its strange how soviet union stuff is a fetish for coastal people but you never see much nazi stuff. the soviets murdered more people than the nazis and they are objectively evil. but that detail is simply lost somehow.
Watches from the Soviet Union
31–40 of 65 posts
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#32The 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.
There's an Android app/widget of a 24 hour clockface (complete be with daylight shading) - https://www.f-droid.org/en/packages/info.staticfree.android....
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#33I’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…
"right now" is relative, grand Seiko started in 1967 and the spring drive was invented in the 90s. I think in the age of smartphones, internet and gps time innovation regarding high precision independent time keeping almost stopped.
It's still there, but certainly died down after the invention of quartz time keeping.
My hope is consumers start demanding the availability of parts when buying a high end watch though.
It's a good feeling knowing you can repair that hunk of metal on your wrist, with interest, and a fair amount of study.
(There was a guy in the Navy whos boat was torpedoed by the Japanese during WW2. He, and rest of the crew were stuck on a deserted island. One by one the sailors watches were breaking down. Since he was a Watchmaker in life, he took over repair. At first it was difficult. He then got creative and made small screwdrivers, and even made a lathe. Anyhoo--I thought that was neat. A guy fixing jeweled watches with tools he made himself in that enviornment. I saw the article years ago, but haven't been able to find it again.)
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#34its strange how soviet union stuff is a fetish for coastal people but you never see much nazi stuff. the soviets murdered more people than the nazis and they are objectively evil. but that detail is simply lost somehow.
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Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#35its strange how soviet union stuff is a fetish for coastal people but you never see much nazi stuff. the soviets murdered more people than the nazis and they are objectively evil. but that detail is simply lost somehow.
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yes, exactly. everyone is very quick to point out how evil the united states is. but there is no public reaction about the soviet union in which millions upon millions of people were deliberately murdered. more people than the nazis and the united states. i point out the absence of objectivity when i see it because i am a good citizen.
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#36I have been told the following joke multiple times by former Iron Curtain denizens:
Soviet citizen 1: Look at my new watch! Made right here!
Soviet citizen 2: It's so beautiful, elegant, and small!
Soviet citizen 1 [picking up two large, dense boxes by their handles, one per hand] : Yeah, but these are the batteries it runs on.
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#37I 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.
I have some experiences with few Kiev cameras.
- Kiev rangefinders (2A, 3A) which are the Contax rangefinders copies. Overall they are pretty solid (build-quality wise probably the best, compared to FED/Zorki/...). The lenses are charming, too.
- Kiev 88, which are the Hasselblad copy. Only tried 2 or 3, and all of them have the usual light leak, irregular frame spacings etc issues.
+1 on manufacturing consistency/quality control. Shooting with Soviet cameras is fun when they are working properly. But if you are willing to spend a bit bigger cash, pick Japanese gears instead (Nikon, Bronica, Mamiya etc). Their built quality, overall, are better.
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#38They made some awesome lenses too.
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#39If 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).
I loved the Pebble (RIP), but I got way longer battery life than just 1 week. I now have the Amazfit Bip, and easily get 3-4 weeks of battery life.
Re: Watches from the Soviet Union
#40I have a Soviet marriage watch remade all except the back case and movement in Eastern Europe that has a blindfolded, collared, naked girl face on it. Even my regular, super by-the-book post office lady thought it was awesome.