ST1655 Automatic Watch – Multi-Complication AliExpress Build by Elliot Coll

This post documents the assembly of a multi-complication automatic watch built around the ST1655 movement, using a complete kit sourced from AliExpress. The project is presented through a full build video by watch modder Elliot Coll, and focuses on value, mechanical complexity, and real-world considerations when working with highly complicated Chinese automatic movements.

Rather than reviewing a finished luxury product, this build highlights what’s possible today with accessible components — and what builders should understand before taking on a movement of this complexity.

Build by: Elliot Coll
Featured here with independent editorial context.

Project Overview

• Movement: ST1655 automatic
• Complications:
  • Hours & minutes
  • Date
  • Day
  • Month
  • Year
  • 24 Hours
  • Moonphase
• Build type: Complete watch kit
• Crystal: Mineral glass
• Water resistance: Not rated / non-water-resistant
• Price: ~65 USD (approx.), including all components

All specifications and dimensions are provided as part of the kit listing, making this a true all-in-one build rather than a custom parts selection.

Parts Used (AliExpress)

https://he.aliexpress.com/item/1005010466521725.html

About the ST1655 Movement

The ST1655 is a Chinese automatic movement produced by Seagull, featuring an unusually high number of complications for its price point. The movement includes calendar displays and a moonphase, driven by a central automatic rotor — something rarely seen in this cost range.

It’s important to note that this is not a perpetual calendar. Adjustments are manual, and proper setting requires attention and care, especially around date change cycles.

What makes the ST1655 compelling is not refinement in the traditional sense, but mechanical ambition. Packing this level of functionality into a movement at this price is impressive — and also explains why experience and understanding matter during assembly.

Assembly Complexity & Required Knowledge

While the kit format makes sourcing simple, assembly is not beginner-level.

Movements with multiple complications introduce:

• More components
• Tighter tolerances
• Increased sensitivity to alignment and timing

This doesn’t mean the watch can’t be worn daily by someone who enjoys it. It does mean that builders need to approach the project with patience, mechanical awareness, and a clear understanding of how the complications interact.

Chinese movements can deliver excellent value, but when complexity increases, so does the need for careful handling and realistic expectations.

Crystal Choice & Everyday Use

The kit uses mineral glass rather than sapphire. While mineral glass can appear clearer and more transparent in some lighting conditions, it does not offer the same scratch resistance as sapphire.

Combined with the lack of water resistance, this reinforces the idea that the watch is best approached as a mechanical experience and learning project, rather than a rugged tool watch — though for enthusiasts who appreciate its design and function, it can absolutely serve as a daily piece.

Value Perspective

At roughly 200 shekels for a complete automatic, multi-complication watch, the value proposition is hard to ignore.

What’s being offered here isn’t luxury finishing or long-term pedigree — it’s access to mechanical complexity at an almost unbelievable price. For builders and enthusiasts curious about how these complications work, this kit offers hands-on insight that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Final Thoughts on This ST1655 Automatic Watch

This ST1655 build demonstrates just how far affordable watchmaking has come. By combining a complete AliExpress kit with a highly complicated automatic movement, it opens the door to mechanical exploration at a price point that invites experimentation.

The key takeaway isn’t that this movement replaces higher-end alternatives — it’s that, in the right hands and with the right expectations, it delivers extraordinary value and a genuinely engaging watchmaking experience.
Builds like this highlight how far affordable mechanical kits have come, while also reminding builders that higher complication counts demand patience, careful adjustment, and a solid understanding of movement behavior during assembly and long-term use.