Opinions on the Seagull Chronograph?

Calling @AlbertaTime 

I like them and have five different variants.

This thread at Watchuseek will bring you up to decent speed as to who makes which versions, and a lot more about the history, especially if you follow through with the links and the interview with Thomas Leung of Red Star (linked in the thread).

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/buying-a-seagull-1963-my-experience.4867521/

(There's repeated info here, too, but also some more bits and pieces of the story:) 

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/authentic-tianjin-seagull-factory-seagull-1963-304-watches.4867821/ 

It's especially important to "buy the seller" because mechanical chronos (Chinese or Swiss, or...) can be finicky, although I've had very good fortune with mine.

Sea-Gull is well within their rights to charge a premium based on the fact that Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch factory is the original maker of the famous Project 304 military chronos that later became colloquially known in the west as 1963s.

The first re-issues, though, as far as I've ever been able to ascertain, were made--not by Tianjin Sea-Gull--in the early 2000s by Tsinlien Sea-Gull (Hong Kong) which is a closely related company to Tianjin, but not identical. That was when Thomas Leung worked for Tsinlien. He later left Tsinlien to form Red Star and, since then, that company also makes any number of the re-issue versions sold by a number of outlets.

All ST19 chronograph movements are made by Tianjin, no matter which "brand" or version of 1963 you might buy. What matters there is QC at assembly and pre-customer QC checks.

Again, as always "buy the seller, not the watch." 

I didn't even think they were made in the same place, interesting!
You have a few i see haha!

Ive got one 38mm with domed acrylic can’t fault the watch for the money. the nato strap isn’t great quality.

I love this piece. I had it for awhile and sold it, but I do miss it. It will eventually makes its way back into the collection.

I have the HongKong Ed version of the 1963 PLA dial. I like it a lot. Winding action is a little crunchy, very satisfying chrono buttons though which is what I like. Beautiful movement Especially for the money 

amazing watch

I have a few different variants. I do prefer the original with the acrylic crystal over the sapphire one, just seems to fit the style a little bit better. As far as who Manufacturers it, I don’t really care. They are all basically the same with very very minor differences. I have two from the same manufacturer that have slightly different handsets and state different jewel amounts even though they are identical movements.

The ST19 movements are all made by Tianjin Sea-Gull. But, for example, Red Star and Tsinlien quite likely have different suppliers for cases, or dials or hands (and they may share a few manufacturers, as well).

Also, HKED, for example, was the very first distributor for some dial colours, and was the first re-issue variant producer to use the so-called "star trek" logo--actually, the logo used on the vast majority of original 304 pieces (none used the red star). Now, some other manufacturers are now producing HKED lookalikes.

An interesting wrinkle: so far as I can tell, only Tianjin's own "authorized" versions (with the Sea-Gull QR code sticker on the caseback), and Tsinlien's versions (sold by Watchunique in Eurpope as Watchunique is Tsinlien's only authorized European distributor) have the two lines of characters above the 6 o'clock on the dial: 中国 (Zhongguo/China, and right below, five characters 天津手表厂 (Tianjin Wristwatch Factory). 

All others that I have seen, including HKED and Red Star, have a single line: 中国制造 (Zhongguo Zhizao/China Made), or 中国·天津 (Zhongguo·Tianjin).

Right! I noticed the difference in the text at 6 o clock but thought that was the only giveaway for a "legit" seagull.

So you think that if I will be looking to get one it doesn't really make a difference besides QC and different aesthetics?

I think the most important thing with 1963s is the seller's commitment to good service. For me, I'd stick with what I feel are the retailers with the best service reputations: Tianjin, Tsinlien (Watchunique), HKED, Poljot24, and Long Island Watch (which I believe are Red Star).

Other suppliers may also be very good--but I'll leave that to other commenters. Again, not "advice"-- just stating what I choose to do. YMMV.

This is a very complicated topic to be debunked.... I have had this watch before and after extensive research, i still cant be certain of what is the original and whats not. 

I was in hong kong back then and i do speak the languages, spoke to the "ads".... each have their own explanations and origins or what not. 

I didnt like the idea of having a possible fake on my wrist and i gave it to someone else who doesnt really care too much about watches as long as it has some flieger dna. 

Would a Geckota W-02 with the Seagull ST19 movement count?

I have about a dozen chronographs in my collection, including this inexpensive W-02. The only issue that I have with this one is that if the reset button is pressed while the chrono is in operation, the chrono will reset the next time that the start/stop pusher is pressed. Most of my others won't allow the reset pusher to be operated while the chrono is running. Other than that, it has a surprisingly nice feel to the chrono pushers, and keeps really good time. The ST19 movement is nice enough looking that I also appreciate the display caseback.

Agreed, despite being more susceptible to scratches, the acrylic looks more authentic.

I purchased a model called FOD which stands for flying over darkness, LOL. Honestly I was more than impressed by the timekeeping. It really is a solid movement for the money.  However, the movement on my example is rather crude looking, and if you look carefully one can actually see a small piece of fiber through the caseback so be weary of QC from whomever you by it from