My first "real" Chinese watch Beijing v.s. Shanghai

ehou333 · Feb 28, 2013

I'm looking at getting either the Beijing Zunda or the Shanghai Moonphase from goodstuffs. Their both relatively the same price.

The Beijing seems to have a much nicer finish according to the photos and it's smaller. The Shanghai has a much more interesting and complicated movement on the other hand. I'm not sure how pricey or "special" the shanghai movement is though, while its very clear that the Beijing has suburb finishing far beyond its price point.

I know a could ppl on this forum have the Zunda, but does anyone have the Shanghai Moonphase or ideally both and can comment on them.

Pawl_Buster · Feb 28, 2013

I have neither and don't really know how the movements compare but based on aesthetics alone; the Shanghai is the sure winner.
I have never been a fan of the utterly pointless PR displays, The Beijing is intended to deceive the viewer into thinking this is a chrono which it is definitely not. :-(

ehou333 · Feb 28, 2013

Pawl_Buster said:
I have neither and don't really know how the movements compare but based on aesthetics alone; the Shanghai is the sure winner.
I have never been a fan of the utterly pointless PR displays, The Beijing is intended to deceive the viewer into thinking this is a chrono which it is definitely not. :-(

The shanghai design I believe is more derivative and based on the Blancpain moohase. I'm not sure if the Zunda is an original or derivative design though, but I don't mind the sundials since it doesn't have two chronolike crowns to imply a chrono.

I do like the idea of owning a Shanghai more thought because my mother's family is originally from shanghai.

Pawl_Buster · Feb 28, 2013

ehou333 said:
The shanghai design I believe is more derivative and based on the Blancpain moohase. I'm not sure if the Zunda is an original or derivative design though, but I don't mind the sundials since it doesn't have two chronolike crowns to imply a chrono.

I do like the idea of owning a Shanghai more thought because my mother's family is originally from shanghai.

They are both fine watches. The Beijing could also be called a derivative of a Swiss marque so that really shouldn't as much of a deciding factor as having family from Shanghai.

My choice is purely made on the aesthetics that appeal to me.

You will, of course, have to buy one of each ;-)

meyekal · Feb 28, 2013

I have the Shanghai moonphase en-route to my house right now along with a Beijing beihai. I do not have enough knowledge about watches to give you meaningful comments once they arrive, but I can probably provide you with some pics if it will help.

xingfenzhen · Feb 28, 2013

i was looking at the Shanghai too. i had being drawn to it even before it was on on good-stuffs, but never commit. let us see how the watch goes.

ehou333 · Feb 28, 2013

Buying one of each and then flipping the one that appeals to me less is always an option. Of course, then there's also the risk that I love them both and can't bear to part with either! Maybe if I manage to shrink my collection considerably, because right now it's getting a bit unmanagble.

Ric Capucho · Feb 28, 2013

I don't believe either designs to be consciously derivative of anything, so you have two original options on the table. I say consciously, because I can't imagine that any designer has grown up in a vacuum and is therefore totally influenced at least unconsciously.

That movement pretty much restricts the Shanghai designer to putting the day-date at the twelve o'clock, and the moon phase at the six o'clock. If this is similar to the Blancpain, then blame the layout on the committee that signed off the movement, not the designer who tried to do something with this particular watch. The dial has that "proudly Chinese" look about it that gains my respect. Nice watch. Not noticed that before (people who know me will be thinking "o-oh" right about now).

The ZunDa is a sports watch, and I don't believe it to be trying to look like a chrono. Just sporty, in a Chinese dressy way. The power reserve meter at six o'clock serves to balance the sub-seconds at nine o'clock, which is a design balancing trick that the likes of Panerai have used to great effect; to my eyes, lone sub-seconds at nine o'clock (or six) always look a bit imbalanced. The ZunDa design has gathered me more off the cuff compliments than any other watch in my collection, *except* for the ZhuFeng. And I now have a sh1tload of watches from all over the world.

In summary, buy 'em both. Flip something else in your collection.

Ric

Ric Capucho · Feb 28, 2013

Just been browsing images of the Blancpain Moonphase, and yes the case design of the Shanghai is very close in philosophy to the Blancpain. Missed then.

But if you ignore the layout and case (getting a bit Monty Python, I know) the rest of the dial is original enough.

Ric

Louis888 · Feb 28, 2013

i like the shanghai more, but i would say get the beijing - moonphases are a pain unless you wear the watch daily.

arktika1148 · Feb 28, 2013

Been very close to ordering that Shanghai to upgrade my similar 'complication'

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The Shanghai states true moon-phase against day/night. Much better looking case/lugs/crown.
Not sure if the Shanghai has the same concealed buttons, if not the moon could be tricky to set.
Would not be surprised to hear that the movements where from the same source. If so no problem, the Aero. keeps excellent time, very easy to set, very good fit, not bad finish either.
Wish the Shanghai was black, but that's just me.

As for the ZunDa.
Again, a black dial for me. Like the silver but.....

View attachment 990506 View attachment 990507

This was on the back burner from the moment seen.
One of the most balanced dials around imo. A date that for once can be read. The dial finish is amazing. All the lume dots are spot on, crisp, clean, without blemish, and work, together with the bright main hands it glows all night (after being charged under light first). Strange that the seconds hand not lumed though.

About 46 hour reserve. Noticed when hand winding 20 turns from 1/2 to full.

It was almost the toss of a coin between getting this or another 3133 btw. Felt like a change. Missed a power reserve indicator for some reason. Never liked the crescent type, this stuck a chord. Much better looking imo.

If poss. just get them both. Sure you'll love them.

Then a BeiHai
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Ric Capucho · Feb 28, 2013

Dare I say that I love my ZunDas more than the ZhuFeng or even the Beihai? I know, I know, I should be burned upside down on a cross for that, but it's troooooo. A bit like picking out yer favorate child, I think.

Scratch that comment from the record.

Meanwhile, back to the OP's question; yer mom's from Shanghai, so what on earth are you thinking of? Buy the Shanghai immediately, then regret the loss of the Beijing and so buy that one. Then report back here with pickies of them both.

Ric

Cosmograph · Mar 1, 2013

Based solely on aesthetics, the shanghai is a winner IMO. As to the quality of the movements, I can't say as I don't have either. Think unless for some obvious reason one 'outperforms' the other I'd go with what seems to be on your mind -the shanghai. At the end of the day, if money allows it, and you can't decide, it's always safe to just get both! :-x No, I didn't really say that last line... The keyboard just printed it!

Thrax · Mar 1, 2013

It's all about the white-dial Beijing Galaxy.

BeiHai? Pfft, bar nails.

Zun Da? Pffft, square Guilloché.

Zhufeng? Pretty, but numbingly plain.

How's that for heresy?

Pawl_Buster · Mar 1, 2013

Thrax said:
It's all about the white-dial Beijing Galaxy.

BeiHai? Pfft, bar nails.

Zun Da? Pffft, square Guilloché.

Zhufeng? Pretty, but numbingly plain.

How's that for heresy?

Oh Oh! You're gonna make Ric tear up and be sad ;-)

meyekal · Mar 1, 2013

I received the my new watches today. The Shanghai is much nicer then I expected, it is really beautiful. It has four buttons, 2 on each side. It is a much bigger watch compared to the Beihai. It is almost 2 1/2 times as thick and weighs in at 3.3oz compared to the Beihai's 1.8oz (on my kitchen scale). I will try and get a side by side with the Beihai so you can see the differences. The pictures don't really do the watch justice.

View attachment 990957

Ric Capucho · Mar 1, 2013

Looks good. Any chance of a few shots from alternative angles?

Ric

Ric Capucho · Mar 1, 2013

Thrax said:
It's all about the white-dial Beijing Galaxy.

BeiHai? Pfft, bar nails.

Zun Da? Pffft, square Guilloché.

Zhufeng? Pretty, but numbingly plain.

How's that for heresy?

The Spanish Inquisition will be around shortly. Nobody expects them, usually, but in this case I want you to use the time to reflect on your sin.

Ric

meyekal · Mar 1, 2013

Ric Capucho said:
Looks good. Any chance of a few shots from alternative angles?

Ric

I just took these for you. Hopefully these come out OK. Order both from goodstuffs and happy with the service he provided. Now I need to set it

Something I wanted to mention. The face on the Shanghai is not a flat white like it comes across on the pictures. It has a shine and faint striping radiating from the center. You can almost get the impression of that in the last picture

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Thrax · Mar 1, 2013

It looks so much prettier than the shots on Good-stuffs. Wow. That Shanghai just jumped much higher on my priority list.

My first "real" Chinese watch Beijing v.s. Shanghai

ehou333

Pawl_Buster

ehou333

Pawl_Buster

meyekal

xingfenzhen

ehou333

Ric Capucho

Ric Capucho

Louis888

arktika1148

Ric Capucho

Cosmograph

Thrax

Pawl_Buster

meyekal

Ric Capucho

Ric Capucho

meyekal

Thrax

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