Sea-Gull Unveils China’s First Sonnerie Timepiece Live at Salon de Time

By Watch of China Editorial Desk | Live Coverage | Salon de Time World Premiere

HONG KONG — Inside Salon de Time at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Tianjin Sea-Gull Watch Group crossed a monumental threshold in Haute Horlogerie. Unveiling its world premieres live during an official press conference hosted by Xu Chuanyue, Chairman and General Manager of Sea-Gull Watch Group, the manufacture revealed a triumvirate of groundbreaking creations: China’s first-ever Sonnerie timepiece, an extraordinary four-in-one Grand Complication, and an architectural in-house square caliber.

Rather than mere incremental upgrades, these releases fill the final technical voids in Chinese watchmaking. Tianjin Sea-Gull officially shifts the narrative from volume manufacturing to defining standards at the highest pinnacle of mechanical art.

Spatial Poetry: Song Dynasty Aesthetics in HK

Before delving into the gear trains, the visual framework of Sea-Gull's exhibition space demands attention. Grounded in classical Song Dynasty landscape philosophy, the booth translates the Chinese concept of "Liubai" (leave-space) into architectural geometry. Translucent draperies cascade from above, echoing misty cloudscapes where mythical auspicious beasts—the Dragon (Sky) and the Suanni (Earth)—intertwine in subtle light and shadow.

“High watchmaking is not merely an exercise in micro-mechanics; it is spatial poetry. Placing complex acoustic mechanisms inside a pavilion imbued with Song Dynasty atmosphere bridges thousands of years of Eastern philosophy with modern engineering.”

Deep within the booth, a matrix display presents Sea-Gull’s historical lineage alongside its in-house calibers—allowing collectors to trace movement bridges, perlage finishing, and tourbillon cages up close.

Dragon’s Voice: The Sonnerie Timepiece (Caliber ST9160)

The headline star of the exhibition is the "Long Yu Qian Yin" (龙御乾音) Sonnerie Timepiece, powered by the newly created Caliber ST9160. A chiming watch remains one of horology's most unforgiving tasks, requiring absolute mathematical precision to store, release, and strike acoustic energy automatically without stalling the gear train.

Drawing aesthetic inspiration from Southern Song Dynasty master Chen Rong's iconic painting Nine Dragons, the pure silver dial undergoes a double-sculpting process. Master engravers hand-carve three-dimensional clouds, topped with Xiong-style champlevé enamel using natural mineral powders. This technique, named "Mo Yun Yin Lou" (Ink Rhyme Hidden Engraving), creates shifting depths of ink-black and slate-blue hues as light strikes the dial.

• Passing Chime Autonomy: Features full Grande Sonnerie (striking hours and quarters automatically) and Petite Sonnerie (striking hours only) modes.
• Coaxial Minute Repeater: An integrated pusher within the 3 o'clock crown triggers on-demand acoustic chiming for hours, quarters, and minutes.
• 3-Position Mode Selection: Located at 6 o'clock, allowing seamless indexing between Silence, Grande Sonnerie, and Petite Sonnerie.
• Coaxial Dual Power Indicator: Positioned at 12 o'clock with twin concentric hands, displaying timekeeping power reserve alongside striking barrel energy across a 240° arc.

Earth’s Guardian: The Four-in-One Grand Complication (Caliber ST9260)

Complementing the Sonnerie is the "Rui Shou Si Heng" (瑞守四衡) Four-in-One Grand Complication. Representing terrestrial balance, it takes inspiration from the mythic Suanni—a mythical beast historically depicted guarding incense burners in Tang and Song dynasty sanctuaries.

The 18K rose gold case is hand-engraved with swirling mane patterns. On the dial side, four sub-dials written in traditional seal script layout the cyclical order of Chinese calendar time: Month, Day, Date, and Moonphase.

Powered by the in-house Caliber ST9260, this timepiece unites four apex complications into one unified mechanical movement:

• Tourbillon: Positioned visibly through the caseback, compensating for gravitational errors.
• Perpetual Calendar: Tracking months, days, leap years, and gemstone-set moonphase display. Features smart quick-set correctors at 4 o'clock, 10 o'clock, and dual-linked setting at 11:30.
• Minute Repeater: Striking low notes for hours, dual chimes for quarters, and high notes for minutes with acoustic resonance.
• Single-Pusher Chronograph: Monopusher actuation integrated at 2 o'clock for start, stop, and reset timing sequences.

Pure Architecture: The In-House Square Caliber ST1840

In addition to high-complication masterworks, Sea-Gull presented a structural manifesto with the world debut of Caliber ST1840—a dedicated in-house square movement. In an industry overwhelmingly dominated by round calibers adapted into rectangular cases, the ST1840 rebuilds gear geometry from the ground up.

Crafted in raw, unplated German silver (Maillechort), the movement shuns electroplating, allowing the warm, natural luster of the alloy to express itself. Highlights include:

• Transparent Jewel Bearings: Utilizing clear, colorless synthetic sapphire jewels rather than traditional red rubies for a pure, monochromatic aesthetic.
• Free-Sprung Balance Wheel: Fitted with a free-sprung hairspring and four-poise regulation weights for precision adjustment.
• Architectural Finishing: Angled hand-chamfered bridge borders, sandblasted mainplates, and swirling snail decoration across the ratchet wheel.

The Watch of China Perspective

The arrival of Calibers ST9160, ST9260, and ST1840 is far more than a routine product launch; it is a declaration of independence. Striking watches and integrated multi-complications are universally acknowledged as the highest peaks of horological complexity.

Founded in 1955 with China's very first wrist watch ("WuXing"), Sea-Gull has spent seven decades evolving from essential industrial production to mastering Haute Horlogerie. With these releases at Salon de Time, Chinese watchmaking officially ceases to follow international benchmarks—it begins to set them.

Stay tuned to the Watch of China Journal for our upcoming in-depth video review, live acoustic chime recordings, and hands-on impressions straight from the floor of Salon de Time.