The Birth of Shanghai Watches
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In 19th century Shanghai, watches were not a rarity. Storefronts were adorned with timepieces from Switzerland, Germany, and England. However, the label "Made in China" was nowhere to be found, silently highlighting the absence of a domestic watchmaking industry in China. Time passed, and it wasn’t until 1955—over a century later—that the first watch made by Chinese craftsmen was born, marking the beginning of a new era in Chinese horology.
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In 1955, a group of passionate watchmakers in Shanghai set out to create the country's first domestically produced watches. Their goal was to produce 12 prototype Swiss-style "Selca" waterproof watches—a monumental challenge. Due to severe limitations in resources, the task seemed insurmountable. Each of the components had to be manufactured individually, relying solely on the skill and ingenuity of the team.
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Remarkably, the first Chinese-made watches were crafted from materials that were commonly found but often overlooked in everyday life: copper strips from musical instruments, steel wires from umbrellas, and sewing needles. In an era of material shortages, these everyday items became the building blocks of the timepieces. The team, lacking advanced equipment, used old, secondhand clock-making and repair machines, along with simple tools, to assemble functioning machinery. Every part was painstakingly shaped, polished, and carved by hand using rudimentary files and chisels, displaying the artisans' incredible skill and perseverance.
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In September 1955, they produced 18 mechanical watches, each engraved with "Shanghai, China." These timepieces were far more than just instruments for telling time; they were symbols of the birth of China’s watchmaking industry. They embodied the dedication, ingenuity, and dreams of an entire generation and laid the foundation for the flourishing of Chinese horology for years to come.
A Legacy Adored by National Leaders
In 1957, the Shanghai Watch Factory was established, and by early 1958, it produced its first batch of watch: A581, signifying the "first movement of 1958."
At the time, the quality of Shanghai watches was comparable to that of Swiss brands like "Selca," with a continuous run time of over 36 hours and a daily accuracy deviation of less than one minute.
In 1961, Premier Zhou Enlai purchased a Shanghai watch. He wore it proudly until his passing in January 1976, when the watch was carefully removed from his wrist before cremation. This iconic timepiece is now preserved in the National Museum of China.
The Must-Have for Weddings
On July 1, 1958, the Shanghai watch was officially launched at the Shanghai Third Department Store. On the very first day, all 100 pieces of the Shanghai Watches's initial batch were sold out as soon as the doors opened. Customers who couldn't purchase one were placed on a waiting list, with over 1,000 registrations in the first morning alone. The event was even reported with pictures in the Xinmin Evening News.
During the 1960s and 1970s, "Three Turns and One Ring" (referring to a watch, bicycle, sewing machine, and radio) became a must-have in every household, especially the Shanghai watch, which was regarded as the finest domestic watch brand.
In the golden era of Shanghai watches, they were considered a luxury item for families. By the 1960s, one out of every four Chinese watch wearers proudly sported a "Shanghai" watch, shining brightly on their wrists
Combining Oriental Aesthetics and Modern Technology
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Two decades later, Shanghai Watches lost much of its former prominence. The rise of quartz electronic watches, spearheaded by Japan's Seiko, began to disrupt the global mechanical watch market. In 1987, Shanghai Watch Factory hastily introduced its own line of electronic watches, but by then, the domestic market was already oversaturated, and Shanghai Watches struggled to regain consumer interest.
In response, Shanghai Watches turned to technological innovation as its lifeline. The brand focused on developing its own movements. By the early 21st century, Shanghai Watches began creating tourbillon movements, a hallmark of the highest level of mechanical craftsmanship. In 2005, to mark the 50th anniversary of Shanghai Watches, the company introduced its first tourbillon timepiece, which was quickly snapped up by collectors. -
Since then, Shanghai Watches has continuously refined its design, cultivating a distinct aesthetic that blends tradition with modernity. It has become both a custodian and innovator of oriental culture, integrating the understated elegance of oriental aesthetics with the deep historical heritage of the past. At the same time, the brand has kept a keen eye on contemporary fashion trends, creating timepieces that transcend mere functionality. These watches have become symbols of cultural sophistication and individuality, shining brightly in the horological world with a brilliance uniquely rooted in oriental heritage.
