David:

very interesting message and photos. so how is the look and feel of this $200 bargain, and does it run well? build quality OK? can the movement really achieve that same quality as the original Venus movements? I sure wish someone / anyone would buy the tooling and machinery for the Valjoux 72, and crank those up again . . . whether in China, Switzerland or somewhere else.

I have read somewhere that it was the US that was producing the fine watches in the middle of the 19th century (for the railroads, etc.) and that Switzerland was thought of in the same way that we now think of China. I'm not sure whether this is accurate, but it will be interesting to see how China does as it moves up the food chain in producing mechanical watches.

Jeff

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: x
: x
: x
: x
: If that doesn't work maybe the threat of the
: Chinese making quality mechanical
: chronographs will spark a few comments.

: The pics are of an Alpha selling for under $200
: on eBay recently. The movement is a Venus
: 175 clone, reproduction, or genuine licensed
: product. The screw down pushers and crown
: are real. It has a style reminiscent of some
: early Autavias as do the Rolex Daytona,
: Gevril TriBeCa, Hamiltons and others.

: Here is a comment from a Chinese Watch forum: (
: I think it more likely that they simply
: bought the tools from Venus. I recall
: reading on the Russian forum about how Venus
: (during one of their frequent moments of
: financial difficulties) offered the calibre
: 175 tools to 1st Moscow as an upgrade for
: the Strela. The Soviets declined because the
: smaller Strela calibre 3017 suited their
: purposes better. Chances are that Venus took
: their offer to Chinese after that.)
: x
: x
: I would venture a guess that China is going to
: be a much larger player in the mechanical
: watch field.
: x
: Check the link below for some Chinese
: Tourbillons.
: x
: x