If you don't know or don't care what a column wheel chronograph is then this post is not for you. Suffice it to say a column wheel chronograph is a type of chronograph mechanism that is superior to the much more common cam-lever chronograph mechanism. A column wheel chronograph is however a very difficult complication to manufacture due to the extreme precision that is required. While there are column wheel chronographs still being made, they tend to start just under $3,000 with the sky the limit. There has been an alternative that should not be outright dismissed. Chinese manufacturer Sea-Gull (Seagull) acquired the machinery and knowledge to fabricate the late 1940s Swiss Venus 175 movement in the 1960s. Sea-Gull has over the decades improved the movements a little bit and is still producing it, including a desirable version with a swan neck regulator with a micro-adjustment regulator screw. The basic ST19xx movement goes for around $100 which makes it a tremendous value proposition. This movement comes in many versions with different complications and hand configurations. Many microbrands use this movement. You can go on AliExpress and buy one.
Yesterday, Mark from Long Island Watch broke the news on YouTube that Sea-Gull is going to limit who can buy their ST movements. The minimum order quantity is 10,000 units. That will put a huge strain on many microbrands. It will also cause issues with spare parts. This is similar to what ETA did in the early 2000s when they stopped selling even parts to watch manufacturers and service centers not part of the ETA Group. This scheme backfired on ETA and they lost a lot of business because other manufacturers, such as Sellita, filled in the void with their movements. The problem with Sea-Gull doing this is that there is no alternative for a truly affordable column wheel chronograph movement.
The good news is that the patents on this movement have long expired and any capable manufacturer should be able to make a clone - something the Chinese are good at doing anyway. And Se-Gull movements are not all made by Sea-Gull themselves in Sea-Gull factories but outsourced to other Chinese movement manufacturers. Sea-Gull themselves make watches and not just movements, and being the largest mechanical movement maker in the world, they may simply want to charge more and produce less while trying to go upscale. So we don't know yet how this will shake out.
All I'm trying to say is, if there's a chronograph with an ST19 that you would like to own, with the future of the ST19 uncertain, now would be a good time to get one before the prices potentially go through the roof. The lowest price I find right now for a decent-looking watch with an ST 19 is a little under $100. And as I said, the only alternative is Swiss and will start at just under $3,000. And remember, the ST19 is the slightly updated version of a classic Swiss Venus movement.
Yesterday, Mark from Long Island Watch broke the news on YouTube that Sea-Gull is going to limit who can buy their ST movements. The minimum order quantity is 10,000 units. That will put a huge strain on many microbrands. It will also cause issues with spare parts. This is similar to what ETA did in the early 2000s when they stopped selling even parts to watch manufacturers and service centers not part of the ETA Group. This scheme backfired on ETA and they lost a lot of business because other manufacturers, such as Sellita, filled in the void with their movements. The problem with Sea-Gull doing this is that there is no alternative for a truly affordable column wheel chronograph movement.
The good news is that the patents on this movement have long expired and any capable manufacturer should be able to make a clone - something the Chinese are good at doing anyway. And Se-Gull movements are not all made by Sea-Gull themselves in Sea-Gull factories but outsourced to other Chinese movement manufacturers. Sea-Gull themselves make watches and not just movements, and being the largest mechanical movement maker in the world, they may simply want to charge more and produce less while trying to go upscale. So we don't know yet how this will shake out.
All I'm trying to say is, if there's a chronograph with an ST19 that you would like to own, with the future of the ST19 uncertain, now would be a good time to get one before the prices potentially go through the roof. The lowest price I find right now for a decent-looking watch with an ST 19 is a little under $100. And as I said, the only alternative is Swiss and will start at just under $3,000. And remember, the ST19 is the slightly updated version of a classic Swiss Venus movement.
