Seagull 1963 Official Chronograph Watch
When it comes to iconic pilot watches, the Seagull 1963 chronograph stands out as a top contender for any aviation enthusiast. In 1961, China's Ministry of Light Industry tasked the Tianjin Watch Factory (now Sea-Gull) with a secret mission - to produce the nation's first chronograph watches for use by the Chinese Air Force. Named "Project 304", the initiative ran for over 2 years before resulting in the first domestically produced Chinese aviation chronograph in 1963.
Original
Reissue
Acrylic
Sapphire
21
22
ST19 Manual-winding
ST19 Manual-winding
Ø 38 mm
Ø 40 mm
Leather + NATO
Leather + NATO
No
Yes
The reissue of China's first aviation chronograph military watch D304, was released in October 2018 with a worldwide limited edition of 5500 pieces, each with an independent number. Now only 19 pieces remain.
The retro round watch case, with eye-catching red, blue and yellow retro color design, shows off a dashing style on the wrist; The red star emblem engraved on the dial, symbolizing victory, exudes a strong sense of the times and Chinese characteristics; The red central seconds hand features a curved needle tip, sharp and precise like an eagle's claw.
The 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and small seconds at 9 o'clock represent the fighting soul, striving for every second; The rounded domed crystal takes inspiration from a fighter jet canopy, exhibiting retro beauty; The caseback is engraved with a "中国 • 1963" (China • 1963) bas-relief logo, holding commemorative collectible value.
SHOP NOWThe reissue of China's first aviation chronograph military watch D304, was released in October 2018 with a worldwide limited edition of 5500 pieces, each with an independent number. Now only 19 pieces remain.
The retro round watch case, with eye-catching red, blue and yellow retro color design, shows off a dashing style on the wrist; The red star emblem engraved on the dial, symbolizing victory, exudes a strong sense of the times and Chinese characteristics; The red central seconds hand features a curved needle tip, sharp and precise like an eagle's claw.
The 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and small seconds at 9 o'clock represent the fighting soul, striving for every second; The rounded domed crystal takes inspiration from a fighter jet canopy, exhibiting retro beauty; The caseback is engraved with a "中国 • 1963" (China • 1963) bas-relief logo, holding commemorative collectible value.
SHOP NOWTHE SOUL OF THE SEAGULL 1963
The Seagull 1963 is powered by a hand-wound ST19 chronograph movement. This 22-jewel mechanical caliber was directly derived from the original ST3 used in the very first 1963 chronographs.
Winding the crown sets the mainspring which provides a 40+ hour power reserve. Vibration frequency of 21,600 vph (3 Hz), with high stability. The column wheel operated chronograph allows time measurements up to 30 minutes.
The flyback function allows the chronograph to be reset and restarted with a single push of the reset button rather than stopping, resetting and restarting in separate steps. This results in faster timing sequences.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the legendary 1963 chronograph, Seagull pays tribute with a modern reissue in March 2023.
The 1963 Times Edition resurrects the most iconic design aspects of the vintage aviation chronograph. The dial and caseback designs are both sourced from the original 1963 blueprints, restoring the chronograph's long and short hand design. The dial has been upgraded from the original 38mm to 40mm. The vintage domed crystal is made of high hardness sapphire, wear and scratch resistant. An anti-magnetic base cover has been added inside the case to reduce interference from external magnetic fields, keeping the timekeeping precise and stable. The caseback is engraved with a "天津手表厂 " (Tianjin Watch Factory) "中国 " (China) "1963" bas-relief logo.
We take pride in our watches, and take every measure to deliver them intact for your enjoyment. Inside the vintage box we can find the Seagull 1963 chronograph watch with its black leather strap. In addition, a distinctive nato strap, a signed tuning fork and 60th anniversary commemorative badge were included as gifts.
SHOP NOWMarking the 60th anniversary of the legendary 1963 chronograph, Seagull pays tribute with a modern reissue in March 2023. The 1963 Times Edition resurrects the most iconic design aspects of the vintage aviation chronograph. The dial and caseback designs are both sourced from the original 1963 blueprints, restoring the chronograph's long and short hand design. The dial has been upgraded from the original 38mm to 40mm. The vintage domed crystal is made of high hardness sapphire, wear and scratch resistant. An anti-magnetic base cover has been added inside the case to reduce interference from external magnetic fields, keeping the timekeeping precise and stable. The caseback is engraved with a "天津手表厂 " (Tianjin Watch Factory) "中国 " (China) "1963" bas-relief logo.We take pride in our watches, and take every measure to deliver them intact for your enjoyment. Inside the vintage box we can find the Seagull 1963 chronograph watch with its black leather strap. In addition, a distinctive nato strap, a signed tuning fork and 60th anniversary commemorative badge were included as gifts.
SHOP NOWSHIPPING & DELIVERY
Orders placed before 2:30 PM CET on business days, will be shipped on the same day! We will always ship to you within 24 hours on business days via DHL Express from the manufacturing facility.
Timestamp and GPS location stamped pictures will be provided per request. In this way we can ensure 3-5 business days worldwide delivery.
Factory Address: Seagull Watches Industrial Park, No.199 Huanhe South Road, Tianjin Airport Economic Zone · 300308 · Tianjin · China (天津空港经济区环河南路199号海鸥表业集团)
Warranty: We are the only online Seagull official store. 2 year warranty for the Seagull 1963.
Testimonials
EUROPA STAR
The quality of the movements has been amazingly stable. The Chinese have been making mechanical movements for a very long time. Seagull is the strongest and the best quality.
NEWS JOURNAL
Quality timepieces don 't have to cost a fortune. Seagull traces its roots to 1958, when the company was founded and it has been cranking out mechanical timepieces ever since.
CHRONO24
That all changed when the Tianjin Seagull landed a cult hit with the ST19, a remake of the historical Venus 175 chronograph movement.
MONOCHROME
Seagull movements have a proven history, Swiss roots and allow for cool, intriguing watches for less than their Swiss and often Japanese counterparts.