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Quality of asian clone 2836 vs so-called "ETA" 2836
- Thread starter ndoane
- Start date
cybee said:Anyone wanting to question the quality of any Seagull movement (clones) might like to read this part of an article about last year at Basel. Remember that this is the same company that produces the clone movements. Any company that can produce a complication like this will have no problem creating a simple movement like any 28 series Eta's.
(part of the article) 2008 Basel
"The arena was the BaselWorld watch and jewelry exposition held annually in Basel in April and it was up to Sea-gull to meet a potentially crippling challenge thrown down by a heavyweight Swiss timekeeping firm.
In question was the legal integrity of a "rotary artwork" device on a Sea-gull watch. Known as a dual tourbin, the delicate mechanisms are known for precise time keeping and complicated manual work. Few companies can make the device, but a new Sea-gull watch featured the dual tourbin and claimed a patented special accessory on the dual tourbin called a "planetary transmission" distinguished it from any other watchmakers' works.
On April 5 at 3 pm, representatives from the Swiss watchmaker and a BaselWorld arbitration committee came to the Sea-gull booth to examine the Chinese watchmaker's dual tourbillon design, which the Swiss company believed was pirated.
BaselWorld originally set up an arbitration committee to judge the suspected infringement cases at the exhibition. Any company found of guilty of patent infringement or copying which can't offer enough evidence within 24 hours to the contrary is booted from the exhibition immediately and loses access to the next year's event. Some of them are even sued for compensation and damages.
Wang Deming, general manager of the Tianjin Sea-gull Watch Group Co, sensed the Swiss group's aggressiveness by the interpreter's nervous emotions. It's a battle for my company's reputation now, Wang thought.
Immediately, Wang ordered his staff to collect all the possible evidence and informed the company's lawyer. Meanwhile, the urgent news was quickly passed to Tianjin headquarters where it was midnight.
Feedback from the device's designer partially eased the burden of the Sea-gull staff in Switzerland. In Tianjin, Zhou Wenxia, the main designer told them, "Don't worry. We have applied for a patent for the watch. Before we developed it, we also searched related patents from home and abroad and no infringement was found."
In Basel, a 70-year-old design arbitration expert was carefully scrutinizing the designs of the two companies and found that the Sea-gull model indeed distinguished itself with its "planetary transmission" device.
"Your watch is quite a great work," the arbitration expert said, with his thumb up.
It was the first time that a Chinese company had won any similar challenge in Switzerland. The message that "The Sea-gull watch won" spread quickly throughout the exhibition hall and many attendees rushed to the company's counter to see the disputed watch with their own eyes."
Wow this is a great story!!!
This chinese are amazing... They can absolutely manufacture anything... I do agree in their QC and safety measures, thats the part the lack maybe due to cutting cost...
What a fantastic topic! This is the reason why we all spend so much time reading about and discussing reps and gens. It sure is interesting the differences in culture show up in craftmanship.
I'm in the car business and it's something I discuss constantly, the German vs Japanese arguments. To some, the greater expense and the intangible (so called soul) of european vehicles is worth it. I partly agree, there is something the asians cannot replicate - maybe because they are too perfect, almost not human...
I'm in the car business and it's something I discuss constantly, the German vs Japanese arguments. To some, the greater expense and the intangible (so called soul) of european vehicles is worth it. I partly agree, there is something the asians cannot replicate - maybe because they are too perfect, almost not human...
I know this thread is already old, but what about Swiss vs. Asian ETA's these days? E.g. for a Omega Planet Ocean. Is it worth the extra 50 bucks? What's your opinion?
Certain factories still use refurbished Swiss instead of new. The factory that makes the omega watches right now still does that.
Noob and H factory have a reputation for using new Swiss movements now. I think BP factory as well, but I'm not as sure.
If the Swiss upgrade is $50, it's too cheap to be new
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So, is there any way of distinguishing visually without tearing the watch apart to find out what movt a rep has (Refurb Swiss vs New Swiss)? Or would I just have to take the watch in to a watchsmith to find out? I have been reading (or am I wrong) that there are no real rep 25 jewel movements?
Thanks
Thanks
Ok, FYI : I did some reading and I found this site...seems that ETA is stamped under the regulator on an ETA 7750 Valjoux Movt...I used the following site to get the info:
http://people.timezone.com/library/horologium/horologium631674031715938957
Thanks
http://people.timezone.com/library/horologium/horologium631674031715938957
Thanks
Unless the refurbished Swiss is really worn out and well used, it's hard to tell even with a clear caseback.
There are definitely Rep 25 jewel movements. Those are the most common clone movements in high end reps. You definitely need to read up again Lol
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On a 7750 movement it's very easy to tell. The balance wheel has 4 spokes on a clone and 3 on an ETA.
ETA stamps don't mean much of anything on replicas.
I appreciate it 's not the 7750 but I know one of my 7750 reps def has 3 spokes, unless I'm mistaken.