Watchatlas

Seagull

Tianjin, China · Est. 1955

Founded by Tianjin Watch Factory collective

Seagull is a Chinese state-owned watch manufacturer founded in 1955 in Tianjin, producing mechanical movements sold to brands worldwide including the ST16 used by many independents. The brand offers its own line of affordable mechanical watches and is known for producing China's first self-made wristwatch movement.

Founded
1955
Headquarters
Tianjin, China
Group
Other
Price Segment
Entry
Status
Active

Key Collections

  • 1963 — Seagull’s 1963 collection revives the famous Chinese Air Force chronograph lineage, pairing vintage military provenance with the brand’s hand-wound mechanical chronograph heritage and enthusiast appeal. Key references: official-1963.
  • Tourbillon — Sea-Gull complication-focused collection centered on mechanical tourbillon watches, reflecting the brand’s in-house movement heritage and its positioning of elaborate complications at comparatively accessible price points.
  • Ocean Star — Sea-Gull dive-oriented collection name suggesting robust underwater tool-watch design, aligned with the brand’s broader Ocean Series emphasis on water resistance, professional styling, and accessible mechanical performance.

Timeline

  • 1955 — The Tianjin Watch Factory is established as China's first watchmaking facility, producing the country's inaugural domestically made wristwatch.
  • 1963 — Develops the hand-wound column-wheel chronograph movement for the Chinese Air Force, later known as the iconic '1963' watch.
  • 2000 — Becomes the world's largest producer of mechanical watch movements by volume, supplying brands globally with the ST16, ST19, and ST25 series.
  • 2015 — Expands its own-brand retail presence internationally, offering tourbillons and chronographs at unprecedented price points.

Frequently Asked Questions about Seagull

How many movements does Seagull produce?
Seagull produces roughly 25% of the world's mechanical watch movements annually — over 6 million units — supplying both its own brand and hundreds of other watch companies.
Is the Seagull 1963 an authentic military watch?
The modern 1963 is a faithful reissue. The original was produced in 1963 for Chinese Air Force pilots using the ST19 column-wheel chronograph movement, which Seagull still manufactures today.

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