Did I buy a watch from North Korea?

It is an early and cold Friday morning. While I am waiting for a flight to warmer places I receive a message from Ebay. There is an item that matches a search I have saved. A Moranbong watch.

History of the brand

Moranbong is a watch brand from North Korea. Little is known about the brand itself. More is known about the country of origin. 

North Korea is a closed and tightly controlled state led by Kim Jong-un. The country has an authoritarian regime in which the Communist Party and the military play a major role. Citizens have limited freedoms and are subject to strict censorship and propaganda. The economy is largely isolated by international sanctions, while the military power and nuclear ambitions are a constant source of tension on the world stage.

Moranbong is named after a famous hill in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The factory was founded in 1978 and made mechanical watches. To make the watches, the Koreans bought old machines from Switzerland. The old mechanical watches are equipped with a copy of a rare Swiss movement: the Sonceboz Caliber ES 95. 

Moranbongs were often given as gifts to high-ranking officials and foreign statesmen, highlighting their exclusivity. Some watches feature Chinese quartz movements, suggesting that North Korea does not have its own quartz industry and may have imported parts. Due to their limited availability and unique history, Moranbong watches are highly sought after by collectors.

Back to my purchase

I get on the plane while I send a message to the Ebay seller. I get a reply very quickly. I have a lot of questions and start firing them one by one. The seller, Julian, seems enthusiastic himself and sends me a number of websites with information about the brand, including an article written by himself. 

During the flight I read his article carefully (the link is at the bottom) Julian describes the mystery surrounding the brand. For example, were the watches ever sold in North Korea itself? Are they still produced in the northern part of the peninsula? Before the plane is on the ground I have actually already made a decision. I want this watch.

A few days later DHL is at my door with my new purchase. To my surprise the watch is in an incredibly good condition. What is noticeable is that the design differs slightly from the Moranbong's I have seen on the internet. For example, the glass is completely flat while that is not the case with other models. Also, this specific model seems to be equipped with a Chinese ZSH movement while modern Moranbong's were only sold with quartz movements to my knowledge. Was this perhaps produced in China? 

On the lid are a number of words in Hangul, the Korean alphabet. I send some photos to a good friend in South Korea and she comes with remarkable news. At the bottom of the lid are the words Pyongyang, Joseon engraved. Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea, but more remarkable is the word 'Joseon'. This word can be linked to the Josoen dynasty, a time long before the Japanese occupation and Korean War. The time when there was only one Korea. Why this is engraved, can be explained. For many North Koreans there is only one Korea. Was the watch then perhaps made in the northern part of the peninsula?

After studying various websites and forums I can't seem to get much clarity. Some claim that the watch is produced in Dandong, China. This theory seems quite logical. Dandong is close to the border with North Korea. So close in fact that if you cross the Yalu River, you are already in North Korea. The second reason why Dandong is a logical place is because this city is known for its watch production. Others claim that the watch is made in South Korea. Yet another theory leads to an industrial area in North Korea , close to the border with the southern part. An area where North and South work together on various projects. I keep searching, but can't find an answer to the question of where the modern Moranbong's are produced.

A Chinese movement?

I have come across Moranbong's on a well-known Chinese sales platform before. These models were always equipped with a quartz movement. Mine contains a mechanical movement: a Chinese Standard Movement. This movement was first produced in 1972. The movement was developed by Chinese engineers from various manufacturers. The order came from the 'Ministry of Light Industry'. Chinese manufacturers were then obliged to stop producing their own movements, in order to mass-produce this movement. The code on the movement tells in which factory the movement was made. In the Moranbong the code ZSH is mentioned. The Z stands for Zhongguo (= China). The SH stands for Shanghai. The movement appears to be produced by the Shanghai Watch Factory. Times have changed and nowadays many different movements are produced in China. But to this day the Chinese Standard Movement is one of them.

One evening I get into conversation with Theo. Theo is a young French watchmaker based in Seoul. We start talking about our shared passion and I show him pictures of my Moranbong. He has never seen it before and the next day I get a message that he has spoken about it with a Chinese factory manager. He sends him a link which refers to an advertisement on Taobao. The Chinese version of Bol. So Chinese residents can also just get Moranbong's.

Some people react with surprise when I show them the watch. 'Why would you want a watch from such a foreign country?' It may sound strange, but when I look at the watch, I appreciate what I have. That may sound a bit vague , but while writing this piece I came across an article on a website, written by a North Korean man. The article was a few years old and described what is most in demand in North Korea. Not rice or oil; the most demand is watches. 

We can live without a watch. Wherever we go , we can see the time. If it is not on our phone, there is a clock somewhere. North Koreans depend on it. Many do not have a phone and often the television is only on in the evening , because there is a huge shortage of electricity. The inhabitants of the country need a watch because otherwise they cannot see what time it is. For us, a watch is a luxury item. For North Koreans, it is a basic necessity.

Article written by the seller: https://julianklose.wordpress.com/2024/02/24/the-peony-hills-from-pyongyang-how-i-bought-a-north-korean-wristwatch-maybe/