Rubbish Movements?

[Frenchie]

Keep seeing on other popular watch forums that the stock Chinese 6497/8 are sent out unlubricated. Oddly I bought second hand from TZ UK a Marina Militare hobnail dial about 11 years ago. I very rarely wear it but the odd time I do it keeps close to COSC spec...
https://imgur.com/a/r9rabuC
Apologies the photo won't load.
Took the back off once and it's mostly plastic spacer.

[Mellons]

There have been a few comparisons between seagul and eta, former compared very well. Once cleaned and regulated, v good movement.

[Fizzzz]

There have been a few comparisons between seagul and eta, former compared very well. Once cleaned and regulated, v good movement.

Hi,
I totally agree with Mellons.
And I can go further.
(I have probably checked a thousand Asian 6497-6498 on the timegrapher.)

As for Seagull movement without lubrification :
This is true … at a point:
I guess this story began in 2016 with this blog: http://www.asian-watches.com/2016/04/a- ... s-eta.html
If you read the whole story, you’ll notice this:
« I received my watches from two Parnis dealers and in fact, they lacked any lubrication. I also discovered that Parnis sold factory seconds from a third party instead of Seagull.”

Fact is Seagull is offering different grades.
The best ones are rated AAA, Seagull is using these in their own watches and for Export BtoB.
The rest is sold on local market.
Main problem for the hobbyist: there is no way to tell if a movement is AAA or a grade B,
except if you buy straight from Seagull … per 300pcs.

Another anecdote:
During a watchmaker event, a friend of mine made a bet with a snobbish collector:
He took 6pcs ST36 from his own stock, and had them checked by a former COSC employee.
All 6pcs met the COSC requirements … except that these are not "Swiss Made", which is the first requirement to obtain a COSC certificate.

[Denis]

Thanks

[Mellons]

+1. Hands down the most accurate movement I ever had was a regulated seagull st36

[Ciccio]

I think these ST36s have been around long enough to put to rest forever the lie that they’re rubbish movements. I’ve had builds from 10 years ago with seagull movements come back to me and they’re still running with high amplitude and great timing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk