Going to run through my other watch passion...

[Deleted]

I guess it's about time that WS saw my vintage Chinese mechanical collection. I will add a watch to this thread every day or so. That way the collection will be in one place where we can talk about them, love them or trash them

Let's begin with the one that started it all, my $4 throw it away if it's junk watch...

This watch has the SM1A-K movement that is a near chronometer grade(not certified by the Swiss), has a 54+ hour reserve and won competitions in China for 10 years running!

Definitely not junk

[russtmurray]

Great idea Peter. I really like a lot of the mechanical pieces that originate just east of us. Now it's been a while but who was the chap who lived in Grande Prairie, AB? His knowledge and collection of Chinese horology was beyond the pale, as I recall. 

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2019 8:24:26 GMT -8 russtmurray said:

Great idea Peter. I really like a lot of the mechanical pieces that originate just east of us. Now it's been a while but who was the chap who lived in Grande Prairie, AB? His knowledge and collection of Chinese horology was beyond the pale, as I recall. 

Russ, that would be Ron Good(AlbertaTime). He lives at WUS Chinese Mechanical Watch forum and also over on Watchlords.

He has been taking trips to China every year now for the last 5 or 6 and then he posts these wonderful travelogs of his adventures. They are definitely worth viewing as he gives us an unbiased view of China that we seldom see!

[philsinclair]

Hi. My experience with Ron shows he is a top notch bloke. Cheers Phil

[HiBeat]

 This is really great stuff Peter.    Anybody who cares about watches and can be honest with himself and look at some of the current Chinese offerings realizes they are really quite good, and a heckuva value. 

 I had a Croton with the DZ (not DC stupid autocorrect!) movement that was in great need of regulation from the factory, but once I tweaked it it was a performer! 

 Can’t wait to see the rest of your “jewels “. 

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2019 13:47:00 GMT -8 HiBeat said:

 This is really great stuff Peter.    Anybody who cares about watches and can be honest with himself and look at some of the current Chinese offerings realizes they are really quite good, and a heckuva value. 

 I had a Croton with the DC movement that was in great need of regulation from the factory, but once I tweaked it it was a performer! 

 Can’t wait to see the rest of your “jewels “. 

Personally, I think that although the aesthetics of most vintage pieces are a bit simplistic compared to modern models; I do believe they were better built and assembled.

I'll try and add a new one to the thread every day...

[pip]

That does look like a movement I’d like to get into. Keep’em coming Pete, looking forward to seeing your collection!

[scubarob99]

Awesome! Are they rough movements? Sort off like Russian stuff of the good old CCCP?

Rob

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2019 15:39:46 GMT -8 scubarob99 said:

Awesome! Are they rough movements? Sort off like Russian stuff of the good old CCCP?

Rob

Generally speaking they are several cuts above the CCCP stuff. They are very well machined where metal meets metal and or jewels which is why they can be so accurate and reliable.

[yomama]

Keep them coming looking forward to the next one.

[69ChevelleSS]

Cool . . . . this will be interesting.

[Deleted]

And for my next installment, a watch given to me by a good friend Ron Good(also known as Alberta Time)...

Manual wind and I believe it is a Tongji movement.

Possibly the only watch anyone has asked about and complimented me on

[philsinclair]

Nice lugs

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2019 13:28:03 GMT -8 philsinclair said:

Nice lugs

I'm sure they are inspired by some Swiss piece or other

[Deleted]

Today we have a little 'gem flower'(BaoShiHua)...

Manual wind with a Chinese Standard(Tongji) movement.

This is a midsize and elegant dress watch.

[donciccio]

Nice. Do you have any chronographs?

[Deleted]

Mar 29, 2019 7:59:13 GMT -8 donciccio said:

Nice. Do you have any chronographs?

No Chinese ones, sadly. They are now out of my price range

[HiBeat]

Mar 29, 2019 7:51:11 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

Today we have a little 'gem flower'(BaoShiHua)...

Manual wind with a Chinese Standard(Tongji) movement.

This is a midsize and elegant dress watch.

This one interests me so I rotated the photo.  Great overall aesthetics 

This little baoshihua it gets even more appealing. Love the 17 jewel text "Arch" !

[HiBeat]

Mar 29, 2019 14:37:11 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

Mar 29, 2019 7:59:13 GMT -8 donciccio said:

Nice. Do you have any chronographs?

No Chinese ones, sadly. They are now out of my price range

If you can't afford the real thing, how about a cheap Chinese knock-off ?  

[Deleted]

Slightly different movement...

Many of these old vintage pieces have chromed base metal cases and show 'aging'.