'Ed1963' Homage to 1963 Chinese Air Force Chronograph

Sea-Gull ST1901

Hand-wound Lever Escapement with 30-minute Chronograph, based on the Venus 175

ed1963

In 1963, the Chinese Government commissioned the production of a domestic chronograph watch for air force pilots. Sea-Gull based the movement on the venerable Venus 175. In recent years there have been a number of homages to this iconic watch. By far the most accurate has been the watch developed by 'HKED', from the Chinese Mechanical Watch Forum on WatchUSeek. This black version of the watch is modelled after what is thought to have been a prototype.

The winding of this watch is just about the smoothest of any mechanical watch I have ever owned, including the far more expensive Habring2. Compared to the nearly identical champagne-dialled 1963, the movement of this watch feels more solid and generally better-finished.

Parent Company none
Brand none
Model Series none
Model Name 'Ed1963' homage
Model Number none
Case Number none
Serial Number none
Approx. Date of Manufacture 2015
Calibre (mvt maker) ST1901
Calibre (brand) ST1901
Factory SPY n/a
TC Appproach n/a
Frequency (XO 1) n/a
Frequency (XO 2) n/a
Rate Adjustment Intrepid tinkerer
Major Inhibition Period n/a
Minor Inhibition Period n/a
Power Mainspring, hand-wound
Cell Number n/a
Case Back Screw
Water Resistance unknown
Features 5-hand, Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
  Seconds sub-dial at 9 o'clock
  30 minute chronograph sub-dial at 3 o'clock
  Centre chronograph seconds
Timing Results Basic data  &  Further details
Images Photos - Large File Sizes!