I picked up a couple of watches at local fair today, took a chance and got them both for £250 cash. My question is I know a little about the Seamasters, although I haven't opened her up yet..(risk of injury..) But, I have no clue about this Sekonda chono? Can someone enlighten me and let me know if I've got a good deal? And what movement its likely to have? It seems like an ok piece. I just have no clue when it comes to chronos. I really like old Omega chronos so the interest is growing.. Not sure if a keeper yet, we'll see!
The Seamaster is mid to late 50's and has a caliber 503 inside. Don't know much about Russian watches but I'm sure somebody does.
Thanks Dennis, just added another better pic of the Russian.. What's the giveaway for the SM being a cal 503? The dial style?
Sekonda brand, established in UK around 1966 for the 1MWF (first Moscow watch factory) export models Caliber is a 3017, russian copy of the Venus 150 If you know the mvmt serial number, this below will indicate an estimate date of production Not very valuable (around 350£), the caliber might be fragile (no antishock whatsoever, non waterproof, non dust proof), and very hard to repair as spare parts are nearly untraceable. Some of them were military issued... and Alexis Leonov wore one of these (a Strela though) on the first human EVA ever made (march 1965). So these are part of the space conquest and the Strelas are often reffered as the "russian Speedmaster" mine, from 1966 actually, says hello Hope it helps ?!? best - Fred
Wow - thanks Fred! I just opened her up... It's a 3017 - I literally just opened it up! Looks quite ok inside.... Yours are rather nice!
You're welcome from my database The same watch from Soyouz 1 wreckage... ... Including the same Slava stopwatch as below... ... which I bought for nearly peanuts a couple of year ago. If you want to go deeper in this, check this : http://www.network54.com/Forum/306982/message/1098919234/A+Brief+History+of+Soviet+Space+Watches Far underestimated watches considering their great stories IMHO.... Isn't it ? (Credit Argon @ MWR) Enjoy Regards - Fred
Thanks Fred, Yes, it's really fascinating to have that back story! I like the Polgot chonos too, was that the preceding brand before Sekonda? Great pictures too. I will definitely have a read of that article. Thanks again!
Same brand actually, only different badges, one for the east side of the former cold war wall, the other for export market, both 1MWF made edit with source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sekonda I made an extensive review of this years ago, in french though- sorry - so if you need further details, I can dig up the grave
check these out http://www.netgrafik.ch/russian_space_watches.htm Credit above... look familiar isn't it ? Soyouz missions (google translate is your friend) : http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_sovietique/soyouz/vols_soyouz.htm Alexeï Leonov vids are available somewhere in the NASA website (unable to retrace it ...) ... and enough for today says the wife