See, the core of the Seagull 1963’s charm is the ST19 movement. That’s the chronograph heart, the thing that makes it tick (and reset those cool little subdials). And guess what? Seagull (the Tianjin Watch Factory) *makes* that movement. So, technically, even a watch that *looks* like a 1963, but isn’t sold by Seagull directly, can still have a genuine Seagull movement. That’s where things get murky.
Think of it like this: you can buy a Ford engine and stick it in a kit car. Is the kit car a “fake” Ford? Not really, it *uses* Ford parts, but it’s not *officially* a Ford. Kinda the same deal with these Seagull 1963 homages, or… well, whatever you wanna call ’em.
Apparently, finding the *official* 1963 is like finding a unicorn these days. They’re kinda pricey and not always available. The official ones often have a closed caseback, which is a bummer if you like seeing all the gears and springs doing their thing. Some folks prefer an open caseback, and that’s where these other versions come in.
Now, are these “other” Seagull 1963s bad? Not necessarily! Some are actually really well made. But you gotta be careful. There are definitely some downright *awful* fakes out there, especially on places like eBay (where apparently there’s even a *bar* dedicated to warning people about fake Seagulls! Yikes!).
So, how do you avoid getting ripped off? Well, do your homework. Watch some YouTube videos (there’s a guy out there who apparently knows his stuff, according to one of the sources you gave me). Check out the official Seagull store on AliExpress (though, even *that* makes you wonder, right?). And most importantly, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Honestly, it all boils down to what you’re looking for. Do you *need* the “official” Seagull 1963 with all the historical baggage? Or are you happy with a watch that *looks* the part, has a genuine ST19 movement, and doesn’t break the bank? It’s a personal choice, really. Just be informed before you click that “buy” button, ya know?
