I want a Russian watch

mondeo · 13-11-2021 12:14pm #1

I'm looking to get a Russian watch as something abit different then what I am use to. What are Vostok like? I'd like a USSR made watch. Not sure what I am looking at on ebay. Looks like alot of bad condition 1980s USSR watches. They seem cheap enough. What am I looking for ?

Cyclingtourist · 13-11-2021 2:18pm

Vostok make some interesting watches. If you're looking for something from the USSR start with Poljot24.de Raritäten | Poljot 24 .

This is my Komandirski from the late USSR period when they had sold out to the Americans.

Cienciano · 13-11-2021 2:56pm

Watchuseek has a section on russian watches. Thing is, the older ones are cool but because they're cheap, people don't exactly put money into their repair or upkeep. And that's on a fairly roughly made watch in the first place! Etsy has a lot. Ebay is obviously good. Check watchuseek to see if there's specific sellers to look out for. Spend a couple of euros more for a decent seller or you could end up with something that doesn't work in a week.

I have a big zero and a Luch ultra slim (vintage) a raketa big zero (vintage) and a vostok komandirskie (new). Lots of big zeros about with weird looking hands, so check out things like that before you buy. I assume broken ones are ten a penny in russia and people just do the basics to get them running and clean them up which means throw on whatever hands are available.

Interesting thing to browse, there's a lot of terrible looking shít out there! But suppose that's down to the person, i like the big zero, some people hate it.

funkyouup · 13-11-2021 3:07pm

This guy has some lovely Russian watches -

https://www.poljot24.de/

mondeo · 13-11-2021 4:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118160675#Comment_118160675

Thanks I like this !

Hego Damask · 13-11-2021 5:32pm

Wow ... really liking these russian watches, a piece of history!

Lorddrakul · 14-11-2021 10:14am

+1 for starting your Russian watch collection with Poljot24.de

Julian, the man behind it, is a gentleman and a pleasure to deal with.

I would love an original, Soviet Sturmanskie, and a black dial Strela.

The issue is that a lot of them are now franken build with reproduction dials. You'll pay through the nose for something verified as original, €1,000 plus.

One point of note though. The reproduction Strelas now widely available, and from the above, have Sea Gull movements, not Poljot. This is not bad, and I have an ST1903 powered watch in regular use myself, but it isn't Russian

A holy grail for me is the Poljot SS-18, a titanium case Sturmanskie, supposedly made from retired ICBM cases.

If you are going Vostok, I'd recommend looking at the Partner line. Much higher quality than the Amphibias going around at the moment.

Fitz II · 14-11-2021 11:46am

Konstantin Chaykin is russian.

Blanchy90 · 15-11-2021 8:44pm

I have had a good few vintage Vostoks and for the most part they have been good. They're easy to regulate to a good standard with very basic tools.

They definitely have their quirks like the wobbly crown (by design not a fault) and they often take a while to settle after being manhandled by international postage but I'd definitely recommend picking one up.

Starting out I'd go for a cheaper one and stay away from any of the overpriced ones sold as 'zakaz' - military issue. There's plenty of genuine zakaz out there but there's even more frankens.

What style are you thinking of?