Haiou Bioye

Tianjin Seagull Watch Group is a Chinese state-owned watchmaking company founded in 1955 in Tianjin. Originally established as the Tianjin Watch Factory by four craftsmen under a government order, it created China's first-ever wristwatch, the Wuxing. The company's history is marked by several name changes and a pivotal decision in 1997 to focus exclusively on producing mechanical movements, after a brief period of manufacturing quartz watches. This strategic shift proved successful, establishing Seagull as the world's largest manufacturer of mechanical watch movements, producing a quarter of the global supply.

The company operates through a business model that encompasses the research, development, production, assembly, and sales of watches and movements. It serves both the domestic Chinese market and international clients, with its movements being utilized by numerous watch brands globally. In addition to its own 'Seagull' branded timepieces, the company is a major supplier of mechanical movements to other watch manufacturers and also provides precision parts for industries like electronics, aerospace, and medical devices. A significant milestone was going public in 2000, and in 2019, it underwent a mixed-ownership reform, joining the portfolio of Yuyuan Inc., part of the Fosun Group.

Seagull is renowned for its expertise in creating complex mechanical movements, holding independent intellectual property rights for high-end complications like the tourbillon, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar. The company has developed a wide range of movements, including the notable ST5, the first 100% Chinese-designed and built movement, and the ST19, a hand-winding chronograph based on a Swiss Venus 175 design. Their product lineup features watches with these advanced complications, such as double-tourbillon and triple minute repeater models, positioning them in the high-end mechanical watch segment. The company also produces more accessible automatic movements like the ST16 and ST17 series.

Keywords: mechanical watch movements, tourbillon, chronograph, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, Chinese watchmaking, Tianjin Watch Factory, horology, OEM movements, precision machining, Seagull ST5, Seagull ST19, automatic watches, Dongfeng watch, state-owned enterprise, Chinese horology, watch components, timepiece manufacturing, precision engineering, mechanical complications.