Russian Watches, The Unexplored Country or No Mans Land

NOTSHARP · Apr 6, 2019

I have a few Vostoks, around fifteen, or so. Although not Swiss precision, by any means, they are excellent value, IMO.

Robust is an understatement, and, along with a very well thought out, simple design, that works, they have stood the test of time, and then some.

Accuracy can be hit or miss, I admit, although a clean / lube can very often put this right. I have been wearing this, on and off, for five days, and it is now a minute fast.

Anyone interested in trying their hand at "modding", should start with one. Everything, dials, hands, bezels, can be be found, for little expense.

All that said, I do not own a bog standard one. One of those chronographs would tempt me though, without a doubt.

Steve.

Albe100 · Apr 6, 2019

I’m currently in Moscow, and there is a community here. I met some collectors, very interesting. Especially for those of you that love the whole space history, Russian watches have plenty of it.

Some of the vintage watches go for a decent price and are in decent condition, but they are difficult to find. Like the original Raketa and the Strelka. But they have some nice reissues for decent prices, closer to fashion watch prices.

arturo7 · Apr 6, 2019

NOTSHARP
I have a few Vostoks, around fifteen, or so. Although not Swiss precision, by any means, they are excellent value, IMO.

How difficult are they to service? Pretty straightforward or do they require a specialist?

I assume parts are scarce?

robinhook · Apr 6, 2019

Sgt_Bilko
This is a Soviet era submarine commander's watch that just came in from Ukraine. The quality of finish is nowhere near what you would expect from Swiss watches but it's solid and keeps decent time.

The bracelet looks like it has a spine.... or backbone?😁

NOTSHARP · Apr 7, 2019

arturo7
How difficult are they to service? Pretty straightforward or do they require a specialist?

I assume parts are scarce?

Firstly, parts for Vostok movements, 24**, are readily available, and cheap. 😁 Cases, dials. handsets etc. all easy to source, as far as I have found.

A review, by a UK based watchmaker:

I, having no watchmaking background, bought half a dozen old watches,($15), to strip down, and put back together, for practice. I have now stripped and rebuilt three, which are in regular use, and keep good time.
The watches are so cheap to buy, It would be difficult to justify paying a watchmaker to repair one.

I buy a new 2414 (hand winding) movement for £20, the 2416 (Auto) for £28 https://komandirskie.com/catalog/aksesuary/zapchasti_parts/?PAGEN_6=3

Plenty of quirky aftermarket parts are available.

Dials are Seiko size, so endless choices there. I found an old dial for $10, and repainted, new hands, etc.

Yes, I like my Vostoks.😁

Steve.

Professor · Apr 7, 2019

My Pobedas are the most accurate vintage watches I own so far. One I got in NOS condition is accurate to within 5 seconds per week. Two others are nearly that good after a bit of adjustment.

I suspect that many of the Russian watches that are offered as fully serviced may be products of technical or vocational training schools in various former soviet countries. Others are probably worked on by former watch factory employees making a few rubles on the side to supplement their pensions.
When the Slava company closed operations former workmen looted the stocks of movements and spare parts. These are showing up as recently manufactured watches using cases and other parts imported for the purpose.

SpeedyPhill · Mar 20, 2020

Russian timepieces are incredibly underestimated... and these can, still today, be found at very decent prices, although compared with 20 years ago, some prices went times 10 !
Modern day " influencers " don't have the time to learn about these Russian watches as they're too busy promoting modern stuff
Modern day " flippers " , dealers and merchants aren't interested because the profit margins are too small ... 🤔

Edit: video added
.

S.H. · Mar 21, 2020

SpeedyPhill
Russian timepieces are incredibly underestimated... and these can, still today, be found at very decent prices, although compared with 20 years ago, some prices went times 10 !
Modern day " influencers " don't have the time to learn about these Russian watches as they're too busy promoting modern stuff
Modern day " flippers " , dealers and merchants aren't interested because the profit margins are too small ... 🤔

Edit: video added
.

The problem is, they produced a LOT of watches, for a long time. Some uninspired, some plain crappy, some interesting, some very nice. To get an idea you'll have to sift through metric tons of fake and crap watches to get some "real" interesting vintage pieces. If you can get past the lack of detailing inside for the movement produced after the 1950s, (but an average Swiss product or vintage Seiko may not be really better), they did make cool watches, that can keep time within tight limits for some.

The difficulty is to find full stainless steel vintage pieces. Excluding the Vostok divers, most SS pieces are uncommon or even rare: for example it seems that for dress watches, the SS cases were sourced elsewhere (France?), like in the East German watch industry where SS Gub watches had West German RW cases. The only soviet SS chronos I know are the military ones from the 1980s; the older ones and all civilian ones are AFAIK chrome plated.

Where else can you find a military (i. e., reserved to military personnel) SS chrono for less than 500 bucks?

SpeedyPhill · Mar 21, 2020

Well said and of course there was no marketing nor a Speedmaster hype for these watches...
Lots of wristwatch fans try to collect military wristwatches without having a clue about these stainless steel chronographs used by the military Forces on the other side of the Iron Curtain...
For a tenth of the cost price of a new "13 in a dozen" Omega Speedmaster, one can get an amazing vintage Russian Poljot 3133 chronograph with a rich history as these were used by Russian Air Force pilots, officers and cosmonauts !
.

Braindrain · Mar 21, 2020

Or, get a Russian watch with German pedigree...

Lacazema · Mar 21, 2020

My favorite watch I own is a Russian.

I also love a nice Strela or Sekonda.

SpeedyPhill · Mar 27, 2020

The AK-47 of military wristwatches Vostok Amphibia

ZIELSZIEK · Mar 27, 2020

Not my picture. I'm still on the hunt for one but good examples are hard to come by, even though I happen to live somewhere where Russian watches are very popular. These are powered by a Zenith 135 movement that was improved by the Wostok watch company. There is a rumour going around that they copied the movement but that's false. It was produced under licence from Zenith.
What I find particularly interesting about this watch is the large balance of the movement, due to the indirectly driven minute hand. Plus, you're getting a stellar movement for not a lot of cash.

connieseamaster · Mar 27, 2020

Currently debating picking up a Luch marked for the 1980 Olympics...this thread isn't helping 😝

wagudc · Mar 27, 2020

Near the top of this thread, I tell a story about my interest in the Vostok Amphibia and a bit of history:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/watch-story-thread.111386/

wagudc · Mar 27, 2020

Another related, good thread: https://omegaforums.net/threads/anyone-speaks-russian.94358/

S.H. · Mar 28, 2020

Gratuitous pic of a pretty soviet watch:

Professor · Mar 29, 2020

Odd but according to the Amphibia video the caseback with separate scew down ring is a Russian invention, or at least not based on any non Russian patent. My Midland Swiss made watch has a virtually identical case back and ring. Its also water resistant, but without any indication as to depth limit and is obviously more a dress watch than anything else. One day I must have the gaskets replaced, they are long past their useful life. Other than that the Midland is in remarkably fine condition and accurate to about 2-4 seconds per day.
Possibly the patent for such case backs ran out long before the Amphibia was designed.

S.H. · Mar 29, 2020

Professor
Odd but according to the Amphibia video the caseback with separate scew down ring is a Russian invention, or at least not based on any non Russian patent. My Midland Swiss made watch has a virtually identical case back and ring. Its also water resistant, but without any indication as to depth limit and is obviously more a dress watch than anything else. One day I must have the gaskets replaced, they are long past their useful life. Other than that the Midland is in remarkably fine condition and accurate to about 2-4 seconds per day.
Possibly the patent for such case backs ran out long before the Amphibia was designed.

I may be wrong but the gasket may be the specific part in the Russian system.

You can also search the web for the French bagobloc system (may have been bought by the Russian?):

Professor · Mar 30, 2020

S.H.
I may be wrong but the gasket may be the specific part in the Russian system.

You can also search the web for the French bagobloc system (may have been bought by the Russian?):

Certainly very similar.
The Russian and French versions appear to have relief cuts in the rim, one for the French and two for the Russian. My Midland doesn't have these but otherwise works in exactly the same manner.
The Midland as I said looks to be a dress watch not made for hard use and the components of the case back seem thin and lightweight. High quality metal though.
The watch is very thin and light for a 25 jewel selfwinder.