I got one of these, the 38mm, plexi, the “un-official” version Red Star. Price was £90 delivered included vat and shipping, amazing. Keeps excellent time, beat error is 0.0, amplitude around 300, it actually matches a well serviced 321 Speedmaster so fantastic value.
Great watch and a must in an affordable collection. Just a little observation though... you say you dont like copies (homages) and yet, as I'm sure you'll know from your research, this is a homage to the official sea-gull 1963 which can still be bought albeit for more money. Just a thought 😉 Great video and thanks for the content
All components are made by Sea-Gull with the original Venus tooling and machinery Switzerland bought by the Tianjin Watch Factory aka Sea-Gull and sold to licensed China based watch manufacturers same components found in the earlier Breitling Chronographs.
How is your 1963 holding up?I received mine yesterday. It’s awesome! Mine is running -1 spd. It’s such a wonderful vintage feeling watch. Really strikes me as something right out of the 50s (which it is really). Took it off of the nato and tossed the included toad-leather strap away and put on an olive drab horween vintage strap. Thin, beautiful and elegant. I’m impressed.
Hopefully it won't turn up as one with a quartz movement - like I've seen reviewers complaining about on Ali-express. I'm waiting for my £105 (after tax and duties) 40mm Swan neck Exhibition back non lume model.... which I will check carefully for features and timekeeping when it arrives. Ali-express accuracy when it comes to delivering exactly what was ordered is a little bit.....erm.... variable.
@@occamraiser I'm going to make a loooooonnnnngggg story, very short. It was a disaster. I didn't do my homework on the company I ordered it from. The watch was 42mm, and I ordered 38mm. But it really didn't make any difference because it did not work at all. Didn't run. My bank is still fighting to get a refund after I returned it. I did order another Seagul movement watch from Merkur, a reverse panda, and I received exactly what I ordered. It was delivered early, and it works great! The watch is a real "keeper." It, too, came with an exhibition back. The pushers work great, and I'm very happy with it. It cost a bit more ($140), but the craftsmanship is better, and even the band was good. Lesson learned: find the watch you want, then find the best dealer who sells it.
Andy, Andy, Andy.. you and I have a simple collection and similar tastes. I ordered this exact watch 5 days ago. The only watch on Ali that even halfway appeals to me.. and it’s all about the history.
Good review, liking this channel as it's not going for the over the top presentation a lot of the channels are now, but giving all the relevant info and a personal appraisal of the watch being reviews.
10:40 If you're saying that the £300 versions are the same as the £100 Ali-express version I am dubious. It is understood that the ones on Ali-Express are the correct movement but are not assembled by/for Seagull. Whereas genuine Seagull manufactured watches are available for around £350... or so I've read (June/July 2024)
Great video, thanks. I see that your linked site don't have the 38mm version, which might be why they sent you the 40mm. Shame, as I need the 38mm with my very skinny wrists.
I'm a big Omega fan and a bracelet man but I have to say your Speedmaster looks really good on that leather strap.☺🤩 5:49......Surprised to see how thick it was on your wrist. Looks like a stainless steel curling stone.😜
The manual wind movement is great for the price and very reliable. It’s one of the few reasons to buy. I’m sure the quartz is nice, but in this instance I’d go mechanical.
I have just ordered the same watch from the same company.....i would be dissappointed if i recieved a 40mm rather than the 38mm i ordered. You could inform them and ask for the 38mm you wanted.
The Chinese on the box says: 'Chinese aviation watch Reissue'. Yours is not a 'real' Seagull-made watch. Seagull only produces the 38mm with acrylic crystal and solid caseback; with two lines of Chinese text on the dial. But even with those specs, you're never sure where or by whom these watches are made unless you buy from Seagull directly. Doesn't matter, they're all lovely. The 38mm acrylic is by far the best though:)
The June 1963 Vostok-6 spaceflight mission of Valentina Tereshkova had call-sign "Chayka" meaning "Seagull" but she wore a Sthurmanskie 17 jewel pilot watch. #MoonwatchUniverse
@@TheEnglishWatch I bought the 38mm swan-neck version with a sapphire crystal from the same Aliexpress store that sent you yours. Can't wait for it to arrive.
If anyone knows how to return one of these to the manufactuer, please let me know. My brother bought one new, and it stopped working after a week. The Ebay seller refused to do anything.
Your guess is as good as mine. It’s a well made, pretty accurate movement. 40mm is probably a large size copy, remake, re-edition. As China flouts copyright regularly, who knows what’s original these days.
A copy of my comment: Yours is not a 'real' Seagull-made watch. Seagull only produces the 38mm with acrylic crystal and solid caseback (impossible to find separately...); also with two lines of Chinese text on the dial. But even with those specs, you're never sure where or by whom these watches are made unless you buy from Seagull directly. Doesn't matter, they're all lovely, and all these copies have a real ST19 movement. it is too cheap at this point to clone even in China The 38mm acrylic is by far the best though:)
@@AutismusPrime69 the original is actually not that cheap if you buy it from the Seagull website. ($569 at the moment) Sure that’s obviously much less than an Omega Speedmaster but it’s enough to have expectations of quality. Unsurprisingly the Seagull website is pretty clear that it regards watches like the one being reviewed here as fake.
This is a really good-looking chronograph. But we really must be very careful and be sure of what it actually is. This is absolutely not the watch that was supplied to the Chinese military. It is a greatly inferior recent copy. The original watch housed a Swiss Venus movement, the same movement that was used by Breitling and other top Swiss brands back in the mid 20th Century. The Chinese military issue watch was a quality Swiss-made chronograph (Chinese badged for propaganda reasons) and they are rarely found. This one costs $150 for a reason. It is a very cheaply made watch, obviously. It is not possible to produce a quality mechanical chronograph for $150. So what you have is a very cheap and cheaply made mechanical chronograph that looks great but is not built to last. No problem with that as long as you know what you are buying. If you think you are buying an equivalent watch to the vintage Chinese military issue then you need to think again. We need to realise that at $150 this is essentially a disposable watch. Like anything mechanical, it will at some point need to be repaired/serviced. The cost to service the watch would far exceed the price of the watch, by a long way. If you sent it back to Seagull for a service (they won't offer a warranty) it would be cheaper for them (and you) to just send you a new watch. So in many ways, this should really be labeled a disposable mechanical chronograph. The first? I am not sure; but certainly the most talked about. I don't want to spoil anyone fun but I do want you to understand what you are buying. In closing, my view is this: you can spend $150 much worse. It looks great and it will work ok for a time. So buy it and enjoy it, but just keep in mind what I have written above. And please shoot on sight anyone who tells you that this is the watch that was issued to the Chinese military. For serious watches the Chinese buy-in Swiss ;)
It’s a fair point. You never know what you’re buying off these sites, and it’s clear this is very much a homage. Having said that, the movement holds up really well and keeps time impeccably. My son loves it and makes an interesting addition to his collection of G shocks. The open case back and column wheel are great talking points. Definitely worth $150.
This movement is not build by Seagull Tianjin factory, just said is a Seagull movement only so people will buy is built by third parties factory. Seagull built quality movement!!
I got one of these, the 38mm, plexi, the “un-official” version Red Star. Price was £90 delivered included vat and shipping, amazing. Keeps excellent time, beat error is 0.0, amplitude around 300, it actually matches a well serviced 321 Speedmaster so fantastic value.
Great watch and a must in an affordable collection. Just a little observation though... you say you dont like copies (homages) and yet, as I'm sure you'll know from your research, this is a homage to the official sea-gull 1963 which can still be bought albeit for more money. Just a thought 😉
Great video and thanks for the content
incorrect. This is the Offical. Red Star are the clones.
This isn't official. The official ones aren't red star, it's the tianjin Sea-gull company
@@Bladeworkssystems The 'official' ones are from Sea-Gull watches and will cost you around $600, not the £130 from these other brands
@@HoratioChinn correct. I have a real one.
All components are made by Sea-Gull with the original Venus tooling and machinery Switzerland bought by the Tianjin Watch Factory aka Sea-Gull and sold to licensed China based watch manufacturers same components found in the earlier Breitling Chronographs.
I have this watch it looks good and keeps good time, you can’t beat the price for what you get. 🇬🇧
How is your 1963 holding up?I received mine yesterday. It’s awesome! Mine is running -1 spd. It’s such a wonderful vintage feeling watch. Really strikes me as something right out of the 50s (which it is really). Took it off of the nato and tossed the included toad-leather strap away and put on an olive drab horween vintage strap. Thin, beautiful and elegant. I’m impressed.
It’s doing ok. I’m looking for a better strap for it. I think a longer nato would work, similar colour.
Just for your info, I just ordered the 38mm 1963 Seagul for a total of $85.49. Looking forward to getting it! Thanks for your great review!
Hopefully it won't turn up as one with a quartz movement - like I've seen reviewers complaining about on Ali-express. I'm waiting for my £105 (after tax and duties) 40mm Swan neck Exhibition back non lume model.... which I will check carefully for features and timekeeping when it arrives. Ali-express accuracy when it comes to delivering exactly what was ordered is a little bit.....erm.... variable.
@@occamraiser I'm going to make a loooooonnnnngggg story, very short. It was a disaster. I didn't do my homework on the company I ordered it from. The watch was 42mm, and I ordered 38mm. But it really didn't make any difference because it did not work at all. Didn't run. My bank is still fighting to get a refund after I returned it.
I did order another Seagul movement watch from Merkur, a reverse panda, and I received exactly what I ordered. It was delivered early, and it works great! The watch is a real "keeper." It, too, came with an exhibition back. The pushers work great, and I'm very happy with it. It cost a bit more ($140), but the craftsmanship is better, and even the band was good.
Lesson learned: find the watch you want, then find the best dealer who sells it.
Andy, Andy, Andy.. you and I have a simple collection and similar tastes. I ordered this exact watch 5 days ago. The only watch on Ali that even halfway appeals to me.. and it’s all about the history.
Very nice. Retro for sure. I will be buying one.
Good review, liking this channel as it's not going for the over the top presentation a lot of the channels are now, but giving all the relevant info and a personal appraisal of the watch being reviews.
Pre-Watched Comment: Ok, I’m really interested to see what you say because I’ve often thought of getting this fun looking watch
its a nice watch for the price... and that accuracy is good love it cheers
This watch is a beauty!!! 👍👍
That isn't an original Sea-Gull watch, it's a copy. What did you say about not liking copies!?
It uses the original movement.
10:40 If you're saying that the £300 versions are the same as the £100 Ali-express version I am dubious. It is understood that the ones on Ali-Express are the correct movement but are not assembled by/for Seagull. Whereas genuine Seagull manufactured watches are available for around £350... or so I've read (June/July 2024)
Hi I am Chinese, and it is the same I can tell u😢
Great video, thanks. I see that your linked site don't have the 38mm version, which might be why they sent you the 40mm. Shame, as I need the 38mm with my very skinny wrists.
It's definatly on my list, but first I'll enjoy my Hanhart MK1 I just received....
Nice review. I had this watch in the 38mm. Loved it. But we've since moved to Panama and here the humidity is outrageous, so I sold mine.😔
Yes they sure found out about the humidity when they built the Panama Canal.😮😮
I'm a big Omega fan and a bracelet man but I have to say your Speedmaster looks really good on that leather strap.☺🤩
5:49......Surprised to see how thick it was on your wrist. Looks like a stainless steel curling stone.😜
I’ve always thought this was a nice looking watch with an interesting movement and for just over £100 for the 38mm, there’s worst ways to spend £100.
The Belgian dealer I bought the Seagull from supplied it in a cool tin with the red star. I replaced the NATO with a better quality strap.
I’m not sure mine is the real deal, but still a very convincing package for the price.
Tolle Uhr zum unglaublich günstigen Preis.
Sure is
I want to order one but I really want to get the 38 mm .
Man i really Like To have one
saw one of these but in quartz, it should be almost the same right?
The manual wind movement is great for the price and very reliable. It’s one of the few reasons to buy. I’m sure the quartz is nice, but in this instance I’d go mechanical.
Old video - I know but... That is a seagull movement but it's not a Sea-gull manufactured watch! It's a COPY! 😂
I have just ordered the same watch from the same company.....i would be dissappointed if i recieved a 40mm rather than the 38mm i ordered. You could inform them and ask for the 38mm you wanted.
I didn’t have to pay for it, so can’t complain too hard, just making sure you guys are aware of the potential pitfall.
The packaging is Bonkers! Forget patek, AP and all the other sheet
I ordered mine now the 42 mm. Interesting to see it together with mine Omega Racing 44,25 mm
The Chinese on the box says: 'Chinese aviation watch Reissue'.
Yours is not a 'real' Seagull-made watch. Seagull only produces the 38mm with acrylic crystal and solid caseback; with two lines of Chinese text on the dial. But even with those specs, you're never sure where or by whom these watches are made unless you buy from Seagull directly. Doesn't matter, they're all lovely. The 38mm acrylic is by far the best though:)
Thank you a much. It’s a shame as I wanted a 38mm.
The June 1963 Vostok-6 spaceflight mission of Valentina Tereshkova had call-sign "Chayka" meaning "Seagull" but she wore a Sthurmanskie 17 jewel pilot watch. #MoonwatchUniverse
There's also a choice for a swan-neck movement and lumed hands! Also, you can choose sapphire or acrylic
Lumed hands? Swan neck movement? Where?
@@PacoElMapache Aliexpress
@@PacoElMapache amazon as well but ofc it's upcharged
AliExpress link?
Description has original link but is double the price
The ole bait and switch
The ole bait and switch
This movement is not build by Seagull Tianjin factory, is by third parties factory.
Do you still have the promo code for Aliexpress?
This is the only live referral I have
seagull1963.com/product/seagull-1963-38mm-acrylic-sapphire/?ref=oSZOKT3z
@@TheEnglishWatch I bought the 38mm swan-neck version with a sapphire crystal from the same Aliexpress store that sent you yours. Can't wait for it to arrive.
@@SuperFlatrock me too
If anyone knows how to return one of these to the manufactuer, please let me know. My brother bought one new, and it stopped working after a week. The Ebay seller refused to do anything.
Worth raising a claim with eBay, especially if the seller has a returns policy.
gooseneck ?
It is worth having the gooseneck movement. It makes getting the best accuracy a DIY job. Otherwise, DIY adjustments are an exercise in frustration.
It may be a Sea-gull ST19 movement (not at all sure!!) based on the Venus 175 but that surely is a FAKE 1963, sorry to spoil your party
Your guess is as good as mine. It’s a well made, pretty accurate movement. 40mm is probably a large size copy, remake, re-edition. As China flouts copyright regularly, who knows what’s original these days.
@@TheEnglishWatch Exactly...they are all 'fakes' at this point.....
A copy of my comment:
Yours is not a 'real' Seagull-made watch. Seagull only produces the 38mm with acrylic crystal and solid caseback (impossible to find separately...); also with two lines of Chinese text on the dial. But even with those specs, you're never sure where or by whom these watches are made unless you buy from Seagull directly. Doesn't matter, they're all lovely, and all these copies have a real ST19 movement. it is too cheap at this point to clone even in China The 38mm acrylic is by far the best though:)
@@Bob.martens The movement is authentic, even if the rest of the watch has some minor differences.
made me think it was the indy watch
will match with, your lucky cat! Of all my watches this gets the most positive comments from non watch people
That cat came back from Hong Kong with us 20 years ago. It does stand out and is interesting.
A cheap chinese copy of a cheap chinese watch
@@AutismusPrime69 the original is actually not that cheap if you buy it from the Seagull website. ($569 at the moment) Sure that’s obviously much less than an Omega Speedmaster but it’s enough to have expectations of quality.
Unsurprisingly the Seagull website is pretty clear that it regards watches like the one being reviewed here as fake.
This is a really good-looking chronograph. But we really must be very careful and be sure of what it actually is. This is absolutely not the watch that was supplied to the Chinese military. It is a greatly inferior recent copy. The original watch housed a Swiss Venus movement, the same movement that was used by Breitling and other top Swiss brands back in the mid 20th Century. The Chinese military issue watch was a quality Swiss-made chronograph (Chinese badged for propaganda reasons) and they are rarely found. This one costs $150 for a reason. It is a very cheaply made watch, obviously. It is not possible to produce a quality mechanical chronograph for $150. So what you have is a very cheap and cheaply made mechanical chronograph that looks great but is not built to last. No problem with that as long as you know what you are buying. If you think you are buying an equivalent watch to the vintage Chinese military issue then you need to think again. We need to realise that at $150 this is essentially a disposable watch. Like anything mechanical, it will at some point need to be repaired/serviced. The cost to service the watch would far exceed the price of the watch, by a long way. If you sent it back to Seagull for a service (they won't offer a warranty) it would be cheaper for them (and you) to just send you a new watch. So in many ways, this should really be labeled a disposable mechanical chronograph. The first? I am not sure; but certainly the most talked about. I don't want to spoil anyone fun but I do want you to understand what you are buying. In closing, my view is this: you can spend $150 much worse. It looks great and it will work ok for a time. So buy it and enjoy it, but just keep in mind what I have written above. And please shoot on sight anyone who tells you that this is the watch that was issued to the Chinese military. For serious watches the Chinese buy-in Swiss ;)
It’s a fair point. You never know what you’re buying off these sites, and it’s clear this is very much a homage. Having said that, the movement holds up really well and keeps time impeccably. My son loves it and makes an interesting addition to his collection of G shocks. The open case back and column wheel are great talking points.
Definitely worth $150.
This movement is not build by Seagull Tianjin factory, just said is a Seagull movement only so people will buy is built by third parties factory.
Seagull built quality movement!!