New Interesting pickup
I usually don't like gold watches, but this one sparked my interest. I was looking at Vintage watched and I found this one. It's apparently a watch of New old stock (NOS) of a watch store in the 70s. That meaning it was made in the 70s but it is still new, and I bought it new. It has esentially been in a box for mostly 40 years. It is truly amazing how you can find things like that.
The company, Western 1868 is pretty unknown, that meaning that the company is not around anymore. It is like a 70s interpretation of a 40s kinda military watch. It has a beautiful, new 17 jewel movement. Model being "ZHQ" of the company itself. It is a hand wound movement, which I like. Remember, it has a 40s kind of look and feel, so a hand wound movement instead of an Automatic one is a nice touch. I put it on a nato strap from NATOS.com which is pretty nice and I think it goes with it. What do you guys think?
"A gentleman's choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Saville Row suit" -Ian Fleming.
Lovely watch and great strap choice!
The movement is the Chinese Standard Movement also known as the Tongji. I believe ZHQ is the factory code which indicates that it was made at the Hongqi Watch Factory.
Glad I found it!
Lovely watch and great strap choice!
The movement is the Chinese Standard Movement also known as the Tongji. I believe ZHQ is the factory code which indicates that it was made at the Hongqi Watch Factory.
I believe the Tongji has been in production from the 70s to the present day. The Hongqi factory closed in the late 90s. There may be a date code stamped underneath the balance wheel which will help date it. From the design of the watch I'd guess it is from the 90s or 2000s. The "Western" brand name might be a reference to the Hongqi factory being located in Western China.1868 was the year the Burlingame Treaty was signed between the US and China. Among other things it normalised relations between the two countries and lifted all restrictions on Chinese immigration to the US. Chinese labour was vital in constructing railroads in the American West. So maybe the brand is hearkening back to that too.
My eyeballs like it!! Congrats on a truly great find, mint condition as well - also nice work with the matching NATO. Is it around a 34mm? Congrats again!🤙❤️🎉🎯
The 12 is definitely smaller than the other indices, right? I guess they wanted to contain the color? The 7 and 8 seem larger than most other text. Is this some odd photographic issue? Good size.
My eyeballs like it!! Congrats on a truly great find, mint condition as well - also nice work with the matching NATO. Is it around a 34mm? Congrats again!🤙❤️🎉🎯
Its 36mm without the crown, 38 with it
I believe the Tongji has been in production from the 70s to the present day. The Hongqi factory closed in the late 90s. There may be a date code stamped underneath the balance wheel which will help date it. From the design of the watch I'd guess it is from the 90s or 2000s. The "Western" brand name might be a reference to the Hongqi factory being located in Western China.1868 was the year the Burlingame Treaty was signed between the US and China. Among other things it normalised relations between the two countries and lifted all restrictions on Chinese immigration to the US. Chinese labour was vital in constructing railroads in the American West. So maybe the brand is hearkening back to that too.
Very interesting! Makes this watch even cooler! So it probably was made during early to mid 80s and it is a great piece of chinese hoorology too. Edit: Just looked under the balance wheel and it says "H F ZHQ". I can't find any information myself
The 12 is definitely smaller than the other indices, right? I guess they wanted to contain the color? The 7 and 8 seem larger than most other text. Is this some odd photographic issue? Good size.
The 12 is the only one different from the others. The 7 and 8 are the same size as the others too. It is a better design making the 12 smaller
Very interesting! Makes this watch even cooler! So it probably was made during early to mid 80s and it is a great piece of chinese hoorology too. Edit: Just looked under the balance wheel and it says "H F ZHQ". I can't find any information myself
Hongqi
Standard movements manufactured at Hongqi Watch Factory have a two-character date code marked in the base plate underneath the balance wheel, above the ZHQ factory code. The first character indicates the year of manufacture, with years progressing in reverse alphabetical order. Z corresponds to 1972, Y to 1973, X to 1974, and so on. The second character indicates the month, and runs in ordinary alphabetical order, with A corresponding to January, B to February, and so on up to L for December.
Source
Hongqi
Standard movements manufactured at Hongqi Watch Factory have a two-character date code marked in the base plate underneath the balance wheel, above the ZHQ factory code. The first character indicates the year of manufacture, with years progressing in reverse alphabetical order. Z corresponds to 1972, Y to 1973, X to 1974, and so on. The second character indicates the month, and runs in ordinary alphabetical order, with A corresponding to January, B to February, and so on up to L for December.
Source
So, H F is the age. I am going to try and see what age and month it is
So, H F is the age. I am going to try and see what age and month it is
Ok, I've searched it up. The watch and movement was made in 1979, with the letter being H. The month is F, that is May. So this watch was made in May of 1979. Pretty amazing
Yes. Approx 1990 though I didn't double check how the letters match the years exactly.
Yes. Approx 1990 though I didn't double check how the letters match the years exactly.
Thanks, man. Had no idea about this
Yes. Approx 1990 though I didn't double check how the letters match the years exactly.
Checked it again, I was wrong. The H number is equivalent to 1985. So this was made in May of 1985
Lovely watch and great strap choice!
The movement is the Chinese Standard Movement also known as the Tongji. I believe ZHQ is the factory code which indicates that it was made at the Hongqi Watch Factory.
So, you’re saying it should actually say “Eastern” across the top 😉
Pretty wonderful find, I’d say. Congrats!
That IS pretty interesting! It's also great to see someone else putting a little gold dress watch on a nicely patterned NATO.
Many NOS watches are the result of a recipient that wasn't into watches being gifted a watch then quietly putting it away in a drawer somewhere, box and all.
I often encounter them at estate sales and it's just one reason why I caution enthusiasts not to gift non-enthusiasts expensive watches.