Complex feelings around my Vostok

Few people know the brand is Russian. Even fewer will get close enough to see the brand on your watch. Certainly don't tell a Democrat where its from but the Republicans would be ok with it. Its just a watch here. 

It's just a watch, it's in no way affiliated with the happenings in eastern Europe currently. Frankly the anti-Russian sentiment that's currently in vogue is baffling. I've heard of people disvowing from reading Tolstoy out of this misplaced anti-Russo rhetoric. And those reports of people pouring perfectly good Russian vodka down the drain... 

Again, it's just a sub $100 dollar watch. Don't think too deeply on it.

Yep... I have 4 and they have stayed in the drawer the last couple months as they have lost their appeal for me.  

I'm hanging on to them in the hopes that the Russian people do the right thing and make changes to their leadership and then I'll feel comfortable wearing them again. 

I can understand the sentiment, but the watch has already been purchased from the company. Nothing you can do now with it matters one iota in regards to the situation in Ukraine. 

If anyone asks about it, it's just a watch you've had for a while. 

I'd wear it according my own sensibilities. (seem like you're alread doing that) 

People who would care to notice what you're wearing (and know what it is), would/should understand why you're wearing it.  

I wear mine just as much as I did before everything happened. 

Ukraine sells them too. Good deal even if it never ships from there.

We know Meranom pretty well. Spain is in fact the second largest market for Soviet/Russian watches after the US. 

We also have a huge back catalogue of Soviet/Russian horology articles. 

https://www.safonagastrocrono.club/category/the-russian-watch-corner/

We've noticed that many here are going through the same experience, to the extent that we've seen big arguments in some watch forums and even WhatsApp watch groups request that images of Russian watches not be shared anymore. 

You have to wear what pleases you, and nobody else. I'm not trying to persuade you either way. But in the same way that wearing a Flieger-style watch doesn't make one a Nazi sympathizer, I wouldn't judge you for wearing a Russian watch. It's just a timepiece. 

I would still get one. Haven't yet......I wonder why I haven't??? Weird

Put it aside for the time being if it's causing conflicted feelings. You'll come back to it.

I looked into buying Vostok, but when I saw their offer there were a lot of USSR and communist iconography, factory set. 

As a person from postsoviet country i couldn't bring myself to buy one of theese. It's same with Sinn for me. I just can't stand by their heritage.

Just enjoy the watch the political problems over there you can't control no one really knows what's going on behind close doors unless you're there.

Well, that's a hard question. I have quite many Russian watches, they are gorgeous and fun. I would like to have the idea of separating the war from wearing these timepieces.

BUT there's always a second thought in me when I put them on. Especially because I live in a country (Hungary) which is considered pro-Russian and getting more and more anti-democratic. Even though I have no friend/family member/ acquaintances who aligns with my country's views, we live here silently and we are minority apparently. I feel shame being Hungarian.

I'm with you - when I look at the russian watches in my collection now I find myself just moving on to something else.  I don't know when (or if) I'll feel like wearing them again.

My feelings also... I own  3 pieces (2 Amphibia and 1 Komandirskie) but its hard to put them on for the moment. I've bought them for the story and the military history behind the brand and ironically the present military events are keeping me from wearing them. Great watches nevertheless, all due respect to the ingenuity and craftmanship behind them that definatelly surpass their price tag.

I have Vostok Scuba Dude and a Komanderski and a vintage Podeba (which came from the Ukraine via ebay and was gifted to me).

Personally I have no issue wearing them.

The vast majority of people won't notice the watch you are wearing. Of the few who do most will not recognise your watch as being Russian and even fewer will care one way or the other.

I feel sympathy in fact for normal Russian people trying to sell their watches in a crashing economy. 

Putin and his cronies are undoubtedly unhinged and fighting an unjust and ill conceived war.

Outside of the narrow confines of the watch enthusiast community what watch you are wearing does not appear on people's radar. 

At the same time if you personally choose to not wear, discard or sell your Russian watches then that is your absolute right and you should not be criticised for it.

A heavy discussion for a hobby but right it should be raised!

Dude ..its just a watch. Life makes its way into all conversations. bruised sensibilities are a recent trend and i hope you find peace somewhere.

I don't get the Sinn part. Sinn was founded in Frankfurt in the early 60s which was a West Germany city. I can't find anything negative regarding that brand. Can you please elaborate as I'm genuinely interested

From what I understand the founder was Luftwaffe veteran. That did this as retirement job :)

Double checked now, yes he took active part in a war as recon Luftwaffe pilot, he participated in Dunkirk as well. 

He got involved in watches when Germany was under no-fly zone enforced by allied forces. 

So yeah wouldn't buy Sinn unfortunately, even though I love some of their designs and tool-like qualities. 

I also try not to buy Bayer and Henkel products etc. 

Agree, if we would have to think about the history of the country that has made every single thing we own we should have to leave everything at home and walk around naked! :P

After really thinking about it for another day, mine have gone from my drawer (where they have stayed for months) to their boxes in my closet. I simply don't like being reminded of the Russian government's atrocities everyday. 

As I mentioned above,  I'm hanging on to them in the hopes that the Russian people do the right thing and make changes to their leadership and then I'll feel comfortable wearing them again (hopefully in support of the Russian people rising up for what is right).

Feel the same.  Have 2 myself and I know they've already been purchased.  Have nothing against the general Russian people but  still would not feel comfortable wearing one. Luckily they're cheap 

I too own an Amphibia and a Kommandirskie. I was deeply saddened by the invasion and felt the same way. This feeling however, was somewhat watered-down by this eye-opening video from I believe, an Indian news agency. It draws some parallelism to events of the Cuban Crisis of the 60's.

https://youtu.be/TzgPJeYZaOU

Your thoughts and conclusions?

My thoughts? I'm still mostly not pulling my Vostok out of the box. Tried it a little bit ago, and took it off before the end of the day. I hope I'll return to my innocent love of my Scuba Dude someday. 

I don't want this to become a political discussion (it's a watch group), but I can't let what I see as dangerous propoganda go uncommented upon. I'm not buying this video's argument that that the West/NATO somehow MADE Russia have to invade Ukraine. My read is that Putin has been clear that he wants to re-establish Russian imperial reach, and never anticipated swift unity from Europe, or significant resistance from Ukraine, or the corruption/tactical under performance of the Russian military - so he thought there would be little price to pay for quickly annexing or decapitating Ukraine. And the idea that somehow alliances are the reason for invading a sovereign country are, IMHO, ridiculous on their face. So those are my thoughts. Not planning to engage on the topic further here. Thanks for your comment. 

I hear you. We all have our take on information we consume. We just have to respect each other and each others opinion. 😉👍

I have one shipping from Ukraine and one from Russia currently... The Ukrainian vintage Albatross will get to me before the Russian Kommandirskie lol

I wish my Spanish was better so I could read your site better instead of just getting the main ideas and relying on Google for the rest!😜

Much appreciated. 

Yes, Google does what it can, but translation can be an art form when done properly.

You can actually find a few articles in English too, over in the "ENGLISH ARTICLES" category.

https://www.safonagastrocrono.club/category/english-articles/

Gracias!

I understand the sentiment.   I feel the same emotions when I buy anything from China.  We feed both of their machines every time we buy anything from either of them.   Do as YOU feel is correct and stand by your convictions.   Answers are rarely all or nothing.