Red Star Seagull Chronograph 41,5mm ST1903

Red Star Chronograph 41.5 mm – Classic Pilot Style & Legendary Seagull Column-Wheel Caliber 1903

Mechanical watchmaking, historical technology and modern finishing – exclusively checked and shipped from Munich by Poljot24.de.

Since 1992, Poljot24 has stood for selected mechanical watches, precise final inspection and reliable customer service. The new Red Star Chronograph 41.5 mm continues this tradition: a strong, classic chronograph design combined with the historic Seagull ST1903 column-wheel movement – one of the most fascinating hand-wound calibers of today.

Design & Wearing Comfort – Authentic, Clear and Functional

The watch features a perfectly proportioned 41.5 mm stainless steel case, 13.5 mm height and a comfortable 20 mm lug width. At 50 mm lug-to-lug, it sits sporty yet balanced on the wrist.

• Black dial with excellent legibility
• Super-LumiNova on hands & indices (blue/green glowing)
• Classic tachymeter scale
• Rare 24-hour indicator at 6 o’clock
• Applied 3D Red Star at 12 o’clock
• Hardened, anti-reflective mineral crystal
• Screwed exhibition caseback

The Heart of the Watch – The Seagull ST1903 Column-Wheel Movement

The highlight of this watch is undoubtedly its historic hand-wound movement:

• Column-wheel chronograph – the hallmark of high-end mechanical chronographs
• 21,600 vibrations per hour
• 21 jewels, shock-protected
• Approx. 45 hours power reserve
• 24-hour display at 6 o’clock
• Finely decorated with Côtes de Genève and blued screws

In the 1960s, Seagull in Tianjin acquired the original machinery of the Swiss Venus 150 column-wheel caliber. This movement is among the most sought-after chronograph mechanisms of the 20th century. The Seagull ST1903 is its direct successor – technically nearly identical and closely related to the famous Poljot 3017.

Chronograph Operation

• Top pusher: Start / Stop
• Bottom pusher: Reset to zero

The watch can be fully wound – overwinding is not possible.

Quality & Final Inspection – Your Poljot24 Advantage

After the ISO 9001 certified quality control at Red Star in Shenzhen, each watch is carefully checked again in Munich and – if needed – finely regulated. Before shipping, every watch undergoes another complete test cycle.

This ensures that you receive a perfectly running piece of traditional watchmaking – combined with our personal service since 1992.

We also offer a two-year warranty and an affordable repair service with original parts for all watches purchased from us. Please note: we can provide service only for Chinese watches purchased through Poljot24.

These watches are maintenance-free and do not require periodic servicing.

Historical Background

In 1961, the Tianjin Watch Factory received the order to develop the first Chinese pilot chronograph for the Air Force of the People’s Liberation Army. After successful tests by an expert commission, serial production began in 1963, resulting in 1,400 chronographs delivered to the Chinese Air Force.

During my visit in April 2025, I toured the Seagull factory in Tianjin (movement production) as well as the Red Star workshop in Shenzhen (watch assembly) – an impressive connection of tradition and modern manufacturing.

A full report with photos from my trip to Seagull and Red Star can be found here:
https://www.poljot24.de/redstarseagull2025

Delivery Includes

• Original Red Star textile strap  
• RIOS1931 leather strap of your choice – premium German craftsmanship
• Presentation box / case

Conclusion

The Red Star Chronograph 41.5 mm combines historic Swiss chronograph engineering (Venus) with modern Seagull production and a clean, classic pilot design. A timepiece for enthusiasts of real mechanical watchmaking – with the advantage of our Munich final inspection and the personal service of Poljot24 since 1992.

Discover here all our Seagull watches - for example the biggest Seagull 1963 selection, Bullhead Chronos, 70-hour automatics, Jumping hours and many more: https://www.poljot24.de/en/marken/seagull.html