There's bound to be someone around here that knows the score on these... from my own googling, it would appear that the one I'm after (a Gagarin) is either a 15 or 17j movement, depending on who you ask. And that they both have red second hands, but differ in the crown and internal movement markings (as well as the additional 2 jewels)

What is immediately clear from searching for one is just how many 'fakes' or made up watches are out there. I've seen some 15j movements with 17j parts - and some with completely different movements from what I'm lead to believe it should be! It's a minefield,

Am on a hiding to nothing here? Should I just look into a replica, or do good originals actually still exist amongst all the dross?

And where on earth should I look? eBay doesn't turn up many that look appealing or legit...

 

I went down this road once...These are the 2 links I had saved in regards to this.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f54/ev...anskie-15-jewel-17-jewel-version-1063349.html
and
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f54/spotting-original-15-jewel-sturmanskie-tammo-23013.html

 

It sounds like you're still having flashbacks...

"I seen things, man - I SEEN THINGS YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE!"

 

There's three here that's caught my eye. I think the first is the best of the bunch, but not sure if the crown is correct. The second the crown is definitely wrong according to the links provided by @Foo2rama.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232143779857?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:ITPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232275487767?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:ITPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192046682985?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:ITPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

I went down that path looking to do a watch in space collection. Since that is sometimes considered the first I thought I'd look into it. I ended up throwing up my hands as they are not documented that well. Plus all the eBay junk.

Another bad rabbit hole is 50th Submariners. Aka the Kermit on eBay.... scary

 

I remember seeing something on the interwebs about reproductions of these being made at the moment. I believe someone in Germany is spruiking them.

 

Well, I put an offer in on the first one, and he accepted it. So I'm now the owner of it... first order of business will be a new bund, as the one it's on looks awful.