Shanghai 114 Remake - Commander : Reviving China’s First Military Diver
In the 1960s the PLA needed a rugged, reliable dive watch of its own. In 1964 the Shanghai Watch Factory began a secret project under military supervision to build an automatic diver’s watch with shock‑proofing, strong antimagnetic protection and 200m water resistance. The result was the Model 114 series – China’s first purpose-built military dive watch. It appeared in two variants: a 29‑jewel automatic (the SS2) and a 24‑jewel automatic (the SS4). (Collectively these are often dubbed China’s first military watch.) The SS2/SS4 were the first in China to use an independently designed automatic “calendar” movement for the armed forces, marking a pivotal milestone in Chinese watchmaking. Like the first Chinese air force chronograph 1963, this first Chinese military watch 114 has also become prized by the collectors of vintage Chinese watches.
Vintage Shanghai 114 series diver (SS4 “Officer’s Watch”). The 114 was developed in the late 1960s for PLA officers . Its thick crystal, rotating bezel and luminous dial make it a classic collector’s military diver.
The two versions of the 114 were distributed on a rank basis. The 29‑jewel SS2 (Shuang Zhuan 自动 – two jewels) was reserved for higher officers (division level and above), while the 24‑jewel SS4 was given to mid‑level officers (regiment level). Chinese collectors know these early Shanghai 114s as jun guan biao (军官表, “Officer’s Watches”). In fact, the watches were not freely issued as army equipment: officers had to purchase them (around 240 yuan at the time). This prestige distribution – plus the durable diver spec – underscored the 114’s elite status in PLA history.
Both SS2 and SS4 shared key military features: thick stainless steel cases, screw‑down crowns, and luminous dials and hands (originally painted with greenish radium for glow in the dark). Each model had a uni‑directional rotating bezel for timing, and a date display (a “calendar” function) – a first for Chinese military watches. The SS4 caseback bore 6–8 digits: the first two were the year of production and the rest a serial number for that year. Around 1972–73 the factory switched the logo from 上海 (“Shanghai”) to the red Torch brand (火炬牌) on dial and crown, and the price briefly fell to about 180 yuan. Production finally ended in the mid‑1970s (around 1976), after roughly 30,000 114 watches had been made. (Even the original molds were reportedly destroyed under secrecy, making the originals very rare today.)
By the 21st century these vintage 114 divers had become prized collector’s items. In 2009 Shanghai Watch Factory even released a limited 114 reissue, powered by a modern 22‑jewel DG2813 Chinese movement. That reissue closely copied the 1960s SS2 design (straight-edge bezel, gold indices and red second hand). (Interestingly, the modern DG2813 cal. is actually closer to the original SS4 spec than Shanghai’s own new movements.) Today an all-original SS2/SS4 114 can sell for well over a thousand US dollars, thanks to its military heritage. Collectors cherish the 114 not only for its quality, but as a tangible link to early PRC history and watchmaking.
2025 “Commander” (将军表) 114 Remake
In April 2025 Shanghai Watch marked its 70th anniversary with a faithful modern remake of the Model 114 – nicknamed the Commander’s Watch (将军表). Branded Shanghai S5200.1802, the 114 Commander is a stainless steel diver in the spirit of the original. Like its ancestor, it has bold applied indices and a uni‑directional timing bezel, but now with modern upgrades: a 39 mm case, sapphire crystal, and a ceramic bezel insert. The movement is a current Chinese Sea‑Gull ST2130 automatic (28 jewels, 28,800 vph) with hacking seconds and quick‑set date. Water resistance is rated at 300 meters, and the hands/markers use Super‑LumiNova for glow. A two‑tone bracelet (steel and gold‑color) echoes period styling. Overall, the Commander reissue evokes the original 114’s look – especially the large gold indices and black dial – while meeting today’s technical standards.
Shanghai’s 2025 “Commander” 114 Remake diver. This two‑tone modern reissue commemorates the 70th anniversary of Shanghai Watch and revives the original Model 114 design for collectors and enthusiasts.
By reviving the 114, Shanghai Watch honors the legacy of China’s first military dive watch. Collector‑wise, the 2025 Commander ties past to present: it recalls the storied SS2/SS4 heritage while offering a new classic for today’s wrists. Together, the original Shanghai 114 Officer’s Watches and the new Commander remake tell the full story of China’s early military horology – from the guarded designs of the 1960s to a 21st‑century celebration of that history.