Is it wrong for me to be eyeballing this?

no, you are not wrong to like this and potentially grabbing it. Life's too short to worry about other people, f'em......Go for it and enjoy it. 

I am just not sure if there will likely be delays in delivery or if they would deliver at all given the current situation. 🤔

It might take some time to get, but most things do these days. As for the morality of it, I have no reason to believe Russia is bankrolling their war effort with Vostok cash, so I think it’s fine. 

Last time I looked, there were a lot of these going cheap on eBay.  Not sure I would buy one from a seller in Ukraine though.  Likely still has the DNA of its former owner....

I don't think you are wrong. I ordered my Komanderski from Meranom the first week of the invasion and it actually arrived quicker than the scuba dude I had ordered some months previously. Just over a week I think to the UK.

It may take a lot longer now though and have prices gone up?

why not? the only thing that you should consider is just the quality. i heard the crown is too wobly, but i never experienced it for myself

Can’t say I’m personally a fan of the Soviet/Russian aesthetic, but if it appeals to you and your conscience doesn’t bother you buying one, it’s your decision.

The wobbly crown is a feature that is supposed to offer additional protection. There is a trick to winding them, but it is not prone to breakage. I have both an Amfibia and a Komandirskie in my collection and they are both good, reliable watches.

As far as the ethics of buying a Vostok watch currently, I see no problem with it. As @thekris pointed out, there is no evidence of Vostok engaging in any sort of war-profiteering.

I am reticent to comment on this hotbed. I must say though...that I really enjoy my Amphibia and all of its quirks...including its distinctively-wobbly crown.

Wy would you put any money into Russia at the moment when they are attacking a neighbouring sovereign nation?buy vintage watches by all means but 

Looking at the UK sellers, it's likely the stocks were already here.  The money likely went into Russia long before before Russia went The Full Tonto.  

Simply put, no, not wrong. Especially if not being purchased new. 

I just picked one up on eBay from Ukraine. Estimated it will take a month to arrive. If I don't get it, oh well. Donation to folks that need it..

Any money sent into the Russian economy helps the Russian economy.  The whole point of sanctions is to destroy their economy so as to destroy their ability to pay for war-making materials.  Don't help fund the enemy state.

Before the naked barbaric invasion of Ukraine, I would have said sure. Now I cannot condone any purchase of a product made in Russia. IMHO, doing so supports war crimes pure and simple. Politics and consumerism integrating is a long tradition so bycotting Russian products is a proper response. 

oww, thx for the insight sir 🙏🏻

I wouldn't buy a Russian watch now because I know that I would be funding Putin and his lackeys indirectly.

All I’m going to say is that buying a Vostok most likely will not even make a dent in the “funding“ for Russia‘s war effort. if people don’t want to for moral reason all the power to them. but watches are not political symbols. they are a means to keep time, and for some be fashionable. if you want it that’s ip to you. my biggest worry about ordering from someplace like meranom would be the potential import issues. but I’ll also say I’ve dealt with Dmitry prior to the war. and he’s a stand up guy from what I can tell. So I’m the end it’s really up to you.

I would try to buy from a seller in Ukraine. I can't vouch for this site, only that it purports to be in Ukraine. I did no research so proceed with appropriate skepticism.

https://sovietwatchstore.com/index.php/faqs/

Don't tell your wife.

I understand the argument on both sides. Personally in the last few years I look at a few factors when buying whatever. I would not buy clothes if they were made in a sweatshop in a poor country where the workers are exploited. I would not buy tuna from a firm that did not fish responsibly. Its incredibly hard to find out factual information, and no doubt I make many mistakes along the way. I would not buy a Russian watch as I want to send my own personal message. I have no doubt that to do so would probably make no difference whatsoever to the Russian war effort, as mentioned by others. It is just that when I can I ty to make a miniscule, but meaningful to me, informed decision on what I buy.

Russia is too many miles (or kilometers) away to have a right to cancel a credit card charge, unless the issuer does it as a matter of grace and eats the loss (Banks love to do that. 0___0)  And this assumes the sanctions barring Russia from the international banking system do not entirely block using a credit card.  I suppose you could send cash and threaten to sue if the watch never shows or is defective.   Tell us how it turns out. 

Why don't you just buy a vintage Vostok. That way you don't have to justify it? I think it would leave bad taste if I wore a Vostok now.. It's not the russians, but Putin that's the problem. But still

Everyone denouncing Vostok most likely has a Chinese-made watch in one way or another.. 

Interesting discussion - economic decisions based on moral views of the behavior of individuals or sovreign states. In today's "cancel culture", I find many who take a passionate position on certain grounds end up being inadvertant hypocrites when looking at their behavior holistically. For example, should Harry and Meghan help people to understand the impact of behavior on climate change - sure - but then to use private jets, private car services, and do many discretionary things that contribute to climate change smacks of hypocrisy.

Search yourself and assess. The fact you ask the question, likely means you have some misgivings about making the purchase. In that case, I would hold off.

I may have missed it in this thread, but did anyone bring up that just wearing products that are distinctly Russian helps to support Russia. Don't get me wrong - I'm hearting all the Vostoks I see in the WRUW, just making a point that you can take this pretty far if you are serious about making a political/moral statement against Russia.

BTW - Omega uses Russian gold in their watches. That is why the MoonShine Gold Speedmaster has been pushed back from manufacturing. Omega is not presently able to purchase the specific Russian gold needed to make the watches and bracelets.

I do not intend on offloading my Vostoks and I have no concern about wearing them. I do not approve of Russia invading Ukraine, but let's face it - this isn't Russia's first aggression against a sovreign state under Putin's leadership - can you say Transnistria, Abkhazia, Chechnia, Georgia, and Crimea for some quick examples.

Hence why I’ll buy off of Mercari, there’s a few on there that are “pre-war” as it were. Also, Amazon ceased all business activities in Russia as of 10 March, so there’s a very good possibility that their stock was acquired before Feb 24… esp as some variants are completely out of stock now.

We all have our different opinions of right or wrong depending on information made available to us or otherwise. We are free to have our own take on the matter. In the end what is important is RESPECT! 👊

Well I received my vostok 2 days before the little man tried starting WW3,oh the timing of that purchase,but since the war began I haven't worn it. I know its not going to make the slightest difference, but I just won't out of respect to what's happening. I did get it 2nd hand off ebay here in the UK so hopefully the moneys gone to fund shall we say a more 'ethical' purchase, I say ethical in a loose sense as to what is an ethical purchase nowadays, I'm just as concerned about China to be honest,but no chance of not having anything that's not in part chinese,here in Europe Russia is our concern and China is far far away and someone else's concern but maybe not for long. Its great to see this discussion brought up and it shows we are thinking about the wider world and whats happening ,so good stuff.

The first time I wore my scuba man to a work meeting. Someone one asked me about it. I got out, "it's a Russian brand." Suddenly I go "ohh's"😱. Luckily, I don't care what other's think. Wear what you like. It don't matter what other's opinions are. 

Buy and be damned……

1. if we all purchased or avoided watches manufactured in certain countries with blood on their hands…..then we would have small collections. I won’t belabour the obvious parallel but we wouldn’t be driving around in many cars either.

I placed an order for a Vostok Amphibia in early March and a few upgrade bracelets but I still haven’t received anything (I’m in Australia). It’s no fault on the Vostok retailers that Putin is a crazed dictator, so order if you like the watches. Just be aware that orders can be massively delayed or go missing  with the current shipping restrictions.