Big honkin' Jiusko 39LSB15 200m diver (circa 2013)

The reptilian vibes on this one!

Such a cool piece. I must admit that I am quite interested to learn more about Chinese watchmaking, and the various brands encompassed by this general classification. Broadly speaking, I find the overall styling and design language, embraced by most Chinese brands, to be a breath of fresh air. To be known in the west, primarily for the production of "homages" and replicas, is a sad but harsh reality, for this arm of the eastern horologic production. With China's rapid advancements in terms of manufacturing and production technology, as well as their ability to leverage labor like no other area of the modern world can, I would estimate them, to have the ability to compete at a high-level, horologically speaking, with almost any other sub-section of watch companies in the world. Including both the Japanese, and the Swiss. From various things I've read recently, these Chinese companies, have invested heavily in the production of toubillions especially. If you don't mind me asking, in your experience, how much of my statement do you find to be accurate??? Thank you for your time....

What you wrote is quite accurate. 

Certainly, tourbillons are seen as an industry wide accomplishment, taking a hand-made item that previously cost in the multiple thousands and, through automation, making them accessible to people with limited budgets was a certain flex--a way to say "we can do this." 

Now, companies like Beijing, Fiyta, Shanghai, Sea-Gull, et al, not only make wonderful affordable pieces but also make even higher end complications, offering competitive watches selling for hundreds of thousands. An outlier model even sold for $2.4 million. And, there are now numerous companies and a select number of AHCI independents, all making a mark across the price spectrum.

That doesn't mean there isn't a long way to go, still. 

For context, and a really perceptive and sensibly self-deprecating overview, I always refer to this 2012 interview at Europa Star with Aries Lee, at the time, the deputy general manager of Sea-Gull:
https://www.europastar.com/magazine/features/1004084475-sea-gull-s-new-factory.html

You might also find value in looking at my own website which, although a work in progress, highlights what I've learned of the industry over my visits to china, and also (see "additional resources" on the right side drop-down part of the menu) points to more places to learn.

https://www.amchpr.com 

I very much appreciate your interest, and your thoughts. Thank you.

Truly, the pleasure is all mine. I very much appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day, to offer me your thoughts and opinions on this very broad subject matter. Also for providing me w/ some suggested starting points, to help me hopefully achieve a higher level of understanding of this topic. Out of curiosity, were you ever invited inside to tour, any of these large scale component manufacturing, and assembly factories, that I've heard talks of??? Factories that produce, finish, and even in some cases assemble, some or all, of the different components, for a multitude of different watch brands, micro-brands, and movement distributors. Like H.K. Precision Technology. I realize also that this topic is not just simply limited to mainland China. Best wishes.... 

I don't know about large scale but I visited a number of parts makers and assemblers in Guangzhou, including licenced Shanghai Watch Factory facilities, and I also visited Sea-Gull in Tianjin and Liaocheng Zhongtai in Shandong, My hope is to visit some facilities in Liaoning in August.

Very informative excerpt in Europastar. I had actually read that exact article once before I believe. MOF, that was one of the articles I was citing to you from memory previous, in reference to the tourbillions. If memory serves me, I believe I found it a few years back, while researching info about tourbillions manufactured by a company called Peacock. Whom I'm quite sure you're aware of