Watchlords

A couple of years ago I saw the blue and red spiral textured dial Beijing Beihai, I stalled on getting it, I thought I’d be able to pick one up used for cheaper. Well, a couple of weeks ago I looked for one and they are not for sale new or used, I missed the boat on it. I will keep looking and will eventually find one, but that day is not today. I looked for their anniversary Beihai and can’t find them either. The people buying these like them and they just don’t go up for sale much.
I really wanted the B18 movement and found this Beijing ZhuFeng for sale, used with no box. I hesitated, but saw the same watch new for sale for $745.00 and decided the box wasn’t worth the used to new price difference of over $500.00.

I got lucky and got this for a great price.
It reminds me of the Mido all dial, which I was able to remove from my list when I got and saw this. Here is the bracelet, a butterfly clasp, and it melts onto my wrist. It is so comfortable and is very well made. Side profile with a signed crown. The curve fits my wrist perfectly. The B18 movement, it is beautiful. This set up is so nice, plus the finishing is tops. I’m not seeing anything wrong with the build of this watch, I see quality. I was hugely surprised when I got it in my hands. Of course I messaged Ron to show him and I told him “I get it now”.

You guys know how much I love my hked, I have no intentions of ever parting with the 63 by him because I love that watch, but the quality of this watch is unbelievable and more above the hked.

I will never stall on a Beijing watch again, I am a fan now. This is going in my higher end watch box, along side my Oris, Rado, Eterna Zodiac Calame, Kurono etc…. This watch was a very pleasant surprise in quality.

38.5mm w/o crown (41.5 w/ crown), 34mm dial, 8.5mm thickness, 44mm lug to lug, 20mm band width
WR 3atm
Imported Stainless Steel
Beijing B18 movement
White enamel dial with applied or raised Arabic numerals
Date at 3 o'clock

Dang. Fuck.

I like it !

Spiffy!

I like it. clean, simple and no frills.

Outstanding in all respects. Really like the white dial and bracelet.

Good for you.

Nice. Very clean. Movement is very attractively displayed too.

Beautiful watch, beautiful movement. Bracelet is nice too. Very appealing package - great choice.

https://www.chrono24.com/all/beijing-wa ... 474773.htm


https://www.chrono24.com/search/index.h ... soryTypes=

Noice!

Gorgeous watch. Love everything about it. Is the bracelet as comfortable as it looks?

AlbertaTime wrote: ↑

March 16th 2022, 5:23pm

Gorgeous watch. Love everything about it. Is the bracelet as comfortable as it looks?

It is, they put a lot into the bracelet. I was surprised by all the attention to detail that they did on this watch.

You know, this watch has really got me into wanting more high end Chinese watches. I really wasn’t expecting what I got. I told Albertatime that I get it now. I have other Chinese watches, but this is the one that sealed the deal for me with wanting more.
I wouldn’t hesitate to put the quality up by my Oris, it’s that nice.

svaglic wrote: ↑

April 7th 2022, 11:44am

You know, this watch has really got me into wanting more high end Chinese watches. I really wasn’t expecting what I got. I told Albertatime that I get it now. I have other Chinese watches, but this is the one that sealed the deal for me with wanting more.
I wouldn’t hesitate to put the quality up by my Oris, it’s that nice.

good to hear. Once upon a time here at WL we disparaged chinese watches and I think rightfully so but over the years they have stepped up their game and I think can compete with the best German and Swiss brands. A couple may even be able to compete with some of the higher end independent brands as well.

atelier wen is a good one. Ciga Design is not my cup of tea but if I remember correctly one of their designs beat the Swiss in a competition. https://www.cigadesign-europe.com/watches/

My second Beihai.
38mm, a great size for me. I’ve seen people claim these at 36mm and 37mm, my battery in my caliper is out, I’ll change it later and get a specific size.
The Beijing Watch Factory started in 1958. The Beihai watches are an anniversary edition line, I believe.
The movement is a hand-winding, hacking calibre B18. It is listed as in-house but is thought to be built on a heavily modified Myiota 8200 series movement. Getting a good shot of the red has proven to be impossible for me, it’s not like I’m great with pictures anyway. This looks to not have been worn at all, perhaps a time or two for short periods judging by the lizard strap. I will change out the strap and put this one in the box. I usually try to do this to save the original strap for the next owner. It’s not like I get rid of many watches I have, but the day will come when my family sells them off and I always thought an original strap would be a nice touch for the new owner.

It came with the box, outer sleeve and booklet. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase, especially since I got it for about a third of what I have seen others sell for.

Unless they come out with a drop dead hot watch, these will probably be my only two Beihai’s. I would not hesitate to replace either of these if something happened, that’s how much I appreciate the quality and looks of these.
I don’t think the usual asking prices of these are out of line. Any other Beijing’s I get will likely be vintage.

I only have one other red dial and it’s a GSX that hardly gets worn, this red with this dial is perfect for my collection. It has been hard to find a red dial that I like.

I took these on the back patio, I’m not sure if they are better.

They are good enough :-)

Amazing!

Your Beijing watches are beautiful, and the quality *is* there.

I was so pleased when you told me about this new Beihai and, yeah, the Beijing red is very difficult to nail in a photo but your photos are super.

Good catch! And i really appreciate your comments on the quality and the capabilities of Chinese watchmakers.

koimaster wrote: ↑

April 7th 2022, 11:51am

Once upon a time here at WL we disparaged chinese watches and I think rightfully so but over the years they have stepped up their game and I think can compete with the best German and Swiss brands. A couple may even be able to compete with some of the higher end independent brands as well.

I'd heard that back in the day some folks here had negative attitudes about Chinese watches