I finally received my vintage Molnija komadirskie "death to spies"
The watch is supposed to be a vintage original serviced, manufacturing date 1970-1980. I would say it could be because the dial is a bit faded and the movement is stiff. The man who I bought it from on eBay sells other vintage USSR products and Vostok original movements. Any ideas I could specify the exact date it was manufactured? Any ideas? Either way I'm very happy I finally have this price, surprisingly the watch is quite big looks like a pocket watch turned wrist watch.
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Ilja
I'm a fellow student who is into mechanical and automatic movements. My budget for watches isn't great but I hope to with time expand my roster. My main collection piece so far is a certina DS first a...
Prague
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So from what I see, the movement itself might be original, don't know much about the case. Looks like plastic glass, case not sure and the dial seems replaced and not original which explains the faded look
The hands don’t look like anything Vostok has ever equipped their watches with, and their dials were never overtly political like that
Just like in India with HMT, there is an industry in Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union that takes old cases and movements and marries them to fantasy dials. Fantasy dials are too good to be true, both in condition and content.
I think that you are right that this is a converted pocket watch. As such, it is probably a Molnija. I don't think that Vostok ever made a watch that looked like that one. That doesn't mean that it isn't pretty and fun. And it should be sturdy and reasonably accurate.
This is a good place to start when looking at Soviet era watches: https://mroatman.wixsite.com/watches-of-the-ussr/vostok
The hands don’t look like anything Vostok has ever equipped their watches with, and their dials were never overtly political like that
IM sorry my bad, its a molnija komandirskie watch, Molnija was a pocket watch manufacturer and some of these pocket watches to my understanding were modded into wrist wacthes
Just like in India with HMT, there is an industry in Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union that takes old cases and movements and marries them to fantasy dials. Fantasy dials are too good to be true, both in condition and content.
I think that you are right that this is a converted pocket watch. As such, it is probably a Molnija. I don't think that Vostok ever made a watch that looked like that one. That doesn't mean that it isn't pretty and fun. And it should be sturdy and reasonably accurate.
This is a good place to start when looking at Soviet era watches: https://mroatman.wixsite.com/watches-of-the-ussr/vostok
I am sorry i wrote bs in my post, the seller did state it was a molnija watch, i just for some reason in my head connected komandirskie=vostok. From what i gather the watch movement seems to be original and from the 1970-1975. Now from the same sellers i've seen quite a few watches that were either watches themed with the airforce, space travel etc. well basically what vostok does with their dials.
Just like in India with HMT, there is an industry in Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union that takes old cases and movements and marries them to fantasy dials. Fantasy dials are too good to be true, both in condition and content.
I think that you are right that this is a converted pocket watch. As such, it is probably a Molnija. I don't think that Vostok ever made a watch that looked like that one. That doesn't mean that it isn't pretty and fun. And it should be sturdy and reasonably accurate.
This is a good place to start when looking at Soviet era watches: https://mroatman.wixsite.com/watches-of-the-ussr/vostok
So in your opinion, you think that this watch is a modded serviced molnija watch with a fantasy dial? I mean even if its atleast the movement seems to be original, getting it checked now
Just like in India with HMT, there is an industry in Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union that takes old cases and movements and marries them to fantasy dials. Fantasy dials are too good to be true, both in condition and content.
I think that you are right that this is a converted pocket watch. As such, it is probably a Molnija. I don't think that Vostok ever made a watch that looked like that one. That doesn't mean that it isn't pretty and fun. And it should be sturdy and reasonably accurate.
This is a good place to start when looking at Soviet era watches: https://mroatman.wixsite.com/watches-of-the-ussr/vostok
After more digging you are right it is a fantasy watch, oh well atleast it looks fun
Yes so i feel bamboozled now. I should have made more research before buying this "fantasy" watch. I still like it and it looks fun. The movement is original
The hands definitely look re-lumed.
Yes so i feel bamboozled now. I should have made more research before buying this "fantasy" watch. I still like it and it looks fun. The movement is original
I have a fantasy dial HMT. It is fun and keeps great time. I will not be leaving it to anyone in my will, but I will enjoy it.
Soviet era watches are fun to collect. There was a lot of creativity placed into watch design. The movements are well made and reliable. They are accurate enough. However, they were used and used and repaired and parts were replaced. Where you live you may be able to find pristine examples, especially for watches meant for export. When I get them they are battered and imperfect. As an aside, I might avoid Raketa Big 0's. They are mostly frankenwatches sold at a premium. There are many great Raketa, Zim (Podeba), Slava, Vostok,, Poljot, and Chaika to choose from.
Have you considered Prim? They were better watches and should be all over Prague. Everyone's grandfather would have worn one.
That is so cool. What a great piece of history as well.
I have a fantasy dial HMT. It is fun and keeps great time. I will not be leaving it to anyone in my will, but I will enjoy it.
Soviet era watches are fun to collect. There was a lot of creativity placed into watch design. The movements are well made and reliable. They are accurate enough. However, they were used and used and repaired and parts were replaced. Where you live you may be able to find pristine examples, especially for watches meant for export. When I get them they are battered and imperfect. As an aside, I might avoid Raketa Big 0's. They are mostly frankenwatches sold at a premium. There are many great Raketa, Zim (Podeba), Slava, Vostok,, Poljot, and Chaika to choose from.
Have you considered Prim? They were better watches and should be all over Prague. Everyone's grandfather would have worn one.
Yes i am familiar with prim. I focus on collecting vostoks and molnijas, not really know why exactly vostoks but i just really love those watches and how they look
@Aurelian
I found this one on Etsy, and it appears to have the right characteristics (though the dial might be renewed...). There were many pretty bad versions, especially on eBay.
Each time I've worn it, people asked me about it without prompting. In that sense, it is a fun watch at low cost. Like you said, not something to put in the will (unless one of my millennial sons suddenly decides to start wearing watches - I've failed as a father in that regard 😀).
@Small_Floppa , it looks like a fun watch, too. Enjoy!
@Aurelian
I found this one on Etsy, and it appears to have the right characteristics (though the dial might be renewed...). There were many pretty bad versions, especially on eBay.
Each time I've worn it, people asked me about it without prompting. In that sense, it is a fun watch at low cost. Like you said, not something to put in the will (unless one of my millennial sons suddenly decides to start wearing watches - I've failed as a father in that regard 😀).
@Small_Floppa , it looks like a fun watch, too. Enjoy!
I love Big 0's. It is just that the same case, handset, and movement with a different Raketa dial will sell for 25% of what you can find a Big 0 selling for. That design should not work, but it does. Yours looks great.
I have failed as father too. I feel your pain.
@Aurelian
I found this one on Etsy, and it appears to have the right characteristics (though the dial might be renewed...). There were many pretty bad versions, especially on eBay.
Each time I've worn it, people asked me about it without prompting. In that sense, it is a fun watch at low cost. Like you said, not something to put in the will (unless one of my millennial sons suddenly decides to start wearing watches - I've failed as a father in that regard 😀).
@Small_Floppa , it looks like a fun watch, too. Enjoy!
That's a very nice long king watch. Interesting enough my dad got me into watches without him realising it. He gifted me his certina diver because he didn't need it and it just triggered something in me.
I have my scope on some vintage vostoks now, hopefully I won't get scammed, the sellers aren't very genuine sadly :(
someone selling this one in Abu Dhabi too bad I'm too late lol
someone selling this one in Abu Dhabi too bad I'm too late lol
Uh I found fret too much over it. I think get some other fun watches like this on eBay, I've seen on eBay like this but in black variant
YES, I have several Vintage Russian time pieces in my collection.
There are several web sites where you can accurately date your watch by the serial on the movement. I am almost sure, if you go to the manufactors Web site you will find a link, which shows you how to find the exact day, month & Year of the watch.
If like me you don't speak or read Russian, search via Yandex ( Russian search engine) it allows you to convert all Russian sites to your particular Mother Tongue. Very handy for searching on Russian watch sites.
I hope this helps you to find the info on your watch.