Timeless Beauty of the Shanghai 7120 Vintage Mechanical Dress Watch 

On the case back, 'SHANGHAI SHOUBIAO CHANG' ---- Shanghai Wrist Watch Factory; rest of Chinese translate to 'Nice steel, shock proof'; on the dial, 'Fangzhen'----shock proof. The movement is a 19 Jewels version of Type-SZ1 (according to the tech data, the SZ-1 have 15/17/19/20 jewels versions), following is a brief introduction of SZ1. The type-SZ1 unified movement was organized by the Ministry of Light Industry of China in March 1970 to organize workers and technicians from 16 watch factories to set up a joint design team to carry out design work in the Beijing Watch Factory. Finally in 1971, the SZ1 watch system movement was finalized. The SZ1 has a simple structure, a small number of parts, and the accuracy is within plus or minus 30 seconds per day and night. It was put into trial production in 1971. In 1972, the Ministry of Light Industry officially promoted the SZ1 movement to watch factories of whole country.

Watch models are going to love this. You can’t buy a case for that price let alone the movement I wouldn’t change it too much just the hands and the strap, probably put a London tan colour strap

If a man is to marry, he must have a radio, a sewing machine, a bicycle and a Shanghai Watch.

I have this watch. Its a re-issue. That means the watch is new, made from parts sourced. The actual old stock Shanghai 7120's that I have seen do not have an underlined logo on the dial. I am enjoying mine.

Nice review. I bought one last year (about 6 months ago), it's great value. I put mine on a black&grey 20mm nato, the 1mm is barely noticeable. Thanks

I’ve got this watch, when I bought it I ordered a nice 19mm leather strap as I knew the one that came with it wouldn’t be good. The watch is compact but very wearable. Good review thank you!

Ah, the old Proper Job vernier gauge. Never fails! Great review too. Seriously considering adding one of these to my watch collection

Nice review, I have one on the way and I really like the plain classy look of this. Well done 👍

Hi there, nice review and happy to see Shanghai watch is getting interest. FYI those are NOT vintage watches, or NOS. Those are vintage inspired made in china factories those days. For the price its unbeatable and a nice watch but don't think its a 70s original watch.

Hi, you know what modifications can i do on this timepiece?

You may find that they’ve included the crown in the diameter measurement. I Saw something similar on Ben’s Watch Club’s Oceanus video.

Nice little dress watch and the price is right. Definitely a watch that has a lot going for it. Case back is cool too. The negative for me is the seconds hand gets lost against the minute and hour hand. Nice review. Cheers!

Sounds great. $39 Canadian. Unfortunately when I went on Aliexpress the shipping cost was over $20. Still cheap but it put me off when any other watch is either free or a couple of bucks shipping.

Had a Shanghai 8120 for quite some time now, it ticks in tandem with my Seiko wall clock

i checked the price, very cheap... but this is not automatic, so periodically needs winding... this is very old fashion watch which my sister-in-law used to wear when she was younger - 40 years ago....

It is a nice looking and very affordable watch. But the hands are way too short. The minute hand just about meets the 5 minute baton indices but it rather needed to meet the minute markers in between. Are the indices to tall the minute hand would catch on them?

That is honestly really nice for what you paid, I'd swap out that strap for something else but its a good looking watch. Nice find

Nice watch and great review, going to order one mate!

I’m convinced you did your homework especially when you pronounce the ZUAN perfectly.

I have had a few genuine vintage Shanghai watches. They are OK. I am a collector of Sea-gull St5 19 jewel Chinese watches. New old stock. Far superior movements to Shanghai. Nice watches Shanghai though. Thanks for showing.

That's a lovely dress watch. Would the 39mm case diameter include the crown?

What about accuracy? Is the watch running correctly?

how about Dugary vintage 8120 Jiefang watch?

I believe it says 39mm because they measure it with the crown

All I can think of is 1970 Seconda… fantastic little watch

What sort of tool would you use to get the back unscrewed thank you

Great find James 👏

I have this watch absolute bargain lovely little watch ⌚

Is IT stainless steel?

I'd struggle with the aesthetics of the short hands but saw another for about 45 euro with perfect hands. Bloody hell. I mean, bloody hell. Wow. Thanks.

Fantastic watch. Thanks

Mate!25quid why wouldn't you. Thanks James.Gday from Brisbane Australia love your work.

7120 from 70s 8120 80s real vintage also have reissue if you can tell

Seen these a bit on Ali, wasn't aware they were new-old-stock. Pretty cool piece either way and far nicer that it's honest about where it comes from.

Почитал комментарии и заказал с металлическим браслетом. Цена 1960 рублей и бесплатная доставка. Спасибо за обзор

This is not an old stock watch...still in production at Shanghai Watch Co...It's a great watch, but not old stock.

I would really be interested in seeing how this watch is holding up at 6months and one year. I just ordered myself one. Great video and thanks for sharing.

Es una de las mejores compras que he realizado en AliExpress.

Great watch, shame it is steel only (not stainless). Try to do a review on this one, Seagull movement, Tangente inspired: "N M S Logo Simple Bauhaus style watch TANGOMAT series 601 automatic mechanical men's watch sapphire watch mirror leather strap|Mechanical Watches| - AliExpress", Thanks from Sweden

Nice watch Great review I have one

Interesting review. Bit too cheap for my taste but it is good value

19mm lugs! Why?

they are a modern recreation. Aliexpress is full of them.

cinturino da cambiare subito

Gold.diamat.

Save your money. New old junk. Mine ran for about a month and then the mainspring snapped. The dealer in China ghosted me. AliExpress ghosted me.

in china nobody knows how many 7120watches was produced in 1970s😂the price of such watch in china is just about 10-50yuan each（about1.5-9dollars）😂