilloché and I would love to see some texture on a white dial. The sunburst pattern of the CNMarks is very nice.
- the current Sea-Gull M308S case has the dimensions worked out pretty well for this exact movement (40mm x 13mm thick) so I suspect we will end up using that case.

This list is pretty close to mine. I would add a couple of my own thoughts:

- - Brushed case, narrow bezel - maximize watch face
- - 42-44mm
- - modest WR - 50 meters at least, screw down crown and case back.
- - Blue hour and minute hands, red second hand (??? still thinking on the second hand)
- - NO ROMAN NUMERALS!! That seems as un-Chinese as you can get. Arabic or markers only, please!
- - Prefer WUS logo and other special identifying information on caseback or movement, not on face.
- - not particularly concerned whether it's a display back or solid case.
- - prefer head only, no strap. Put the savings into the watch. There are already 20 ideas about straps. I don't like deployants, others love them.
Some want alligator, I'm not a fan. Let's do our own things on straps.

[paulie485]

There seems to be a lot of different opinions on what makes a good watch - and everyone is right! So instead of talking about what makes a good looking watch, we should all focus on what makes a good looking CHINESE watch. So, the 1963 tianjin chinese air re-issue would be a good starting point for design cues.

+1

[MHe225]

... focus on what makes a good looking CHINESE watch. So, the 1963 tianjin chinese air re-issue would be a good starting point for design cues.

-1 I do like the 1963 re-issues a lot -actually, I do own one- but disagree that it is a good starting point:

• it's a chronograph (with 2 extra pushers)
• has 2 sub-dials, no moon-phase and no date
• case is too small to house the ST2528 movement

There are better starting points, e.g. cnmark's prototype Moonphase or some of the MB's shown in this thread.

Just my $0.02

RonB

[paulie485]

-1 I do like the 1963 re-issues a lot -actually, I do own one- but disagree that it is a good starting point:

• it's a chronograph (with 2 extra pushers)
• has 2 sub-dials, no moon-phase and no date
• case is too small to house the ST2528 movement

There are better starting points, e.g. cnmark's prototype Moonphase or some of the MB's shown in this thread.

Just my $0.02

RonB

The design elements that I like in the 1963 reissue are the dial color, numerals, and the hand colors. RonB is right that there isn't much else in it that makes sense for this project.

[paulie485]

I'm getting more and more sold on blue hour and minute hands and a red second hand.

And this may be a crazy idea, but try it out: what if the moon had the red star in it? Or if the moon was a red star? A red star moving around in the watch face? Too far out?

[chrishiew]

Hi All,

Not too sure this helps, but just sharing my humble thoughts. All pictures are borrowed! .. Sorry for this.

Using existing Case Design:
1. Sea-Gull M186S but then it could be a tad smaller than 40mm. Hope we can make it 40mm to fit the movement ..

2. Sea-Gull M199S (I know it's a Chronograph case) but it's a 41mm case. Probably this could fit the movement ..

Moon-phase Design:
1. As captured by Milanche78, it would look nice having the Moon-phase design as below. Just re-pasting his picture once more. Of course the word "Chronograph" should not appear .. :

2. The scale of 0 - 29.5 days may look something like the below. This was captured by Milanche78 as well.

Hands Design:
1. Hour and Minute Hands like M199S but in Blue.
2. Second Hand - just a simple "stick" shape in Blue. Nothing fancy I suppose.


Dial Design:
1. Arabic Numbers like the Ball Trainmaster posted by blurrycloud or Baton style is alright. I think both would look classy and classic.
2. White Dial but wouldn't want to have a sort of ring or marker separating the hour markers or the numbers as captured by Milanche78:

I guess that is all for now ..

Have a nice weekend!!

Cheers,
Chris

[Milanche78]

I'm getting more and more sold on blue hour and minute hands and a red second hand.

And this may be a crazy idea, but try it out: what if the moon had the red star in it? Or if the moon was a red star? A red star moving around in the watch face? Too far out?

How about the moon stays yellow, but the stars around it to be red :)

@Chris
Oh, someone is reading my posts

Ps
Some more thoughts:

screwdown crown and caseback- I don't know if Sea-gull even offers those
regarding the costs, I think that we should put the most of $ into the quality case and dial-its design, hands and hour markers and numbers, moon window-I prefer half, instead of full circle
than , if we have funds, we shall go for sapphire crystal and at last, if possible for screwdown crown and caseback
About the copyrights for seagull name and logo on the dial, I have no problem if we have "sea gull" only as a label on the movement.