DOU ZHUAN XING YI

斗转星移

Brand: Sea-Gull (海鷗). Reference: 819.32.1078. [Version: Blue dial and strap; 2025 version. View other versions →]. Launch date: 2025-July-Date? Official retail price: CN ￥3,980  price tag photo ↗

The central sub-dial presents the Twenty-Eight Constellations as defined in ancient Chinese astronomy with the seven stars of the Bei Dou Qi Xing (the Big Dipper) emphasized by connected lines.

When the sub-dial turns anti-clockwise once per day and 365 days for a full round, the red circle with an arrow around the star 瑶光 (Alkaid) points to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms on the innermost ring of text. Among the 24 solar terms, Spring Equinox (春分) is set at 3 o’clock, Summer Solstice (夏至) at 12 o’clock, Autumn Equinox (秋分) at 9 o’clock, and Winter Solstice (冬至) at 6 o’clock. The design concept is based on observations by ancient Chinese astronomers that "when the dipper handle points to east, it's spring; when it points to south, it's summer; west, autumn; north, winter. As described in an ancient Chinese book called Heguanzi, see the excerpt below:

斗柄东指，天下皆春，斗柄南指，天下皆夏，斗柄西指，天下皆秋，斗柄北指，天下皆冬。--《鹖冠子 · 环流》

Chinese character:
中國海鷗 - China Sea-Gull. Position: 12 o'clock on the underside of the front crystal.

For the rings of text/numerals on the watch, start from the innermost ring:

Ring 1. Twenty-Four Solar Terms, start from 6 o'clock, going anti-clockwise:
冬至 - Winter Solstice
小寒 - Minor Cold
大寒 - Major Cold
立春 - Beginning of Spring
雨水 - Rain Water
惊蛰 - Awakening of Insects
春分 - Spring Equinox
清明 - Pure Brightness
谷雨 - Grain Rain
立夏 - Beginning of Summer
小满 - Grain Buds
芒种 - Grain in Ear
夏至 - Summer Solstice
小暑 - Minor Heat
大暑 - Major Heat
立秋 - Beginning of Autumn
处暑 - End of Heat
白露 - White Dew
秋分 - Autumn Equinox
寒露 - Cold Dew
霜降 - Frost's Descent
立冬 - Beginning of Winter
小雪 - Minor Snow
大雪 - Major Snow

Ring 2. Twelve months in Chinese, start from 6 o'clock, going anti-clockwise:
十二月 - December
一月 - January
二月 - February
三月 - March
四月 - April
五月 - May
六月 - June
七月 - July
八月 - August
九月 - September
十月 - October
十一月 - November

Ring 3. Sixty combinations of the Ten Heavenly Stems (十天干) and the Twelve Earthly Branches (十二地支), start from 12 o'clock, going clockwise:
甲子、乙丑、丙寅、丁卯、戊辰 (blocked)、
己巳、庚午、辛未、壬申、癸酉 (blocked)、
甲戌、乙亥、丙子、丁丑、戊寅 (blocked)、
己卯、庚辰、辛巳、壬午、癸未 (blocked)、
甲申、乙酉、丙戌、丁亥、戊子 (blocked)、
己丑、庚寅、辛卯、壬辰、癸巳 (blocked)、
甲午、乙未、丙申、丁酉、戊戌 (blocked)、
己亥、庚子、辛丑、壬寅、癸卯 (blocked)、
甲辰、乙巳、丙午、丁未、戊申 (blocked)、
己酉、庚戌、辛亥、壬子、癸丑 (blocked)、
甲寅、乙卯、丙辰、丁巳、戊午 (blocked)、
己未、庚申、辛酉、壬戌、癸亥 (blocked)
(Note: 12 combinations are blocked by hour markers. The Ten Heavenly Stems are: 甲、乙、丙、丁、戊、己、庚、辛、壬、癸  The Twelve Earthly Branches are: 子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥)

Ring 4. Arabic numerals on the chapter ring.

Ring 5. On the bezel are the names of the 28 constellations in ancient Chinese seal script, read them in the anti-clockwise direction.
7 in the east: 角、亢、氐、房 (3 o'clock)、心、尾、箕
7 in the south: 井、鬼、柳、星 (12 o'clock)、张、翼、轸
7 in the west: 奎、娄、胃、昴 (9 o'clock)、毕、觜、参
7 in the north: 斗、牛、女、虚 (6 o'clock)、危、室、壁
(Note: Since the bezel can be manually turned, the above position is correct when the bezel is set at default position, that is when the constellation 星 (highlighted) is set at 12 o'clock position.)

MOVEMENT
Mechanical, self-winding. China Made. Caliber: Sea-Gull ST2150. Functions: Hour, minute, second, solar term, stem-branch year (Central hour, minute and seconds hands. The red circle with arrow on the central sub-dial points to solar terms on the innermost ring of text. To find out the stem-branch year, use a formular, take the year 2025 for example, 2025-3=60x33+42, then start counting clockwise from 12 o'clock on the edge of dial, the 42nd year 乙巳 is the stem-branch year for 2025.). Stop-seconds (hacking) to set time precisely. Jewels: 28. Frequency: 28800 vph. Power reserve: Around 39 hours.

CASE
316L stainless steel. Diameter: 42.4 mm. Thickness: 12.9 mm. Lug width: 22 mm. Lug to lug: 48.3 mm. Water resistance: 5 ATM. Weight: 89 grams (the whole watch including strap). Luminescence: Luminescence on hour hand, minute hand, the Bei Dou Qi Xing and the lines that connect the seven stars. Bezel: Blue. Bidirectional rotatable. 0 clicks in a full rotation. Sapphire crystal bezel insert. Dial: Blue. Sunburst finish. Applied hour markers. Crystal: Sapphire crystal. Flat. Chinese brand name "中國海鷗" on the underside of the crystal. Case back: Screw-down notched. Transparent. Sapphire crystal case back. Crown: Push-pull. Fluted cylinder shape. Stainless steel crown. Signed with the "S" logo. Crown diameter: 6.8 mm.

STRAP
Blue. Cowhide leather. No quick release: Need tool to remove strap from case. Fit for case lug width: 22 mm. Fit for clasp lug width: 18.1 mm. Clasp: Pin buckle. Stainless steel clasp.