Made In China With Pride
/As I continue to study and learn about the watch industry, there’s one major difference between Chinese and foreign brands that keeps making itself apparent. What is it that separates a “luxury” Chinese brand from luxurious foreign brands? There are many factors, of course, but the main difference that I’ve noticed between the majority of Chinese brands and those from around the world is the way in which they organize their priorities. At least on surface level, the most esteemed foreign brands take more pride in their product and in the presentation of their brands than they do in the actual sale of their products.
Ok, I understand, the ultimate point of any business is to make money. I get that, and a lot of Chinese watch brands are making a lot of money! But regardless of how much money they make, why is it that many watch enthusiasts around the world consider Chinese watches to be second-rate? The answer to this question, as I see it, is because the first priority for most Chinese brands is to sell as much product as possible, as soon as possible, with only the required minimum regard to the product itself. Actually taking pride in having an exquisite product that stands out from the rest is simply not first on the agenda for many brands.
However, there are some, like Maison Celadon, whose priorities are obvious. In my conversations with Benjamin Chee, founder of Maison Celadon, it’s extremely clear that his priorities are: a) to create the epitome of an elegant and yet very much Chinese timepiece; and b) to present his product with a clarity and studied thoughtfulness that is nearly unmatched by any brand I’ve found in this country.
(all photos courtesy of Maison Celadon)
Maison Celadon is a boutique brand founded in 2013, which to date has variations of two models, with a third model due for release at any time. While many Chinese brands run away from their roots, Maison Celadon runs directly to them and showcases in its timepieces some of the most historically important craftsmanship this ancient culture has to offer. I’ll go into further detail of each series and their intimate features, including flame blued hands and hand engraved gold balance cocks at a further point. For now I’ll give a short introduction to each series.
The first series of the brand’s signature piece, the Imperial, was released in 2013. It features a Guilloche textured dial with a Plum Blossom design in either Rice Paper Cream, Imperial Red, or Midnight Blue color options. The second series Imperial features an incredibly detailed pressed Guilloche Peacock dial (below right). The movement is the SB18-6 in-house movement from Beijing Watch Factory. The case is 38mm in diameter, and the Imperial retails at a very reasonable $1,220 USD.
The flagship Celestial, released in 2014, is a bespoke watch in which clients can choose from one of five dial options, including micro painting enamel, cloisonné or gold wire enamel (by Master Artist Xiong Songtao, featured here) micro carving enamel, hand-stitched Suzhou embroidery (below), or hand-painted Fencai porcelain. The Celestial is 43mm, providing a broader landscape to showcase dial detail, and uses the B24 double escapement and resonance movement with a seven-day power reserve. The Celestial starts at $5,800 USD, but the price ultimately depends on a handful of customization options.
Soon to be released is the Celadon Yue Fei military diver. I was fortunate enough to be included in a private group chat where several sneak-peek features of this watch were shared. The details of the hands alone are going to slice your socks off. The watch meets all the standards of an ISO-rated 200m diver with its clear legibility, screw-down case back, lume pip and lume dot on the seconds hand, etc. It also has a wildly unique steel bracelet with links modeled after the Celadon logo in a combination of brushed and polished surfaces. Besides the technical achievements, the Yue Fei is per standard for Maison Celadon, delivering a powerful punch of important historical Chinese details. I’ve only seen a few yummy bits and pieces individually, and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
Obviously, I’m very high on this brand. But don’t just take my word for it. If you’re interested, click here and here and here and search the forums to see what current owners are saying.
Ok, I have to be honest here and admit something…I’m fairly certain that I came across Maison Celadon when I first started researching Chinese brands last year. If my memory is correct, I actually dismissed it fairly quickly because I only wanted to feature truly Chinese brands here on EWR. Now you’re saying, “this is a Chinese brand, correct?” Correct. I think this is what happened. My expectations had been slightly warped after weeks of viewing average watches and reading sloppy marketing materials. When I came across Maison Celadon, something upstairs didn’t compute; could something this polished and complete be a Chinese brand? Indeed they are. Chinese watches. They are watches, that are Made in China, With Pride.
https://www.facebook.com/maisonceladon/
