To See the Gull? Or not to See the Gull?!

I'd look at the Seagulls from HKED. He makes versions that pay homage to the original 60s design with the original 60s logo. You can get versions with either sapphire or plexi. They are fun watches.

https://www.hkedwatches.com/

I have a champagne dial see through case back. 
the column wheel chronograph is absolutely beautiful to look at. 
can’t go wrong for the $ on this watch. 

For the price, yay!

Before I got my 1963, I debated between that and a model similar to this. In the end I opted for the 1963, because I more enjoy watched where I get to tell a story. This looks great, but I’d still go for the original. If you already have the original, though, then go for it. 😉

Yes, but you never know where it might lead...

If you search through Ali Express, you’ll see the same watch a bit cheaper. Having said that, I’m not sure if there are quality differences. The watch you listed isn’t made by Sea-Gull the company either, though. They put different Chinese characters on their watches. You’re essentially buying a Chinese knock-off of a Chinese watch. 
 

I bought the Sugess made Seagull 1963, and I enjoy wearing it. I spent more money on the watch bands so far than the money I spent to buy the watch. You should go in with the eyes wide open that there are some issues. My chronograph second hand isn’t that smooth going around, but I’m okay with ir since I didn’t expect much from it. Also, I intend to throw it out and buy a new one when this watch needs a service. Overall, I think it’s worth buying to keep one in your collection. I wouldnt make it my daily, though. 

Yes! Totally go for a SeaGull / Sugess. But you can get them even cheaper.

I have another option in the form of the Bulova Luna Pilot, I can get it for roughly the same price.
Thoughts?

Also an interesting watch, but in my books, I find the mechanical Chrono movement in the SeaGull watch much more interesting. Also the Lunar Pilot is quite large, I’d try it on first zu make sure 

I have 7.5' wrists and I have no issues with large watches.
I got to say that I prefer automatic as-well.

If you’re okay with quartz, Bulova Lunar Pilot is a much better watch. the build quality is great. The high frequency quartz makes the second hand tick much more frequently, so it looks like a mechanical watch. Just a better watch all around. It’s huge, though. On my wrist (7 in), it looks like a dinner plate. I still love it. 

You seem to be am avid collector of this model.

Which would you recommend? 

Apparently there are 2 new versions of the Bulova Lunar Pilot on the way. 43mm. Blue Panda and Black Dial, no date, more closer to the original Lunar Watch.

I always suggest: "buy the seller, not the watch" no matter which watch. 

My first choice is always HKED, for spectacular customer support and because the so-called "star trek" logo is more in keeping with the real 304 (Chinese military spec for wristwatches) PLAAF watches of the 1960s than the red star. I've never seen an original 1963/304 with a star or a red star, and I've seen and handled a number of originals during my travels in China.

My experience with HKED is based on my own 63/304 watches, other designs I've purchased through him, and his long-standing work coordinating the Watchuseek Chinese Mechanical Watch forum watches over a number of years.

Second for me, Watchunique is the European distributor for Tsinlien Sea-Gull, a HK company very closely related to Tianjin Sea-Gull, Tsinlien was the company that made the first re-issues of the 304/1963--and I trust Tsinlien products. I'm very happy with my Watchunique/Tsinlien 1963. 

Closely next: Red Star, which is a subsidiary of Time King Industrial Company Limited, which is owned by Thomas Leung and is the HK company Thomas started after leaving Tsinlien. It was under Thomas's purview that Tsinlien made the original 304/1963 re-issues. Red Star watches are distributed by a number of resellers. Thomas was also a great help through the various Watchuseek builds.

I have no personal experience with Sugess, but a lot of people recommend them.

A personal aside:  With the exception of a D304 model put out by Tianjin Sea-Gull (and that looks quite different from the usual re-issues), I don't buy star trek logo '63/304 watches from anyone else but HKED because it was his idea to use that logo, as were a few of the colour choices that HKED had before anyone else.

I vote for a definite Yay! I got a similar watch from Seagull, But with mineral glass instead of Saphire glass, NATO strap instead of leather strap with butterfly folding clasp. Yours is a better deal for sure!🍻

I love my seagulls

You get a lot of bang for your buck!

There are a lot of watches that have a ST-19 movement that I would love to have. I've got a couple 40mm

But I would love to pick up a 38mm like the one you have pictured. Also the Redstart Bullhead but it's not a ST-19