SEA-GULL 1963 X SHUKE AND BEITA

Brand: Sea-Gull (海鷗). Reference: 819.87.1963FLY. [Version: 40 mm diameter; Shuke and Beita Special Edition. View other versions→]. Launch date: 2023-June-Date? Limited 500 pieces.

In April of 1961, the Chinese Ministry of Light Industry tasked the former Tianjin Watch Factory to make a chronograph watch for the Chinese Air Force, mission code: 304. The mission was completed in 1963 and several thousand pieces of the D304 chronograph were handed over to Chinese Air Force.

The identical design and the Chinese characters on the dial confirm the identity of this watch. The ivory white dial and the domed sapphire crystal adds up to the vintage feel of this watch.

COBRANDING

Sea-Gull 1963 cobrands with the Chinese animation film: Shuke and Beita · Pentagram (舒克和贝塔 · 五角飞碟). Limited 300 pieces. Titanium alloy case back engraved with a Flight Dream Courage Badge (飞行梦想勇气徽章).

ABOUT THE ANIMATION

(Below from chinadaily.com.cn "Popular Chinese children's tale 'The Adventures of Shuke and Beita' to become a film" Updated: 2015-08-23 14:44:38 https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2015-08/23/content_21678936.htm)

Popular Chinese children's tale-"The Adventures of Shuke and Beita" is becoming a film. Zheng Yuanjie, author of the hit children's literature, has confirmed the news.

Shuke and Beita are two mice who don't want to steal food like the others. The two good friends then co-found the Shuke & Beita Airlines to help other animals.

The fairy tales was already turned into a 13-episode animation series in 1989.

The animation and the story have a great influence on China's younger generations.

Some of the other works by Zheng Yuanjie, hailed as "King of Chinese Fairy Tales", have also been made into animations or TV series.

Chinese character:
22 ZUAN (钻/占) - 22 JEWELS. Position: 12 o'clock on dial.
中国 - China. Position: 6 o'clock on dial.
天津手表厂 - Tianjin Watch Factory. Position: 6 o'clock on dial.
舒克贝塔 - Shuke Beita. Position: on case back.

MOVEMENT
Mechanical, manual-winding. China Made. Caliber: Sea-Gull ST1901. Column-wheel chronograph. Functions: Hour, minute, second, chronograph (Central hour, minute and chronograph seconds hands, small seconds hand at 9 o'clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock.). No hacking (Seconds hand does NOT stop when crown is pulled out). Jewels: 22. Frequency: 21600 vph. Power reserve: Around 42 hours.

CASE
316L stainless steel. Diameter: 40 mm. Thickness: 14.5 mm. Lug width: 20 mm. Lug to lug: 46 mm. Water resistance: 30 meters. Luminescence: No lume. Dial: Ivory white. Applied hour markers, numerals and a five-pointed star, Recessed sub-dials. Crystal: Sapphire crystal. Domed. Has anti-reflective coating. Case back: Screw-down decagon shaped. Not transparent. Titanium alloy case back. Crown: Push-pull. Fluted cylinder shape. Crown not signed.

STRAP
Black. Cowhide leather. No quick release: Need tool to remove strap from case. Fit for case lug width: 20 mm. Clasp: Pin buckle. Stainless steel clasp. (Additional strap: Blue. Nylon. Clasp of additional strap: Pin buckle. Stainless steel material.)