Post your Russian vintage watches

Strela20 · Feb 4, 2022

NikolShep
Believe your heart ;-) A more detailed answer is that you may be right regarding the 3017 marking. I just re-read my communications with an established 3017 collector and I saw no consistency in the 3017 marking on his examples. I asked him more specifically about approximate date 3017 marking appeared and I will try post here what he said, for consistency sake. However, as I said, please do enjoy your watch and be proud of owning a decent piece of history, with the dial type, and certainly the mechanism, that the first man in open space, Alexei Leonov wore during the first ever space walk.

Thanks for all your nice words and your help
And no matter what happens I will enjoy the watch 😀

Alpha · Feb 4, 2022

alakapla1 · Mar 20, 2022

Recently serviced

marpro · Mar 20, 2022

I have a few vintage vostoks, somehow completely lost the feeling with them lately. Will get rid of all. No more russian watches here from now on.

The newer amphibia will become a fishing lure once this year's season starts.

BlackTalon · Mar 20, 2022

I hear you. That being said, I handed over my wife's grandfather's Luch to a watchmaker last week, and he is going to open it up and give it a good disassembly/ cleaning.

Mossback · Mar 21, 2022

WIth what's going on in Ukraine I've lost my interest in my Russian watches as well.
I'd like to think the vast majority of Russian people are appalled as we are. Let's hope Putin will be removed and order will return. We can then feel good about collecting and owning those watches.
My wonderful watch repair guy is Ukrainian American.

BlackTalon · Mar 21, 2022

Mossback
I'd like to think the vast majority of Russian people are appalled as we are.

I wish that was the case, but based on a convo with my wife last night it is very much not a reflection of what many there think. In fact, some Russians are appalled that Ukrainians are upset with them and not thanking them.

alakapla1 · Mar 22, 2022

Mossback
WIth what's going on in Ukraine I've lost my interest in my Russian watches as well.
I'd like to think the vast majority of Russian people are appalled as we are. Let's hope Putin will be removed and order will return. We can then feel good about collecting and owning those watches.
My wonderful watch repair guy is Ukrainian American.

Just go Soviet. From a time when they had a large and thriving industry

sxl2004 · Mar 22, 2022

I do not get the current aversion of Russian vintage watches.
By all means do not buy new stuff currently made in Russia.
But the vintage watches were made under the stewardship of a different dictatorial regime and buying them used after the fall of the regime did not support the regime in any way. If that did not bother you then why now?

Best

Alpha · Mar 23, 2022

This one was purchased by my wife before this terrible situation kicked off and I certainly have no problems with wearing and enjoying it as it provided an income for the many factory workers.

Kirovskie Crab · Mar 25, 2022

Here are most of my watches from Russia and the Soviet Union including two Ruhla chronograf's from East Germany, a Prim Sport 2 from Czechoslovakia and some Belarusian watches from Luch.

The Sekonda's were primarily for export to the UK and the Cossak which uses a Chaika movement from memory was for sale in Hong Kong. The Zaigor is a watch originally produced by Poljot and would've been sold in South Africa or Rhodesia.

All of the watches featured in the second picture require some work still but many of the watches pictured here are daily wearers of mine which I get quite a lot of enjoyment from wearing.

Strela20 · Apr 9, 2022

Does anyone know what these black dots inside the glass of my Strela mean?

I already opened the glass to see if it was just some dirt under the glass but it seems like it is inside of the glass

since it’s a kl1 Strela there might be a tiny chance that it was in space, can it be related to that?

I doubt that it’s from a marker or paint since I can’t scratch it off either

allwoundup · Apr 9, 2022

Poljot cal. 3133 powered....keeps great time....

cineaste · May 3, 2022

Have not received it yet, but pretty excited for my first Soviet watch. It’s a pity the stem is loose, but since the watch is quite rare I am sure it will be worth fixing.

Olhenry56 · Aug 25, 2022

A cool, cheap, Soviet watch I just got in from Ukraine today.

ghce · Aug 25, 2022

This was my last Russian watch.
Naval aviator single button chronograph from the 50's a whopping 51mm diameter, but oh so nice.

dinglem · May 30, 2024

I have a few to add here.... simple blue faced Sekondas for starters, the one with the original stainless strap belonged to my grandfather and I recently inherited it.

Then I am back on to my love of a little patina, so here is a Poljot 16 Jewel example with a deep purple strap.

I also dug out an early, first generation 1964 Poljot Strela 6-12 dial 3017 Chronograph. High 18000’s movement serial number and rhombus logo. Again, I mainly bought it for the patina on the dial.