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Watches from the Soviet Union

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Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#21

Post by stevekemp »

ttesttom wrote: post #20
stevekemp wrote: post #5

If you like Soviet watches you'll probably enjoy this index of movements: https://17jewels.info/ I collect mechanical watches and have a fair number of vintage Soviet watches in my collection - Rateka, Vostok, Poljot, etc. Cheap, reliable, and often with striking designs. (Today's watch is a Poljot - Russian: Полёт, literally meaning "flight", is a brand of Soviet/Russian wristwatches, produced since 1964 by the Firs…

Any recommendations for where to purchase these vintage watches? I've always thought they were beautiful but never sure where to find legitimate sellers (despite googling a bit)

One of the biggest sites is chrono24.com, which is essentially ebay for watches. The majority of sellers will use the site's integrated escrow system so there's little risk of somebody failing to ship.

To get started just enter "soviet vintage" into the search-box. Once you have some results click on "Filter" and you get the option to set "Location: European Union", "Max Price: €100", etc.

There are a lot of regional variations, so I use chrono24.fi, for example. But the content is the same - I think it's just the default location and currency that changes based on TLD.

The site has been around for many years and is well-regarded, but even so I don't think I've ever paid more than €1000 for a watch there. Just in case.

Edit: Main thing to pay attention to are the dimensions of the watch. Watches from the 40s-80s tended to be smaller. So you'll find diameters of 34mm, 36mm, etc. Most people prefer larger watches these days. For me 36mm-42mm is fine, but that's because I have thin wrists. But I know looking at photos can be misleading in terms of diameter/dimensions so read the details.

Edit #2: This is what I'm wearing today, which cost me around €70 - https://tinyurl.com/dd7bnthx

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#22

Post by dieselerator »

There is a discussion forum on the topic of Russian watches, including one dedicated to photos of the various brands and models.

Russian watches https://www.watchuseek.com/forums/russian-watches.10/>

Russian Watches Image Gallery https://www.watchuseek.com/forums/image-gallery.97/>

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#23

Post by ttesttom »

stevekemp wrote: post #21
ttesttom wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any recommendations for where to purchase these vintage watches? I've always thought they were beautiful but never sure where to find legitimate sellers (despite googling a bit)

One of the biggest sites is chrono24.com, which is essentially ebay for watches. The majority of sellers will use the site's integrated escrow system so there's little risk of somebody failing to ship. To get started just enter "soviet vintage" into the search-box. Once you have some results click on "Filter" and you get the option to set "Location: European Union", "Max Price: €100", etc. There are a lot of regional…

Awesome, this is very helpful! I know where i will be spending the next few hours : ) Very much appreciated!

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#24

Post by germinalphrase »

diab0lic wrote: post #3

I’ve got a Poljot de luxe that was made for export (English text on the dial) from the 70s. I am pretty impressed with it on the overall - for the time it’s very thin, reasonably accurate and has an elegant timeless look to it. > He believes that mechanical watches were created by the best minds of 18th and 19th centuries. "Many modern watchmakers admit that we will never match them," he adds I think there is some pr…

There used to be more HAQ watches. Radio sync and gps seems to have taken the wind of their sails a bit. Too bad. I would love a new Seiko SBCM023 dive watch (but secondhand market prices are outrageous).

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#26

Post by throwawayboise »

throwaway12319 wrote: post #18

The 24 hour dial watches are wonderful. The hour dial really gives a more visceral feeling of the passage of time, much like a sundial. https://24hourtime.info/

Thanks for posting that... I've always sort of idly wanted a 24-hour analog watch. I have my phone set to 24 hour time representation because it has eliminated the problem of me setting a meeting or alarm for 9pm when I meant 9am.

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#27

Post by wdb »

Yeah, I still want a Soviet Union watch. There also some old Chinese Seagull watches that look great. I have a small collection of watches (only have 19). They sparkle joy :) I have a Apple Watch (1st gen) but never really liked it I keep going back to the mechanical watches.My latest addition is the gorgeous 1815 Moonphase

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#28

Post by supernova87a »

I don't know if it applies to Soviet watches, but somewhere I read that the problem with Soviet cameras (Kiev, fake Hasselblad etc.) was not the design but the consistency of the manufacturing and quality control. On certain days/shifts you could get an amazing machine, on others, total crap.

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#29

Post by Fnoord »

stevekemp wrote: post #5

If you like Soviet watches you'll probably enjoy this index of movements: https://17jewels.info/ I collect mechanical watches and have a fair number of vintage Soviet watches in my collection - Rateka, Vostok, Poljot, etc. Cheap, reliable, and often with striking designs. (Today's watch is a Poljot - Russian: Полёт, literally meaning "flight", is a brand of Soviet/Russian wristwatches, produced since 1964 by the Firs…

A Pebble can go on for a week (longer without smart features enabled). My smartwatch, Fossil Hybrid HR, works for 2 weeks with smart features enabled. They go automatically off with < 10% battery, after which the watch still functions (I would prefer the option to put the smart features off, as well as bluetooth).

Re: Watches from the Soviet Union

#30

Post by hellbannedguy »

diab0lic wrote: post #3

I’ve got a Poljot de luxe that was made for export (English text on the dial) from the 70s. I am pretty impressed with it on the overall - for the time it’s very thin, reasonably accurate and has an elegant timeless look to it. > He believes that mechanical watches were created by the best minds of 18th and 19th centuries. "Many modern watchmakers admit that we will never match them," he adds I think there is some pr…

I was getting impressed with Seiko. They used to be reasonably priced, and ordering parts was easy. They even used to sell parts to customers.

They joined the others (Rolex, and The Swatch Group), and drastically raised prices. Parts are not even available to Independant Watchmakers anymore.

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