Availability of genuine CCCP military watches?

wagudc · Sep 25, 2021

Bob Neville
I've seen lots of "authentic" Soviet military watches advertised on-line (army, navy, air force), most at pretty reasonable prices even taking into consideration that the quality is probably a roll of the dice. Having served in the US Army during the tail end of the Cold War, and then into the Gorbachev time when the Russians and the rest of the Eastern Block became our buddies, I appreciate the historical significance of the existence of the Soviet Union. I like the look of many of the examples I'm seeing - so many are really bold and ordinary at the same time. It's like you can feel the Marxist propaganda of the state just glancing down to see what time it is. Although I have seen the coolest looking digits on the faces of these watches.
I know there are legitimate on-line sellers to buy authentic high-end Swiss (and other) watches such as Jomashop and Bob's Watches among many others, but does anyone know of a legit seller of authentic Soviet watches?

Here are some relevant threads

https://omegaforums.net/threads/anyone-speaks-russian.94358/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/soviet-watches.111883/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/russian-watches-the-unexplored-country-or-no-mans-land.38944/

Bob Neville · Sep 25, 2021

AAAKK
I'm no expert on Soviet watches by any stretch but I picked up this 80s Vostok Amphibia for maybe 45-50 bucks a few years ago. They are a bit crude but it runs like a top. Lots of interesting dials and case styles so just be patient and find something you like and hasn't been polished to death. They made millions of them so they'll be plentiful and inexpensive for years to come. Just stick to "CCCP" dials"

I just took a closer look at this and there’s a really cool alligator skin finish on the face - do you know if that is original to this watch or is that evidence of the paint on the face aging? Either way it looks really cool!

Bob Neville · Dec 26, 2021

I decided to roll the dice and make a small investment in a few Soviet watches from a Russian source with lots of only positive feedback on eBay. He said to expect the shipping to take 4-6 weeks, so I'm expecting these to arrive mid-January based on my purchase date. $140 total for the 3 including shipping & taxes.

SkunkPrince · Dec 26, 2021

Looks like you might have a nice bunch there. Be aware that Soviet lume was crap even when it was new!

kfranzk · Jul 15, 2026

These Soviet watches I did buy 1990 up to 1992 on the market in East Berlin after the Wall had opend.
Many Russian officers and soldiers sold any equipment like optics, chronometers, batches and watches.
I even could drive with my car through huge Soviet Military Sites in Wittstock north of Berlin, were all trafic signs were kyrillic and the Officers shook their heads on me as a civilian. It was a mind boggling time then. But now with Putin all that fraternization is gone, a shame.
I tell the story, that they gave me the batch of 50 years Stalingrad, as I as well was born in the same year....

The Sturmansky chronograph with Russian Vx 7734 is the original military version, the later for the civilian market had an extra crown at '9'.
And the white dial Sturmanski of the 1. Moscow Watch Factory is the same type of watch, Juri Gagarin wore on his first space flight around the earth.

Spanakopita · Jul 25, 2026

kfranzk
These Soviet watches I did buy 1990 up to 1992 on the market in East Berlin after the Wall had opend.
Many Russian officers and soldiers sold any equipment like optics, chronometers, batches and watches.
I even could drive with my car through huge Soviet Military Sites in Wittstock north of Berlin, were all trafic signs were kyrillic and the Officers shook their heads on me as a civilian. It was a mind boggling time then. But now with Putin all that fraternization is gone, a shame.
I tell the story, that they gave me the order of 50 years Stalingrad, as I as well was born in the same year....

The Sturmansky chronograph with Russian Vx 7734 is the original military version, the later for the civilian market had an extra crown at '9'.
And the white dial Sturmanski of the 1. Moscow Watch Factory is the same type of watch, Juri Gagarin wore on his first space flight around the earth.

Great story and great finds. The early 1990s was a great period for picking up Soviet memorabilia. Sadly, I wasn't into watches at that time.

ghce · Sep 12, 2026

this one of mine exited the Soviet states in the 90's as well, still sporting a Russian made leather strap.
Soviet Naval Pilots Chronograph.

kfranzk · Tues. 11:19am

Here again a batch of genuine Soviet miltary watches:
For the tank driver, the submariner, the commander, a stopwatch for the artillery and the very big divers watch.

@Bob Neville:
I sold all these and the others shown in recent years, so keep the eyes open on Ebay, they come up regulary.

kfranzk · Tues. 11:26am

Sorry watches are asked for, but I add some clocks and Chronometers:
And what is needed on a Red Fleet combat ship wether submarine or destroyer before there was GPS or similar?

Ships chronometers Kirowa (these were originally Wempe/Lange construction transferred from Glashütte after 1945), they came with the outer transport box and observatory certificates and
Wall clocks Molnia with radio silence sectors (at 6 on the dial translated: 'made in USSR'):

kfranzk · Tues. 11:35am

And the Soviet Air Fleet:
Aircraft panel clocks Molnia, here the one of the hunters MIG 23 and MIG 29.
(The earlier ones though looking similar came from Jaeger LeCoultre with chronograph cal 330 and heavy Radium dotation on the dial)

And for the long range strategic bomber Tupolev T95 they had a real Kirowa lever chronometer with special spring mount to reduce impact of vibrations and some electric contacts to trigger various other dials...

kfranzk · Tues. 11:46am

But back to watches of Soviet Forces:
Here two early Kirowa,

the Kirowa pilots chronograph with cal 59 Glashütte (the whole production machinery was transported in 1945 from Glashütte to Moscow) and
the Kirowa navigation watch with the excellent Ulysse Nardin movement built with Swiss license:

Availability of genuine CCCP military watches?

wagudc

Bob Neville

Bob Neville

SkunkPrince

kfranzk

Spanakopita

ghce

kfranzk

kfranzk

kfranzk

kfranzk

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