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07-23-2017, 11:56 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-23-2017, 12:33 PM by UrbanWatch.)
1
Yes! There are cheap Tourbillons, they will cost you not somewhere in the region of 20.000 USD but just slightly over 3000 USD...
The ST8000SA will cost you...
Polished steel
Sapphire crystal front and back
Alligator strap with adjustable folding buckle
19 Jewels
Diameter: 40mm
Water resistant to 5 ATM (50 meters)
Manual winding
Price: 3,865 € | 3,050 £ | 29,000 DKK
And here is a nice review on it..
Firstly, in terms of accuracy, the watch easily passes muster. I am no huge stickler for accuracy but as far as I can see, the watch is always accurate to the minute (since the rather exotic second hand is non-hacking). This is probably more than can be said for most other tourbillons from Europe, which are seen as fragile things that get a wearing once in a blue moon to an event. I have worn mine fairly often, and am a firm believer in not saving your best watches for special events, but rather celebrating them as often as possible in regular rotation. I have worn mine in all sorts of relatively active pursuits (caught a lemon shark off the Caribbean once with it), and never knew until recently that all mechanical watches, let alone tourbillons, should not be exposed to even slight shock.
As to the oft-lamented lack of decoration on the back of the movement, I think this is perfectly fine, since Swiss and German tourbillons are also left fairly bare (apart from decidedly redundant gold lettering detailing all sorts of exotic information which is fairly pointless). Apparently this is because tourbillons do not benefit from a large amount of decoration as this affects their accuracy. Nonetheless, there is nicely-done anglage on the three holes surrounding the tourbillon carriage (more nicely done than some of my rather pricey Swiss watches), and the tourbillon itself is beautifully polished and bevelled. The solid 3/4 plate adds stability and robustness to the movement, which probably played a part in preserving the tourbillon movement after it had been dropped on marble (see below). Any criticism against it can be equally levelled at the Glashuette tradition. On the whole there is no imperfection that can be seen either with the naked eye or with a 10x loupe. The diamond is indeed genuine and glimmers stunningly - and I am certified by HRD Antwerp to grade diamonds.
As to the million yuan question - how does the Sea\-Gull manufacture tourbillon compare with mushroom brands' products? To my knowledge, tourbillons are all hand assembled as there is simply no other way of doing so. There are several hundred minute components that must come together into one package that weighs less than a feather (according to Sea\-Gull), and this simply cannot be done by machine, which accounts for the cost of the movement. Such assembly is prone to errors, and thus the great bulk of these movements are rejected. These factory seconds are then likely sent out to other brands for their use. In fact, I have had a Kemmner tourbillon before my Sea\-Gull which uses the export TY800 movement at AAA grade, but even that exhibits some deficiencies in comparison to Sea\-Gull's own, in terms of power reserve, anglage and the lesser polishing of the movement.
With Sea\-Gull ceasing the sale of their reject tourbillon movements, these are now used in their proprietary tourbillon cufflinks (whose indigenous conception was recently celebrated at Basel!) Now exclusivity is one thing, and of dubious merit, but having the ability to produce tourbillon movements on a (relatively speaking) large scale enables Sea\-Gull to both accrue a great deal of manufacturing expertise and experience in perfecting them, as well as allows them to choose the very best for use in their own watches. And I feel that both points are certainly true in my own experience with their movements in both a manufacture and non-manufacture watch.
As to the warranty, I have yet to have occasion to use this. But my partner's own Kemmner tourbillon was recently dropped onto a marble floor. Although the diamond fell out, the tourbillon still amazingly works, and even keeps accurate time. This is utterly astounding to me, as can you imagine dropping a normal 3-hand Swiss luxury watch on marble and it continuing to function? Let alone a Swiss tourbillon. Equally inspiring is the fact that Sea\-Gull has agreed to fix the movement for a nominal sum, and within 10 days. To put things in perspective, could you imagine JLC agreeing to fix a Cartier tourbillon which you dropped on hard marble for a non-usurious fee, within such a short time frame? My Vacherons typically require 8 weeks for servicing (local service centre, and not sent to Geneva), and they are simple 3 handers. The routine servicing exceeds a grand with ease. Imagine the routine servicing for a high-end Swiss tourbillon. In my opinion, for a tourbillon for one to actually wear on a fairly regular basis, there is simply no other option than a Sea\-Gull tourb, as any other option is simply far, far too expensive. The lifetime free servicing is simply the dealmaker in this situation.
Now regarding the off-centre hands, I happen to take the view that this is a positive, as I believe it balances the gaping hole in the dial, and the design actually harmonises very well with the Roman numerals concentrated upwards. Sea\-Gull in my opinion has the most elegant design of any tourbillon in the world. Although the Beijing tourbillon probably is of superior quality, its case and dial simply do not accord with me as well as Sea\-Gull's. The lancet hands are gorgeous of course. The combination of the stark white dial, glimmering diamond pointer on a carriage that is shaped like a 大 or "great", the forceful hands and guilloche dial, present a dignified, stately countenance to the world, proclaiming to all that China has accomplished the construction of the low-cost, but beautiful and practical tourbillon. I know that mine will grow old with me, and not fail on me at an inopportune time, and will always be taken care of by its maker. And ultimately it will be handed down to my blessed offspring. Who knows where Sea\-Gull, and China, will be, at that point in time?
However, the 818.930 is cheaper if you look for discounts, it can be had for 2140 USD/1840 Euro...
Sadly, it is out of stock... but anyway, here is the link. They ship from Germany too so that is a boon to European watch collectors.
http://www.seagullwatchstore.com/Seagull...18.930.htm
The ST8000SA will cost you...
Polished steel
Sapphire crystal front and back
Alligator strap with adjustable folding buckle
19 Jewels
Diameter: 40mm
Water resistant to 5 ATM (50 meters)
Manual winding
Price: 3,865 € | 3,050 £ | 29,000 DKK
And here is a nice review on it..
Firstly, in terms of accuracy, the watch easily passes muster. I am no huge stickler for accuracy but as far as I can see, the watch is always accurate to the minute (since the rather exotic second hand is non-hacking). This is probably more than can be said for most other tourbillons from Europe, which are seen as fragile things that get a wearing once in a blue moon to an event. I have worn mine fairly often, and am a firm believer in not saving your best watches for special events, but rather celebrating them as often as possible in regular rotation. I have worn mine in all sorts of relatively active pursuits (caught a lemon shark off the Caribbean once with it), and never knew until recently that all mechanical watches, let alone tourbillons, should not be exposed to even slight shock.
As to the oft-lamented lack of decoration on the back of the movement, I think this is perfectly fine, since Swiss and German tourbillons are also left fairly bare (apart from decidedly redundant gold lettering detailing all sorts of exotic information which is fairly pointless). Apparently this is because tourbillons do not benefit from a large amount of decoration as this affects their accuracy. Nonetheless, there is nicely-done anglage on the three holes surrounding the tourbillon carriage (more nicely done than some of my rather pricey Swiss watches), and the tourbillon itself is beautifully polished and bevelled. The solid 3/4 plate adds stability and robustness to the movement, which probably played a part in preserving the tourbillon movement after it had been dropped on marble (see below). Any criticism against it can be equally levelled at the Glashuette tradition. On the whole there is no imperfection that can be seen either with the naked eye or with a 10x loupe. The diamond is indeed genuine and glimmers stunningly - and I am certified by HRD Antwerp to grade diamonds.
As to the million yuan question - how does the Sea\-Gull manufacture tourbillon compare with mushroom brands' products? To my knowledge, tourbillons are all hand assembled as there is simply no other way of doing so. There are several hundred minute components that must come together into one package that weighs less than a feather (according to Sea\-Gull), and this simply cannot be done by machine, which accounts for the cost of the movement. Such assembly is prone to errors, and thus the great bulk of these movements are rejected. These factory seconds are then likely sent out to other brands for their use. In fact, I have had a Kemmner tourbillon before my Sea\-Gull which uses the export TY800 movement at AAA grade, but even that exhibits some deficiencies in comparison to Sea\-Gull's own, in terms of power reserve, anglage and the lesser polishing of the movement.
With Sea\-Gull ceasing the sale of their reject tourbillon movements, these are now used in their proprietary tourbillon cufflinks (whose indigenous conception was recently celebrated at Basel!) Now exclusivity is one thing, and of dubious merit, but having the ability to produce tourbillon movements on a (relatively speaking) large scale enables Sea\-Gull to both accrue a great deal of manufacturing expertise and experience in perfecting them, as well as allows them to choose the very best for use in their own watches. And I feel that both points are certainly true in my own experience with their movements in both a manufacture and non-manufacture watch.
As to the warranty, I have yet to have occasion to use this. But my partner's own Kemmner tourbillon was recently dropped onto a marble floor. Although the diamond fell out, the tourbillon still amazingly works, and even keeps accurate time. This is utterly astounding to me, as can you imagine dropping a normal 3-hand Swiss luxury watch on marble and it continuing to function? Let alone a Swiss tourbillon. Equally inspiring is the fact that Sea\-Gull has agreed to fix the movement for a nominal sum, and within 10 days. To put things in perspective, could you imagine JLC agreeing to fix a Cartier tourbillon which you dropped on hard marble for a non-usurious fee, within such a short time frame? My Vacherons typically require 8 weeks for servicing (local service centre, and not sent to Geneva), and they are simple 3 handers. The routine servicing exceeds a grand with ease. Imagine the routine servicing for a high-end Swiss tourbillon. In my opinion, for a tourbillon for one to actually wear on a fairly regular basis, there is simply no other option than a Sea\-Gull tourb, as any other option is simply far, far too expensive. The lifetime free servicing is simply the dealmaker in this situation.
Now regarding the off-centre hands, I happen to take the view that this is a positive, as I believe it balances the gaping hole in the dial, and the design actually harmonises very well with the Roman numerals concentrated upwards. Sea\-Gull in my opinion has the most elegant design of any tourbillon in the world. Although the Beijing tourbillon probably is of superior quality, its case and dial simply do not accord with me as well as Sea\-Gull's. The lancet hands are gorgeous of course. The combination of the stark white dial, glimmering diamond pointer on a carriage that is shaped like a 大 or "great", the forceful hands and guilloche dial, present a dignified, stately countenance to the world, proclaiming to all that China has accomplished the construction of the low-cost, but beautiful and practical tourbillon. I know that mine will grow old with me, and not fail on me at an inopportune time, and will always be taken care of by its maker. And ultimately it will be handed down to my blessed offspring. Who knows where Sea\-Gull, and China, will be, at that point in time?
However, the 818.930 is cheaper if you look for discounts, it can be had for 2140 USD/1840 Euro...
Sadly, it is out of stock... but anyway, here is the link. They ship from Germany too so that is a boon to European watch collectors.
http://www.seagullwatchstore.com/Seagull...18.930.htm
I received my first Chinese 
