The Seagull Watch Movement was established in 1955 by four individuals. Using a minimal amount of tools, they built the first replica of Swiss Sindaco 5 watch and named it as WuXing. Although the manufacturing of watches was limited during that time, the four individuals were able to create an innovative product that paved way for building more factories.
In 1957, the WuYi Watch Co. was established and immediately released a replica of Swiss-designed, “based 17” jewel watches called the “WuYi”. Today, most of these watches are treated as high-demand artifacts by collectors. In 1962, WuYi relocated its site and was later named Tianjin Watch Factory. Three years later, Tianjin started producing Swiss and Seagull watches for the Chinese Army. In 1967, the factory made an exceptional accomplishment by developing a Seagull Watch inspired by Chinese designs.
By the year 1970, Seagull Watch produced a replica of the classic Bulova Accutron that was later integrated into their line of new watches. More replicas of Bulova were made, and they were called “ST5” and “ST6”. Both watches were succeeded by the “ST7” Chinese automatic watch which was considered as one of the most successful replicas that time.
Two decades later, Seagull Watch became a national enterprise – producing a range of high-quality, “Quartz-only” watches. But in 1995, the factory made a decision to extend their sales of replica watches in other countries. Today, Seagull Watch is the leading pioneer of mechanical watches – 90% of which are found to be replicas.
The Seagull Watch is the brainchild behind these illustrated dictionaries of watch names or terms: ETA, Sellita and Vostok.
ETA
ETA is the commonly-used watch movement worldwide. Comprising of the 2824 and other variants, ETA has helped small watch manufacturers create (and save) more replicas of watch models and brands. On the other hand, ETA has created its own “near-monopoly” via The Swatch Group which currently co-owns the Seagull Watch. The near-monopoly once resulted in Seagull’s threat to discontinue its sales of watch movements outside of Swatch’s authority.
Selitta
Selitta is the Swiss watch movement maker that maybe somewhat unknown but is positioned to take in Swatch’s consumer rights. Selitta currently produces 200 Swatch-made watches, including the famous New Limes Neptun and 1 Tausend.
Vostok
This Russian company manufactures both Seagull and its own movements. The 2414 Komandirskie and Vostok Amphibia are two of Vostok’s most expensive Seagull Watch Movement replicas today.
