Tianjin Watches
Tianjin Watch Factory stands at the beginning of modern Chinese watchmaking. In 1955, it produced the WuXing, or Five Star, watch—widely recognized as China’s first domestically made wristwatch—signalling the country’s shift from watch repair to watch manufacturing. From this foundation emerged the Sea-Gull tradition, whose movement development, large-scale production, and later exports helped shape China’s modern watch industry. Over the following decades, Tianjin also developed into a broader horological hub, home to state-owned factories, movement suppliers, component makers, and smaller watch brands that collectively established the city as one of China’s principal centres of watch manufacturing and technical expertise.
