Yeah I've known to have crazy veins.

I do not doubt that they are a legitimate dealer. Although I am not sure if they are the factory's outlet. I know they are "园区专卖店" in Chinese.

And the Tianjin Watch Factory doing free engraving? I find that very interesting.

I'll be in China in a couple of days. I'll see what I can find out.

This is a great buy @AlbertaTime ! It is beautiful!

I'll be going to China myself next week. Although I doubt if I will have any opportunity to stop by a local watch shop. We shall see.

San Martin and PD watches are available for purchase on Taobao, and they can also be found in the used market, similar to Kijiji in North America, through a platform owned by Taobao. However, their sales volume is notably smaller compared to brands like Sea-Gull and Fiyta.

Establishing a retail presence in the West presents a chicken-and-egg dilemma for them. Building consumer confidence takes time, and international after-sales service is a significant challenge. Let me explain why.

In China, owning a Sea-Gull watch allows you to use the Sea-Gull Customer app on WeChat to easily request service. The shipping cost is low, the process is automated, and after-sales service is efficiently managed by Sea-Gull. Once your watch is registered with Sea-Gull, all service matters are handled by them, simplifying the process.

However, shipping costs in the West are significantly higher compared to China. For instance, shipping a watch from the US to China for service might cost around $40 USD, whereas shipping from China to the US may only cost around $10 USD. This disparity becomes problematic, especially when the watch itself costs only $200 USD. Moreover, in the West, the authorized dealer (AD) on AliExpress/Temu/Amazon handles the shipping process to Tianjin for repairs, adding layers of complexity.

This dilemma arises because although establishing an AD network in the West could potentially address the issue, the current sales volume does not justify such an investment. Consequently, brands like Sea-Gull and Fiyta primarily focus on their retail business in China. Some Sea-Gull ADs operate international websites, but their performance is uncertain, and they often claim to be the 'Official' Sea-Gull despite being authorized dealers. Their prices vary, and some may include a watch with a QR code, while others may not.

Lastly, when purchasing a watch on platforms like AliExpress, Temu, or Amazon, logistics are managed by the platform, not the vendor.

AliExpress, Temu, and Amazon are platforms only for international buyers. People in China shop online using Taobao, JD, etc.

Some of the popular brands we know of like Addiesdive, Pagani, Cronos, and San Martin are export watches. Some of them are also available on Taobao and similar platforms, but their presence is so small it is almost non-existent.

There are many Made in China watch brands, but 90% of the domestic watches sold are dominated by Sea-Gull, Fiyta, and Beijing.

In the last few years, nationalism has played a big part in the surge of domestic brands. I can especially see that on Taobao's product feedback section, where people discuss why they buy domestic brands. Just like in the West, there was doubt in Chinese brands' quality in China for many years. That sentiment has now subsided.

Having said that, loyalty does not mean selection blindness. Shoppers in China are smart in cost-performance evaluation. If two products are equal, they will select a Chinese brand over an international one. Otherwise, value trumps patriotism.

For the well-to-dos, Rolex/AP/Longines/etc. are popular, just like anywhere else in the world. Some people also buy high end Sea-Gulls, but I do not think it is as popular as the well known Swiss brands.

I do not have the total sales figure on hand to show the breakdown between Chinese vs imports. My gut feelings tells me the majority will be domestic due to affordability. Let me see if I can find anything.

In my experience, most watches just end up losing you money.

Even with my top-performing watches like AP/PP/Rolex, which have gone up 600% in 30 years, when you adjust for inflation, they pretty much break even.

Therefore, pleasure is my goal.

Nice! I like the dial and the unique bezel.

Interesting about the stroopwafel included in the delivery. I like them, and my wife happens to be Dutch. I would have preferred a jar of salted herring. 😀