Ozputera: 2010.08

Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind) - Black

Model : Dongfeng 东风 (East Wind)

Manufacturer : Tianjin Watch Factory 天津手表厂

Year of Production: 1970s

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : ST5A (19 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

This Donfeng's movement is a ST5 engraved with "19 Zuan ST5" and is the later version of the movement. Dongfeng movement signed with ST5 is a fast beater 21600bph and whereas the one signed with "东风” is a lower beat movement 18000bph. My first Dongfeng is with lower beat movement, see here.

Black dial Dongfeng is less common than others. The dark paint on the dial is thick and is shiny under appropriate lighting; you can feel the quality of the paint.

The caseback design is similar to Sea-Gull model produced by the same factory but for export (see my Sea-Gull here and here) with an exception that it uses the word "东风” in lieu of a flying seagull. It was said that Sea-Gull was chosen in branding the export watches due to the reason that East Wind was seen as too political.

For those who craves for photos, see here:
The Portrait
The Movement and the Caseback
The Dial in Black

Other watches produced by the same factory which I own;

1. Tianjin 天津 ST2A Wuyi 五一 (Five One);
2. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind) Green
3. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind);
4. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Tianjin 天津;
5. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 I；
6. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 II；
7. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 III - White Logo
8. Tianjin 天津 ST19 The First Chinese Air Force Chronograph 1963 (Reissue) 中国空军第一只航空码表1963（复刻版)

Qiqihar 齐齐哈尔 Dongmei 冬梅 (Winter Plum) 17J

Model : Dongmei 冬梅 (Winter Plum)

Manufacturer : Qiqihar Watch Factory 齐齐哈尔手表厂

Year of Production: 1970s

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : Standard Movement (17 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

This is the 17J version of Dongmei, my second Dongmei. The first one being a 20 jewels the post of which is here; that 20J has the model number of 1701 whilst this 17J is 7701.

Like the dial of my Dongfeng (here), under intense lighting, the semingly simple dial reflects the lights from its metallic surface emitting sense of classic and when stared long it as if could bring the beholder back to the era during which it was made. Noted also that the logo on the dial as well as the cursive Dongmei below it is different between the 20J and this 17J. Inside is a clean 17J standard movement without factory code nor date code.

More shots are here:

The Portrait
The Dial 1
The Dial 2
The Movement and the Caseback

Shanghai 上海 Yinbei 银杯 (Silver Trophy)

Model : Yinbei (银杯，Silver Trophy)

Manufacturer : Shanghai Fourth Watch Factory 上海手表四厂

Year of Production: 1986?

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : SM1A-K( 17 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

Yinbei is by Shanghai Fourth Watch Factory 上海手表四厂 whose immediate predecessor is Shanghai Stopwatch Factory 上海秒表厂which produced the famous Zuanshi 钻石（Diamond) watch; my Zuanshi is here. There are two identical features in Yinbei and Zuanshi: firstly, both were powered by the ten times winner SM1AK movement and secondly both utilized the diamond shape as a logo in whole for Zuanshi and in part for Yinbei. Yinbei means silver trophy. The diamond became the cup of the trophy logo, a clever design.

As to the background of naming the watch as "Silver Trophy", it was said that it was to commemorate the factory's ten times champion in national quality competition in which the champion was given away with a silver trophy (there was no gold trophy in the competition). This is just a hear-say; cite it at your own risk.

[Added on 17 April 2011] Interestingly, unauthorized internet source indicated that Yinbei watch was a product of corporation between Shanghai Zuanshi Watch Factory (上海钻石手表厂） and Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Fishery of Nanhui Province (南汇县畜牧水产局) started in circa 1985. Around that year Shanghai Fourth Watch Factory was renamed as Shanghai Zuanshi Watch Factory. Such corporation had benefited both sides in such the way that it enabled the availability eggs and chicken, which was in high demand at that time, to the work force of watch factory and at the same time provided watch assembly works to the work force of the bureau. Therefore, it was also known as "Egg Watch" or "Watch of third kind".[End of Addition]

The movement is engraved with "Zuanshi" on the bridge board. Below the balance wheel , there is date code of SM1-86-3. My best guest is that"SM1" is the model of the movement and "86-3" means the month of March in 1986.

The case back has the logo, "银杯", "上海手表四厂" and the longest pinyin I have ever seen "YINBEIPAISHOUBIAO". Do not be intimidated, let me hack it: YIN 银 (Silver) BEI 杯 (Trophy) PAI 牌 (Brand) SHOU 手 (Wrist) 表 BIAO （Watch).

More shots are here:

The Portrait
The Dial
The Movement
The Movement and the Caseback

Beijing 北京 Shuangling 双菱 (Double Rhomb) 20J

Model : Shuang Ling 双菱

Manufacturer :Beijing Watch Factory 北京手表厂

Year of Production: 1970s

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : ZB-1 (20 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

Shuang Ling 双菱 was also branded as Double Rhomb by Beijing Watch Factory. Literally, shuang ling means pair of rhombuses which is depicted by the logo itself. A pair of rhombuses stacked together at the corner is a traditional symbol of beauty, all minds as one and good luck. The symbol is known as fang sheng 方胜.

The movement is ZB-1, a 21,600bph movement with 20 jewels. There is no for this ZB-1 I can't ascertain the date it was made save only to say that it was a 1970s piece. A relevant quote from the wiki:

"Beijing Watch Factory was one of the enterprises at the forefront of the Chinese Standard watch project. Beijing's version was the 20 jewel ZB-1, which entered production in 1974. The new brand name, 'Shuangling' was chosen as part of a shift towards an export focus for the factory. On foreign markets, Shuangling was translated as 'Double Rhomb'. These were sold in various parts of East Asia, and some were exported to Britain in 1978-79.

...

In the early 1980s the ZB-2, a thinner 17 jewel Standard movement, was developed. It entered production with the Standard code ZBJ, while the older ZB-1 was transferred to the Beijing Number 2 Watch Factory as the ZBE. " (see link here)

The caseback design is simple which is only engraved with the logo, "China" and "ZB-1" bordered with a flower, simpler than I would expect for a 1970s watch.

For those who craves for photos, they are here:

The Portrait
The Movement 1
The Movement 2
The Movement and the Caseback

My other watches from Beijing Watch Factory are here:
Beijing 北京 SZB-1
Beijing 北京 SB-5

Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 II

Model : Sea-Gull 海鸥

Manufacturer : Tianjin Watch Factory (天津手表厂)

Year of Production: 1970s

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : ST5A (19 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

This is my second Sea-Gull ST5 19J. My first Sea-Gull ST5 with date version is here. The watch is by Tianjin Watch Factory (天津手表厂); the predecessor of the current Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch Factory (天津海鸥手表集团公司).

This watch is around 30 years old and was cost in the circa of RMB120 at that time. You can feel the age of the watch from the dial and the hands especially the faded mark on the second hand. The dial is a flat dial with fine grooves on it.

Having said that, the ST5 movement is however still shining and lovely. ST5 is the only China Made movement with decorative stripes and is a popular item among the watch collectors.

More shots are here:

The Movement and the Caseback

Other watches produced by the same factory which I own;

1 Tianjin 天津 ST2A Wuyi 五一(Five One);
2 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind);
3 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind) - Black；
4 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind) - Green;
5 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 I;
6.Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 III - White Logo ;
7. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Tianjin 天津 ;
8. Tianjin 天津 ST19 The First Chinese Air Force Chronograph 1963 (Reissue) 中国空军第一只航空码表1963（复刻版）

Qiqihar 齐齐哈尔 Dongmei 冬梅 (Winter Plum) 20J

Model : Dongmei 冬梅

Manufacturer : Qiqihar Watch Factory 齐齐哈尔手表厂

Year of Production: 1970s(?)

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : Standard Movement (20 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

Qiqihar 齐齐哈尔 city is located in Heilongjiang Province 黑龙江 which is at the Northern part of China. Saw this 2005 commercial clip (here) promoting Qiqihar city which is also known as the City of Red Crowned Cranes. Share with you is a song entitled "The Story of Red Crowned Crane" (here).

Dongmei 冬梅 is winter plum and is so depicted by the logo on the dial. The textile dial is beautiful. In my collections, there is a Xiongmao (熊猫, Panda) brand by Fenglei Instrument Factory (风雷仪表厂） which is with the similar dial style though the pattern is not identical.

Still on the dial, the "N" in the "20ZUAN" is incorrectly written. However, there is an "И" in Cyrillic alphabet. Given that there were strong ties between Russian and China and the fact that the city is geographically not far from Russian border, Qiqihar Watch Factory might have mixed up the Russian and the English.

Dongmei is powered by not the common 17 jewels standard movement but 20 jewels. The movement has no date code or factory code save only the inscription of "20 JEWELS" on the bridge board. I therefore can't ascertain the date of production of this watch.

On the caseback, there are words "冬梅", "QIQIHAR" and code "1701". I guess the code might mean the model number of this watch.

More shots are here:

The Watch
The Dial
The Crown
The Movement
The movement and the Caseback

Shanghai 上海 Budlet 春蕾 7524-207

Model : Budlet (春蕾）7524-207

Manufacturer : Shanghai Watch Factory 上海手表厂

Year of Production: 1975

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : ( 19 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

Budlet 春蕾 was made by Shanghai Watch Factory and was for export market.春 is spring and 蕾 means flower bud: flower buds in spring. Spring is seen as a time of new life or rebirth and flowers in the season are always colourful and beautiful; so a flower bud in spring could symbolise the begining of a colourful and beautiful life. Well, disclaimer: this is not a literature site;use it at your own risk. In later years, the English "Budlet" was changed to 春蕾 pinyin "Chunlei"

Being an export product, it was made in higher quality. One notable feature is that the case has a groove to hold the rubber ring to improve its water resistance.

The dial was colored with two tones with the stripe at the middle in lighter tone. Also, the 3,6,9 and 12 markers are more elaborate than the others to emphasize for easy sighting.

The movement is engraved with Budlet logo with "19 jewels" beside. Below the balance wheel are the words "中国上海“ （China Shanghai) and the date codes of "BB 967". If the 1974 is the first year of production, then the first "B" shall mean 1975 and the second "B" shall be February. So it should be the 967th movement made in February 1975 --- a 35 year old watch.

The caseback has its logo at the centre surrounded with the words: “中国” (China)，“春蕾”(Budlet)， “上海” (Shanghai)， “Budlet" and "7524-207". I think 7524 is the model number and 207 is the sub number. I came across a note that sub number 203 or earlier would have specially polished movement! [Update: well, this is not true; see my latest Budlet]

If you like details, here are the shots:

The date code below balance wheel

My other Budlet;
Shanghai 上海 Budlet 春蕾 7524-301 (w/ decorated movement)

Jilin 吉林 Meihualu 梅花鹿

Model : Meihualu 梅花鹿

Manufacturer : Jilin City Watch Factory 吉林市表厂

Year of Production: 1970s

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : Clean (17 jewels)

Type : Manual

This is the fifth watch from Jilin City Watch Factory 吉林市表厂 that I have acquired. The earlier four are Jixing models which were for military use; see the posts here and here. Meihualu is pronounced in three sounds in pinyin i.e. mei 梅 hua花 lu 鹿; it is spotted deer in English.

I am always thrilled by dials with patterns, or mixture of colors or tones; this is one of them. The dial surface has protruded lines forming rows of fine channels running across it.

Unlike Jixing models (link here) in which the movements are signed with the factory code "ZJL", the movement is clean --- with no factory nor any date code. I am not able to ascertain the date of production save only to estimate that the watch should be made in 1970s.

The caseback is the spotted dear logo surrounded with the characters: 梅花鹿 (Meihualu), 防震（anti shock), 全钢（all stainless steel) and 吉林市表厂（Jilin City Watch Factory); 12 characters in total. I think, among the China made vintages, this is the caseback that has the most characters on it.

My other collections from Jilin City Watch Factory;
Jilin 吉林 Meihualu 梅花鹿 XL Size
Jilin 吉林 Jixing 吉星 I
Jilin 吉林 Jixing 吉星 II

For more shots, see here:
The Watch
The Dial 1
The Dial 2
The Movement
The Movement and the Caseback

Shanghai 上海 Zuanshi 钻石（Diamond)

Model : Zuanshi （钻石, Diamond)

Manufacturer : Shanghai Stopwatch Factory (上海秒表厂）

Year of Production:

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : SM1AK (17 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

This is Diamond from Shanghai Stopwatch Factory. You may see wiki here for more information about the factory and a fine chronology about the factory here. The movement is SM1AK with a beat rate of 21600bph and cited below is from the wiki

Another great success for this enterprise was the introduction in 1969 of the SM1A wristwatch, again designated Diamond or ZuanShi. This watch featured a slightly oversized movement with unusually large balance wheel and mainspring. Although a simple design, it was capable of impressive accuracy. In 1972, in line with industry trends, the SM1A was upgraded from a 18000bph to a 21600bph escapement. By the time production ceased in 1983, the SM1A had been awarded China's Best Wristwatch 10 times!

"K" the suffix of SM1AK is the first letter in pinyin "Kuai" (快) which means fast or quick; so K could represent "fast beat"; this is just my best guess.

The caseback is engraved with the diamond logo at the centered and surrounded with the words 上海秒表厂 (Shanghai Stopwatch Factory), 防震（anti shock），全钢 (all stainless steel), SM1A-K and 106. The 106 should be the model/watch design number.

Found a thread in Watchuseek forum which has some rare and interesting Zuanshi; this is the link.

Also found is an once-upon-a-time popular Chinese song in Taiwan named "钻石亮晶晶“ meaning "the sparkling diamond" in 1969; it is not about this watch but vintage enough to be together on this page. Warning: please do not click on the following link if you cannot withstand the music of late 1960s or early 1970s. The link is here.

More shots on the watch are here:

The Portrait
The Crown
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement and Caseback

Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind)

Model : Dongfeng 东风（East Wind)

Manufacturer : Tianjin Watch Factory 天津手表厂

Year of Production:

Case Diameter :

Weight w/o strap: g

Movement Model : ST5A ( 19 jewels)

Type : Hand Wind

Anti-shock (Fang Zhen) : Yes

Tianjin Watch Factory 天津手表厂 is the predecessor of the current Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch Factory (天津海鸥手表集团公司) which is one of the major watch producers in China. See my post for a Sea-Gull ST5B also produced by the current Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch Factory here.

This Dongfeng is with pie pan dial with fine texture radiating from the centre of the watch. Dongfeng was produced in the era of Cultural Revolution and therefore its name "East Wind" was not without political influence. It was said that the characters "东风" on the dial is the handwriting of Chairman Mao. "East" is in the context of "Eastern" and "Western" worlds; the "Western" worlds referred to mainly meant the US and the UK as at that time the whole world was only divided into two blocks. It was such a simple world then. Wind" could mean influence, force, change or momentum. Put together, it means the force from the East is blowing against the West.

Now, lets return to the hard part; the movement, ST5A, is a 19 jewels slow beater at the rate of 18,000bph; to quote from Chinese Watch Industry Wiki:

"Meanwhile also in 1966, the factory successfully developed the first 100% Chinese designed and built wristwatch, the Dong Feng (East Wind). The calibre ST5 was modern, thin, accurate and of high quality. It had 19 jewels, including jewels for the mainspring barrel..." (see link here)

I also stumbled upon this little but fine chronology:

1966 - Design finalised and trial production started in small batches;
1967 - Trial production in larger scale;
1969 - On the National Day of the PRC, the proper production lines began;
1970 - Transition between Wuyi and Dongfeng and all lines were finally for Dongfeng
1971 - Dongfeng with calendar was produced
1987 - Production was terminated

Accidentally come across this movie entitled East Wind and Rain (东风。雨） with the story took place during second world war and of course not related to this watch at all. For your information, the wacth industry had not started until 1950s. The clip is here.

For those who like to have further look on the watch, see the links here:

The Watch
Movement
Movement & Caseback

Other watches produced by the same factory which I own;

1 Tianjin 天津 ST2A Wuyi 五一 (Five One);
2 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind) - Black；
3 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Dongfeng 东风（East Wind) - Green;
4 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 I;
5 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 II;

6. Tianjin 天津 ST5 Sea-Gull 海鸥 III - White Logo

7 Tianjin 天津 ST5 Tianjin 天津;

8 Tianjin 天津 ST19 The First Chinese Air Force Chronograph 1963 (Reissue) 中国空军第一只航空码表1963（复刻版）

Guangzhou 广州 17J

Model : Guangzhou 广州
Manufacturer : Guangzhou Watch Factory 广州手表厂

Year of Production:

Case Diameter :
Weight w/o strap:g
Movement Model : M (17 jewels)
Type : Hand Wind
Anti-shock (Fang Zhen) : Yes

Guangzhou 广州 is also known as Canton in English. This is not the only Cantonese I have; my first encounter with the Cantonese is "Mingzhu" 明珠; ee my earlier post about Minzhu here. This watch is, like the Mingzhu, powered by 17 J standard movement. However, it is engraved with "M" instead of "广州" logo that I saw in the other Guangzhous. Mixed up in the production ( as Mingzhu and Guangzhou were from the same Guangzhou Watch Factory) or changed by the previous user/seller ? I think the former is more likely to have happened than the latter. Like Mingzhu also, there is no date code below its balance wheel; this is probably the intended omission of Guangzhou Watch Factory.

On the dial, the Cantonese can never disappoint me as it has a thick and solid logo on it which pleases my eyes.

The centre of the caseback is the logo which is derived from the name of the factory itself, i.e. 广州. Below the logo are the words " 中国“ （China) and ”广州“(Guangzhou). Above the logo, is of course the "Guangzhou".

More shots on Guangzhou; click on the links below:

The Watch
Dial
Movement and Caseback
Caseback
Movement

Jilin 吉林 Jixing 吉星 II

See my earlier post about Jixing watch here.

Jixing 吉星 means lucky 吉 star 星 and the logo on the dial is a star. The words "Military Use" printed on the watch are, as you can see, in Traditional Chinese characters which is "軍用" but China has started using Simplified Chinese ("军用“) as far back as to 1950s and, in 1980s, it was already widely used. However, the "厂" (factory) at the caseback is in Simplified Chinese (the Traditional Chinese is “廠”). The usage of Traditional Chinese on the dial is by no means an error, but why so ? I do not know.

Jilin 吉林 Jixing 吉星 I

Model : Jixing 吉星
Manufacturer : Jilin Watch Factory 吉林手表厂
Year of Production: 1980s
Case Diameter :
Weight w/o strap:
Movement Model : ZJL (17 jewels)
Type : Hand Wind
Anti-shock (Fang Zhen) : Yes

This is military watch issued by Jilin Watch Factory 吉林手表厂. There is an interesting news in the internet regarding this watch, see the link here. There are few points in the news that are worthy noting, i.e.:

the watch was sold at USD235 in the auction in Hong Kong;

this watch was issued for military use in the war between China and Vietnam in 1984 after Shanghai watch model 1120 for military use had ceased its production;

this watch used high grade stainless steel imported from the UK and was 20% heavier than Shanghai 1120 and applied with the best chrome plating technique at that time;

there were 4 models, i.e. round case, square case with golden dial, square case with golden dial & luminous markers and square case with black dial [but the two round case of mine are with luminous markers];

the black dial is for senior ranking officers and, due to technological constraint in printing words onto black dial, there was no the words "军用” on it;

The movement is inscribed with "ZJL17Z": "Z" = Zhongguo (China), "JL"=Jilin and "17Z" = 17 Zuan (17 jewels). It is an 17 jewel standard movement by Jilin Watch Factory. Below the balance wheel, there is date code of J941 (first watch at the front), J953 (third watch from the front) and as for the last one I still can't open it. What about the second watch from the front ? You can see that, unlike others, the crown is not signed with "J". This is a not a good sign. When it was opened, therein was a movement inscribed with "ZTZA", "ZTZA" is for Tianjin Zhong Biao Chang (Tianjin Clock and Watch Factory ; see my post on Yingchun watch), and not from Jilin!

For more shots, see links below:

Caseback 1
Caseback 2
the Jixing with ZJL17Z movement
the Jixing with ZTZA movement
ZLJ17Z movement

See my other post on the same Jixing here and my other collections from Jilin City Watch Factory are:

Jilin 吉林 Meihualu 梅花鹿

Jilin 吉林 Meihualu 梅花鹿 XL Size

Liaoning 辽宁 Kongque 孔雀 Chairman Mao Commemorative Watch 毛主席记念表

Model : Kongque 孔雀
Manufacturer : Liaoning Watch Factory 辽宁手表厂
Year of Production: 1993
Case Diameter :
Weight w/o strap:
Movement Model : Automatic (33 jewels)
Type : Automatic
Anti-shock (Fang Zhen) : Yes

I felt that I should collect a watch related to some great political figures of China as the watch industry was very much created by the government under the then economic plans . Finally, I got this one from Liaoning Watch Factory辽宁手表厂, an automacic NOS in perfect condition. This watch was issued in 1993 in remembrance of Chairman Mao.

This commemorative watch is one of Liaoning's Kongque 孔雀 series. For more information on Liaoning Watch Factory and Kongque, see the link here. Above the six o'clock dial are the words "1893-1993“， 1893 is Chairman Mao's birth year and "毛泽东同志诞辰一百周年” means the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Mao Zedong. The picture of Chairman Mao on that dial was taken in 1936 according to this website, when he was 42 years old then. The picture and the words were all printed on the dial with a layer of thin lamination.

This is an automatic movement with a code of "12911" below the balance. I have no idea of what it represents.

The caseback is inscribed with a peacock at the center. The words are "ZI DONG SHOUBIAO" ( 自东手表 automatic watch) and "辽宁手表厂" (Lioaning Watch Factory)

For more shots, see the links below:

Movement in the case
Movement 1
Movement 2
Movement 3
Caseback

My other watch from Liaoning Watch Factory:

Liaoning 辽宁 Kongque 孔雀 Automatic 37J

Liaoning 辽宁 Hongqi 红旗 3101 (Red Flag)

Shanghai 上海 1123-605

Model : 1123 - 605
Manufacturer : Shanghai Watch Factory Nr 1 上海手表厂
Year of Production: 1972
Case Diameter :
Weight w/o strap:
Movement Model : SS1 (17 jewels)
Type : Hand Wind
Anti-shock (Fang Zhen) : Yes

The texture of the 1123 is beautiful; it portrays classical look popular in that era. Under suitable intensity of light, the texture emits that sense to its fullest.

It is powered by SS1 movement which started in 1996. Unlike the SS1 of the Shanghai 1524 in my earlier post, this one is of slow beat 18000bph.It has a date code of "GE“； "G" is the seventh year from 1966 which is 1972 and "E" is the month of May.

The case back is engraved with words "全钢“ （all stainless steel)，”防震“ (anti-shock)， ”Shanghai“， ”上海手表厂“ (Shanghai Watch Factory)， ”1123“ is the model number and ”605“ is the design number; there were 1123 in several designs.

More shots:

The Portrait
Dial 1,
Dial 2,
Dial 3,
Movement,

Shanghai 上海 Baoshihua 宝石花 II (Houseleek)

Model : Baoshihua 宝石花
Manufacturer : Shanghai Watch Factory No 2
Year of Production:
Case Diameter :
Weight w/o strap:
Movement Model : ZSE (17 jewels)
Type : Hand Wind
Anti-shock (Fang Zhen) : Yes

I have an earlier post on Baoshihua. This Baoshihua has an texture dial which shows different pattern under different angle of lighting.

For those who like to have a closer look:

Dial 1,
Dial 2,
Movement 1,
Movement 2,
Movement and caseback
Caseback

Shanghai 上海 Baoshihua 宝石花 I (Houseleek)

Model : Baishihua 宝石花
Manufacturer : Shanghai Watch Factory No 2
Year of Production: 1970s
Case Diameter :
Weight w/o strap:37g
Movement Model : ZSE (17 jewels)
Type : Hand Wind
Anti-shock (Fang Zhen) : Yes

Baoshihua 宝石花 is Houseleek in English; a succulent plant. The flower is well known for its 'die hard' nature; resilient and can survive through difficult environment.

The following is the abstract from news entitled "Old Time Not Forgotten by Watch Fans" (dated 18th January 2008) from a news page of Shanghai Municipal Government :

People are queuing up to buy old Shanghai brand watches after recent stories in the media. Dozens of people have been queuing in front of a counter at the entrance to Shanghai No. 2 Watch Factory on Jiaozhou Road, Putuo District.

Three sales assistants were busy serving the customers, mostly elderly citizens. The watches are priced at 40 yuan (US$5.5) to 200 yuan, quite reasonable compared to market prices. But what attracted the elderly citizens most was not the price but the old brand "Baoshihua." Every customer bought at least two watches and there were some who bought as many as six.

A TV program reported on the old brands of watches and bicycles two of necessary articles a family should have for a marriage. "Baoshihua" is one of the most famous watch brands.

Baoshihua" was famous in the 1970s and 1980s. A "Baoshihua" watch cost about 100 yuan, or almost three times the average salary in those days.

Baoshihua from Shanghai Watch Factory No 2 was the first watch in China using standard movement when the movement was just created in early 1970s. The factory code on the movement was SZ-1 and was then changed to this "ZSE". "Z" for Zhongguo (China), "S" means Shanghai and "E" is for number 2 (2 is ER in pinyin）. See this wiki link for more information on standard movement. This movement has a date code of "LC" which indicates that this movement was made in late 1970s or early 1980.

Baoshihua in up close:

Dial,
Case,
Movement 1,
Movement 2,
Caseback,

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