[In-depth tasting of the watch house] travels through time and explores the context of history, we can always find the mark of the times and the accumulation of culture in those classics. Today I would like to talk to you about the common memories of several generations from the 50s to the 80s, yes, it is the A581 mechanical watch of Shanghai Watch. A581 not only represents the glory of an era to a certain extent, but also is a witness to the improvement of the living standards and happiness of the masses after the founding of New China. Not long ago, we received the latest A581 reproduction from Shanghai Watch, and we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us in exploring the stories hidden behind time.
Creating the mark of the times
At the time of writing this article, the long-awaited May Day holiday is approaching. To be honest, it should be difficult for the younger generation to deeply appreciate the concept of "the most glorious work" on May Day and the spirit of the whole people. You must know that the superior living conditions we have today are inseparable from the unremitting struggle and selfless dedication of the older generation.
In the 50s, New China had just been founded, and it was an era full of innovation and exploration. In the face of all kinds of difficulties and challenges, the people of the whole country have not flinched, but have taken the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people as their own responsibility, and have united to face the difficulties.
In 1955, the first trial production of watches ended the history of the mainland not being able to produce fine horse watches, and presented the 1955 National Day
In July 1955, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Light Industry and the Shanghai Watch Trade Union organized a group of watchmaking teams that gathered the strength of the city—personnel from 13 factories in Shanghai and individual workers engaged in watch repair, who combined to form a 58-member trial production team of fine horse watches.
In the old days, there were no professional watchmaking factories in Shanghai, only small workshops for repairing watches, so none of the 58-person team had experience in watchmaking from 0 to 1, so they started with imitation; without equipment, they designed their own small milling machines and hand-cranked small drilling machines; and without materials, they tried to find substitutes from the materials that could be seen and used around them. For example, embroidery needles make micro drill bits, harmonica reeds make wheels, parasol bones and bicycle wires become watch shafts and screws. Finally, on September 26, 1955, the 18 fine horse watches made of more than 150 parts were born, which also became the anniversary of Shanghai watch.
Drawing of the brand's first mass-produced mechanical watch A581
It is with the support of this bold, resolute and unyielding spirit that many products have emerged to enrich people's daily life, such as radios, watches, etc., in that era of simple life, laying the foundation for the development of China's light industry and improving people's lives.
Image source network: In the 50s, workers handmade Shanghai brand watches
Speaking of Shanghai Watch, the success of the trial production of the first fine horse watch gave the watchmakers and the watch industry great confidence, they expanded the watchmaking team, and in 1958 registered the "Shanghai" brand trademark, launched the first mass production watch, which is often referred to as the A581 mechanical watch.
Image source network: "Xinmin Evening News" witnessed the hot scene of the initial listing of the A581 watch that year
Remember the history of the city
Shanghai watch start-up logo, building body
In fact, there are not many domestic watch brands with the same experience, but at that time, most brands focused on product practicality in research and development, and inevitably ignored some appearances. Inspired by the unique tone and international aesthetic of the metropolis of Shanghai, the story of "born to be beautiful" is rooted in the brand's watchmaking journey, such as the continuous optimization of the exterior design, the introduction of a series of colorful dials and special-shaped case watch "biscuit shells".
Postcard of the 30s from the Broadway Building (Shanghai Mansion).
Shanghai Mansions, formerly known as Broadway Mansions, is an early representative of the modernist style of Shanghai architecture
The original logo of Shanghai Watch is the "Building Body" logo, which is inspired by the Shanghai Mansion next to the Waibaidu Bridge. Shanghai Building, born in the 30s of the last century, stands on the banks of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, looking at the development of the city over the past century. Despite today's skyscrapers, Shanghai Tower is still unique for the modernist spirit conveyed by its architectural design, simple mountain-shaped façade. This design ethos is highly aligned with the brand's prideful stance of modernizing and rising.
Cousin @xj9105 A581 produced in April 1964
In addition to the iconic "Building" logo, the gold indexes and hands of the A581 and other delicate details complemented the city of Shanghai at that time, exuding a modern urban charm.
It is precisely because of these designs that the watch is no longer just a tool for accurately recording time, but also a symbol of fashion and taste. Therefore, if the successful development of the first fine horse watch in 1955 represents the beginning of China's precision watchmaking technology, then the emergence of A581 carries people's yearning and pursuit of a better life, and undoubtedly makes everyone remember Shanghai watch.
The nascent of the A581
As the starting point and cornerstone of the brand, the A581 is regarded as the pride and glory of the national watch. To pay tribute to the pioneering spirit of the first watchmakers, Shanghai Watch launched the Tribute to Creators collection two years ago, creating a 39mm version inspired by the brand's first mass-produced mechanical watch, the A581. At that time, the watch made its debut and quickly touched everyone's deep feelings.
This year, Shanghai Watch has launched a new tribute to the Creators of the Calendar, but unlike the previous ones, this new piece is specially designed for women.
This Tribute to the Creator for women is 31 mm in diameter and features a 316L stainless steel case. The case is polished with a large area of polishing to present a round and soft texture, and with the design of the retro case, it looks quite retro and elegant.
The crown has a non-slip texture that makes it comfortable to hold and easy to adjust. The crown is engraved with the "Edifice" logo, which reflects both the brand's uniqueness and its history. The lugs are curved and naturally connected to the case, allowing for a better fit on the wrist and ergonomic settings. The whole watch is rich in layers from the side, with a strong sense of visual layering, and the charm of wearing it between the wrist is self-evident.
Tribute to the Creators, 39 mm on the left, 31 mm on the right
In terms of dial design, the new 31 mm women's watch is almost identical to the dial of the Tribute to the Creators of the 22-year-old collection. The white dial is simple and elegant, with radiating sun decoration, with the change of angle, the light and shadow on the dial flow with it, using light and shadow to record the context of time, interweaving the modern style of the 50s.
On the plate, the 12 o'clock "Building" logo, with golden hour markers, toffei hour and minute hands, makes the whole plate find a perfect balance between retro and modern, which reminds people of the eventful years when the whole people forged ahead and united. In addition, on the outer ring of the plate, we can see that the 48 round nails seem to be evenly scattered pearls, which not only increases the ornamentality of the plate, but also allows the wearer to read the time more accurately.
On the pale silver dial, the red arrow on the front of the seconds hand stands out, but this design is a nod to the brand's first prototype in 1955 and is undoubtedly a highlight of the entire watch.
At 3 o'clock, there is a date window, which further increases the practicality of the watch. At the same time, the Tribute to the Creators series follows the classic design of the 50s, with an arched sapphire crystal with a slightly raised mirror face, which has a slightly enlarged effect on the dial and adds elegance and softness to the watch.
Turn the watch upside down, and the design of the case back is just as impressive. The case back reproduces the design of the begonia window from the late 60s, and adds the calligraphy "Shanghai" logo, presenting a retro and exquisite aesthetic. At the same time, the use of modern techniques adds a delicate grit texture and enriches the visual depth, making the watch like a dazzling, delicate and commemorative badge of time.
In order to meet the needs of diverse wear, in addition to the most classic plate, there are also a variety of colors that highlight different personalities and are suitable for different outfits. In the past two years, new Chinese style and retro style wear have become particularly popular, and these watches have revealed a strong retro style in terms of dial design, color matching or strap matching, which is very suitable for the current retro and versatile fashion aesthetics.
In order to meet the wearing needs of different people, the Shanghai Watch Tribute Creator series is available in two sizes of 31 mm and 39 mm, both of which are equipped with automatic movements. In addition, the series is inspired by the dawn, dusk and night of Shanghai, and comes in three dial colors: Sky Silver, Sunset Gold and Bright Night Black, with different colors of leather and stainless steel straps, whether you like classic or fashionable and retro style, you can find the right watch for you in this collection. It is worth mentioning that nowadays, the Tribute to Calendarer series, whether it is 39 mm or 31 mm, is equipped with a quick-release system, which allows watch friends to easily change the strap according to their preferences and wearing needs.
The 31mm and 39mm tributes to the Creator are undoubtedly the best couples of this summer.
Summary: The Tribute to the Creators series represents far more than a simple "reproduction" of the classics, but condenses the deep feelings and precious memories of a generation on the wrist. We can say that this timepiece not only combines modern design concepts with exquisite craftsmanship, but also a magical key that can unlock historical feelings and memories - carrying the pioneering spirit of the first generation of watchmakers in Shanghai, and also paying tribute to those "creators" who continue to create history in the torrent of the times.
Of course, if you go back to the watch itself, the official price of the new 31mm Tribute Creator steel band model is 3,280 yuan, the "Sky Silver" and "Bright Night Black" are 2,980 yuan, and the "Sunset Gold" model is 2,880 yuan. It is reported that during May, the brand will have a series of marketing activities, and cousins may wish to pay more attention to the official WeChat public account of Shanghai Watch brand and self-operated online and offline stores, so don't miss it.