Actually having finally gotten around to reading the article @grafikal has pointed us to, it does seem like it's Sea Gull who's making them, and in China.
True or not, I'm with you on the non-hacking movement issue--I'll put up with it on some of my older faves from Seiko, but no more for new purchases. And frankly, let's be honest, anyone buying a watch this cheap, and this ugly, has to have mighty big balls to start complaining one way or the other about what's under the hood. With this brand and at this price, it's better not to know--and I know, because I've got one ;- )
JohnnyCanuckIt's a 99 dollar chinese watch, the lume sucks would be my guess. Don't get me wrong, I cherish quite a few of my sub 100 dollar chinese watches with crappy lume, with sapphire crystals and Japanese automatics, but good lume doesn't come in that kit....nor does a sapphire crystal on this watch I don't think, but there are a whole bunch of great watches available for less on Aliexpress, if you're brave...check out JOMW on youtube he's a really good tour guide for ali and points you to great value watches with killer specs for almost nuthin, much better than this one [edit, although maybe Horween leather is a good trade off? I don't own one but if it really is, then might be worth the plunge if you don't mind the dinner plate size of the thing...]
TwentySixAndIsn’t a large onion style crown and large size a “flieger” thing though? I know this isn’t a true pilots watch...but it ticks some of the boxes of that style.