Buying, Authenticating, Registering and Owning a Sea-Gull

So, someone was asking about how to tell if a Sea-Gull watch is the real deal. Now, Sea-Gull isn't exactly a big-name brand, at least not until you're talking about their fancier tourbillon or ST18 watches. But here's the scoop: some stores get their hands on Sea-Gull movements and slap 'em into their own watches, trying to pass them off as legit Sea-Gulls made by the Tianjin Watch Factory. I am not referring to legit brand names like Sugess and Red Star, but counterfeit Sea-Gull branded watches and some 1963 chronographs using the Tianjin Watch Factory wording on the dial.

When you're eyeing a Sea-Gull watch, here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you're getting the real deal:

1. Where You Buy: The Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch Factory doesn't sell directly to customers. Their official website is only in Chinese, and unfortunately, there's no English version.

Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch Factory

The catalog is 10x bigger than that of what you would see on other so called "official" English websites.

But be wary of those "official" English websites—they're often set up by dealers in China. There are some smaller outfits that might be authorized to sell overseas but not in China, and some of them might even be selling their own versions of Sea-Gull watches. These quasi Sea-Gulls may be powered by genuine Sea-Gull movements. Some Sea-Gull movements, especially the tourbillons, look slightly different and without the markings when they are sold to other manufacturers. From what I have seen, Sea-Gull movements for internal Sea-Gull watches have markings. There are multiple ADs (as far as I know there are four major ADs in China). I can only speak from my own experience. I found a good one and I have stuck with it. This is my store.

Sea-Gull Official Store

2. QR Code: A genuine Sea-Gull watch comes with a unique QR code on the case back. You can use this code to register your watch using the Sea-Gull Customer mini-program on WeChat. If your watch doesn't have a QR code (it happens), you can hit up the Sea-Gull Official Store (if you had bought your watch from them) and they will send it to you electronically. But before you can authenticate your watch using the QR code, you gotta register a Sea-Gull account.

Warning:  It is frustrating if you cannot read/write Chinese when dealing with the Sea-Gull apps.  It’s 100% China focused. 

Prerequisite:  WeChat app on your cellphone.  Forget about registering a Sea-Gull customer account if you do not use WeChat.  Sea-Gull Customer app is not on Android/iOS.  It only exists as a WeChat mini-program.  It sucks.

Step 1:

Go to WeChat, click Discover, then Mini Programs. Search 海鷗表. Choose the first one, it is the official Sea-Gull sales boutique. Follow the on screen instructions and register an account. This one supports overseas phone numbers. 

Note: If you go directly to the Sea-Gull Customer mini-program before registering with this boutique mini-program, your registration will fail because the customer mini-program only supports phone numbers in China.

This is the boutique’s main page.

After successfully registering, you will be able to use the authentication by QR code function detailed in a later section.

Step 2:

Search 海鷗表 again in Mini Programs, but this time choose the fourth one. That is the member centre app.

Follow the instructions, you should be able to register an account.

Here is a screenshot of the Sea-Gull Customer mini-program after registration.

Step 3:

Click the marked area to scan the QR code. 

It will display the watch’s information and indicating that it is legitimate or not.

3. Serial Number: Legit Sea-Gull watches usually have a unique serial number etched on the case back. Limited edition ones might have a format like xxxx/yyyy, where xxxx is your watch's sequence number out of a total of yyyy.

4. WeChat Registration: You can also register your watch through the Sea-Gull Customer mini-program on WeChat. By registering your watch, you are entitled to a +1 year warranty.

After scanning the QR code in the Sea-Gull Customer mini-program, click the registration button and follow on screen instructions.

It will ask you for your watch’s serial number, proof of purchase, and the AD where your purchase was made.

Here is a sample of a successful registration showing the serial number, point of purchase and warranty period.

If you click the bottom left button a Certificate of Authenticity certification will appear showing the model number, serial number, and production number.

5. Product return and after sales service:

• Any watches that are defective upon receipt can be filed with the AD and return it. They will cover shipping.

• If your watch is under warranty and needs fixing, you will cover the shipping cost for sending the watch to your AD. They will cover the shipping cost back to you.

• If your watch needs fixing after warranty expiry, you can get a price quotation for the service.

6. I might be able to help authenticate your watch if you have no means to register a the Sea-Gull customer account. No promises, but I will do what I can to help others. If you see a watch you like but not listed on AliEx, I might be able to help and get the AD to sell it so long as it is still in stock. I have spoken enough to them making all kinds of inquiries hence knowing my way around.