In old China, Shanghai's horological landscape was limited to small repair workshops, with no proper watch manufacturing facilities to speak of. A transformative moment came in 1955, when following the detailed instructions of State Planning Commission (国家计委) Director Li Fuchun (李富春) and responding to growing demands from clock and watch industry workers, the Shanghai Municipal Committee (上海市委) made a historic decision to assign the task of trial-producing domestic watches to the Second Light Industry Bureau (第二轻工业局).
The foundation was laid on July 9th, 1955, through a collaborative effort between the Second Light Industry Bureau and the Shanghai Clock and Watch Trade Association (上海钟表同业公会). They carefully selected personnel from over ten small and medium-sized enterprises, including:
- China Clock Factory (中国钟厂)
- Wenhua Clock Factory (文华钟厂)
- Huacheng Industrial Society (华成工业社)
- Sino-Soviet Industrial Society (中苏工业社)
The initial team comprised 58 individuals, including seven highly skilled civilian watch repairmen, forming the pioneering Fine Watch Trial Production Team (细马手表试制小组). Their workspace was modest - a small "sealed" room constructed with soundproof panels where assembly, testing, and inspection all took place.
The technical challenges they faced were immense, as none of the masters had ever manufactured watches before. Their only equipment was a simple clock repair lathe. However, the team demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness and innovation:
Technical Solutions:
- Careful disassembly of a Swiss "Selca" (塞尔卡) watch into 150 distinct parts for systematic replication
- Creative modification of ordinary machine tools to function as specialized clock lathes
- Ingenious conversion of electric fan heads for transmission purposes
- Manufacturing of precision tools:
- Drill bits crafted from embroidery needles
- Watch axles fabricated from:
- Umbrella spokes
- Wool needles
- Bicycle wires
- Development of heat treatment processes using alcohol lamps
Through their perseverance and ingenuity, the team achieved a remarkable milestone by producing 18 sample watches just before the 1955 National Day. These samples were immediately sent to Beijing for review by central leadership, marking a historic moment in Chinese manufacturing history.
This successful trial production in 1955 represented more than just a technical achievement - it marked the birth of Chinese watchmaking, fundamentally changing China's role from a nation of watch repairers to one capable of watch manufacturing. By 1957, this pioneering effort led to the establishment of the official Shanghai Watch Factory (上海手表厂), China's first full-fledged watch manufacturing facility.