My 100th post – a brief history of Seagull watch

[joelchan]

Wuxing - FIVE STARS

24th March.1955, the First Chinese made watch is made and named “ Wuxing ( 5 Stars)”. This watch has 15J movement and 100% handmade by the former Seagull watchmaker.

1957, Preliminary office of Tianjin Watch Factory (former Seagull Watch Factory) is formed



Picture borrowed from internet

[joelchan]

Wuyi – (1st May)

1958 Tianjin Wuyi watch factory is found
1958 “Wuyi”is named for the whole product line.

The first generation of Wuyi – Model # 58-001
A 17 jewels handwinding Non-shock-protected movement (A.Schild copy) with chormed plated watch case and stainless steel case black.






Movement

The movement is not standardized until later model ST-2 is made. Even early 58-001 have variety on movement as well as the watch case back.

3 different case back is identified as Wuyi 58001 model watch

Early “Made in Tianjin, China” model


Traditional-Chinese writing case back with Wrench hole on edge


Simply-Chinese writing case back.


Movement Spacer



Crown


Dial


“17 jewels Water-proofed watch” under the Wuyi emblem can only found in those very early 58-001 dial.

[joelchan]

The second generation of Wuyi – Model # 62-A

It still carry a non- shock protected movement but have stainless steel version available.



case back

early 62A


62-A chrome plated model


Crown

[joelchan]

The thrid generation of Wuyi –ST-2 & ST-2A
FYI, ST-2A is the last model of "Wuyi" band. "Dongfeng" was replaced the Wuyi band on 1966.

ST-2 Wuyi



ST2 17J movement had upgrade to anti-shock system. Early ST-2 share the dial and case of 62-A but case back. May be the factory want to finished those stocked dials & cases before new ST-2A is launched?




ST-2A Wuyi
Dial

The watch case and emble are redesigned. Printing emble are more often found in the market.

Movement

Movement had upgraded to 18J with anti-shock system. Later Wuyi ST-2A had also undergo the anti-magnetic process before left the factory.

Case back



Upper - early chrome plated watch-case case back
middle - early stainless steel watch-case case back
Lower - later stainless steel watch-case case back (with antimagnetic marked)

Crown



XXXXXXX RARE ST-2 Wuyi XXXXXXXX

Rare Tianjin (not Wuyi) ST-2 with 18J movement




Traction period Wuyi ST-2A， old printing logo with 18J movement



Unknow ST-2 Wuyi with special marked "YI" on dial (above 6 o'clock location)

[joelchan]

1966 100% China designed and made watch "Dongfeng ST-5 19J" is launched
1973 Dongfeng renamed as "SEAGULL", and ST-5 had became the first lot of China exported watches model.


Early Dongfeng ST-5 (gold and silver pie-pan dial version)


ST-5 movement


variety of early ST-5 case-back


Early Dongfeng ST-5 pie-pan dial calendar


Later Dongfeng ST-5 calendar & flat dial version


"New" Dongfeng ST-5 with "new" English local version


Special Dongfeng

with "Served the People" slogan on dial. A bit faded out but 100% original.
Please aware, there are a lot of aftermarket STP solgan dial DongFeng had found in the market recently!
As you can find, the original dial on 6 o'clock area should have nothing printed except the STP slogan.

[joelchan]

Seagull ST5


Upper-Left : ordinary ST5 Seagull with date UpperRight : Railway issue ST5
Lower-Left: Military ST5 for PLA Lower-Right : National Map Drawing Bureau

Dosmetic Sub-band of Seagull ST-5 watch

Left Tianjin; Right LanHua


Seagull ST5D

Automatic calendar 29J movement. This is the traction version of Dongfeng 29J. It carries a 29J ST5-D Dongfeng movement (like Zhang has) but with Seagull Dial.

Seagull ST-6
1974, the first Chinese made international watch making standard ladies movement

picture borrowed

ST-6 automatic 23J movement


Seagull ST-7

Automatic Date-day 29J movement.

Seagull ST-7 handwinding

Handwinding version with 21J movement.






Recent Seagull watches

I don't have much of new watches on hand, so that I can only post some representable models I had. If anyone of you have more photos or information on the recent models, please post it in order to enrich this information.

ST12

Picture borrowed


ST?? 50th Anniversary edition




ST19

China Airforce 1963 reissue

[soviet]

Very valuable early Chinese watch industry information. Thanks and please post more!:thanks

[sphinx88]

Nice pictures!

[joelchan]

Thanks Zhang & sphinx88!
I have finished all my update. If you guys have any outstanding models or additional information, please post-up.
Thanks again!
Joel

Nice pictures!

[soviet]

The 29 jewels day/date automatic Seagull, and ST7 Seagull are very rare. Congratualtions.

[Chascomm]

I suggest that when any updates have been made, this thread should be moved to the articles sub-forum for future reference.

Excellent work, Joelchan

[joelchan]

I suggest that when any updates have been made, this thread should be moved to the articles sub-forum for future reference.

Excellent work, Joelchan

:thanksChascomm!

I have find some more seagull recently. Please find at the following:

ST5 SEAGULL Early non-date version (still using DongFeng movement)


ST7 21J non-date version


SEAGULL Automatic 25J Swiss movement (picture borrowed)



SEAGULL original 1963



SHANGHAI SEAGULL 19j SS7 movement
(not related to Seagull Watch Company, Band name used by Shanghai Watch Factory before Tinjian Watch Factory taken)

[koimaster]

A Short Overview of Sea-Gull Watch History « AMCH/PR : ARTICLES 'n' STUFF