This is an inaugural article of "What have I done" - a segment where we just talk about the strange, unique, and frankly, just awesome watches. Sometimes we stumble upon the randomest things. But it is these random encounters that keeps things pretty fun. This Chairman Mao watch is a case in point, and you honestly can't help but laugh at how funny yet neat this watch is...
Before we start this post, we would first like to clarify that this post is not meant to be a political piece and we do not have any political affiliations whatsoever with anyone for that matter. In fact, we hate politics. This is just meant to be a fun little piece, covering an eccentric gem from the 1990s – the waving Chairman Mao watch made by the Chinese luxury fashion house, Shanghai Tang. These watches were believed to have been released to commemorate the return of the Chinese territory of Hong Kong back in 1997 – an iconic moment in modern history.
Tourist special - Chairman Mao watch
Source: Fratello Watches
The Chairman Mao watch can be found in random markets and tourist spots in China – typically with a very unexceptional bold red dial. The key feature of these watches as one would have guessed from the title, is the waving hand of Mao that waves in sync independently of the central second hand. These watches, which were meant as interesting souvenirs for tourists that visited the middle kingdom, all came with a fairly impractical and yes, poorly designed cases. Ignoring the chrome plating, my biggest gripe with these watches are their strange hanging lugs which sit a good half centimeter above one’s wrist. The biggest draw of these watches on the other hand, were the Chinese made 17 jewel manual wind movements (Shanghai watch factory it is believed) – matter of quality aside, these are fairly robust and surprisingly reliable movements, and we can always respect that.
Non-capitalist lugs. Equality for all might mean you get very strange outcomes sometimes.
Source: Generalist
This is one of the neon variants of the Chairman Mao watch that was created by Shanghai Tang. This watch also came in more “conventional” variants which were reminiscent of the aforementioned tourist watches. However, these watches are of markedly higher quality than those sold at random tourist shops. These for one, have dials that are fairly clean, crisp and relatively well designed – definitely not as lazy as the unbranded variants of these watches. Additionally, unlike its chrome plated cousins, these came in stainless steel cases. Despite its relatively small 36mm case in its modern context, the watch has quite the presence thanks to its thick case and its whimsical design. When Mao is waving at you at something like 18,800 waves per hour, one can’t help but notice it. It is a spectacle to behold.
If I had to venture a guess, it would be that the Shanghai Tang ones possibly came at a later date compared to the poorly created tourist shop Mao watches. “We need to make a fun watch to commemorate an iconic moment in Chinese history – why not go with a time-tested design? The Waving Chairman Mao watch!” – is probably how I envision the whole creative process to have gone. But then again, I am probably being far too irreverent about its design process and it is highly likely that a lot more thought went into it than that. Perhaps… possibly… most definitely.
This neon variant of the Mao watch draws the wearer with its bold and audacious colour palette and its groovy geometric background. Somehow, the blend of neon green and striking purple works very well here. The first thing that came into my mind with this watch was Andy Warhol’s iconic image of Mao, which came in very similar neon shades. While Warhol’s pieces were explicitly meant to be political in nature and this watch was arguably not, I suppose their similarities lie in the way they could both be considered kitsch. However, that is precisely why it is so likeable. I do not think this watch is pretending to be what it is not – a fine watch. At the same time, it encapsulates a very symbolic moment in Chinese history through an entertaining and a not so serious medium.
Warhol's Mao
Source: Art News
We love this watch, not because this is a work of haute horlogerie or anything of that sort, but it is infinitely more interesting than something like a Submariner that every man and his dog owns, and seems to shamelessly give zero fucks about what many think watchmaking should be. This watch is fun, and that is what collecting should be. We don't always need to take ourselves so seriously all the time. Let loose, relax, have fun once in a while.
Waving Chairman 万岁!