Minute Repeaters from China?
Now I realize that all of you whom I considered my friends have been conspiring to keep me from discovering this watch. According to EuropaStar in 2008, The Sea-Gull Minute Repeater Ref. ST9100G in 18 carat gold, limited edition, gold Breguet style hands on a silvered dial, raised Roman numerals and raised small seconds at 4.30 position, Domed sapphire crystal, stitched brown alligator strap, water resistant to 30 metres, crystal see-through back. Expect to pay about 45,000 euros.
Sea-Gull Minute Repeater Ref. ST9100G movement through the back. Note the good decorative spotting but no anglage and disproportionate crossing-out of the centre wheel and third wheel.
My first discovery is that Seagull produces the ST91 minute repeater movement. My second discovery is that Sea-Gull made Limited edition watches with solid 18K gold case which I find very unSea-Gull like. Does anyone know if Sea-Gull puts this movement in a more affordable watch? Does anyone have a contact at a company that currently buys movements from Seagull, like Studio Underdog that I could solicit to see if they will sell the ST91 movements and if a venture to build affordable minute repeaters is realistic?
My name is Rich and I am building a collection of unique complications. I know it sounds more like the way you start a watch museum and not a personal collection. So far I have a Tourbillion, Retrogra...
Excuse me, how much?
I thought WatchCrunchers knew everything and everyone but no one offered a watch contact to me. So knowing that Studio Underdog was using Segull movements in their current line of watches, I wrote the following to the owner:
Dear Richard,
While awaiting the arrival of our watermelon wrist watch. I came across something mind blowing on the internet. It appears that Seagull, the same Chinese company that you buy your beautiful movements from has invented a minute repeater movement that they call ST91. It appears that they made a limited edition of watches around 2008 with 18K gold cases and sold them for for approx. 45,000 euros. I can find no other mention of this calibre. Since you already have an established connection with Seagull would you be willing to inquire if they will sell the ST91 movements to you and at what price. My thinking is that if they can sell the movement inexpensive enough, as they have done with their tourbillion that it may be worth tracking down some minute repeater cases and dials and build a minute repeater that Studio Underdog can sell at a price point much lower than any others currently on the market. What are your thoughts?
Kindest Regards,
Rich
I was excited to get this reply. It seems like he is as nice of a person as he appears in interviews.
Hello Richard,
Thanks a lot for reaching out. I had no idea the ST91 even existed! Thanks a lot for sharing this with me – it’s quite fascinating.
I’ll certainly do some more research and will ask my contacts about it. I’m already looking at some new movements from different suppliers etc and have plenty of new and exciting projects in the pipeline so do keep an eye out!
Once again, thank you very much for brining this particular movement to my attention
Cheers,
Richard
Studio Underd0g
www.underd0g.com
London, UK
My need for an affordable minute repeater is about to change the watch world and I am officially declaring myself as a watch influencer. 🤣
@Velomax wondering if you have heard anything more on the ST91 series movements regarding availability or any micro brands using them over the past 11 months?
I last saw Richard from Studio Underd0g at the Wind Up Watch Fair in NYC in 2022. He said he had not yet asked Sea-Gull about that movement.