Planning to get a Vostok GMT Diver
I'm fairly new to the watch enthusiast world. And I'm interested in the Vostok Komandirskie K-65 GMT. It's currently in my online shopping cart and I plan on getting one in the next six months.
Any advice for a newbie? What should I look out for?
I'm looking at this particular Vostok as my first diver's watch and first GMT watch.
I already have:
- an Orient dress watch
2. a Seiko 5 "Pogue"-style as my everyday office watch
3. a Casio laptimer as my chronograph/runner's watch
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Leaving aside the geopolitics involved with picking up a Vostok in 2022, you should know that Vostok’s GMT isn’t really a GMT. That GMT hand is slaved to the hour hand and isn’t independently adjustable. As such, it will only ever show the 24 hour equivalent of the local hour hand and is more of an AM/PM indicator than anything else. Only the fact that the bezel rotates (friction by the way, no clicks) allows the GMT hand to be used to track a second time zone.
You’re probably better served by picking up something with an NH34 in it at this point.
Leaving aside the geopolitics involved with picking up a Vostok in 2022, you should know that Vostok’s GMT isn’t really a GMT. That GMT hand is slaved to the hour hand and isn’t independently adjustable. As such, it will only ever show the 24 hour equivalent of the local hour hand and is more of an AM/PM indicator than anything else. Only the fact that the bezel rotates (friction by the way, no clicks) allows the GMT hand to be used to track a second time zone.
You’re probably better served by picking up something with an NH34 in it at this point.
Any other issues other than it being not a "true" GMT?
That's the thing I actually like that its "GMT" hand is actually a 24 hour hand. Yes, I know it's "GMT" function can only be used using its bezel.
It's a fun watch. It's a also a Vostok and therefore there are some chances that you will get a unit with a faulty movement, which is what happened to me.
Other negatives are the lume, which can if we are generous can be called "weak" and that Vostok's movements usually don't hack.
Go for it,its a chunky brutal looking thing that's different from the norm. It's got a movement that's been on the go for nearly 70 years so some real history,plexi glass crystal, which is tough but will scratch but a tube of polywatch and a cloth will sort that out, might have the quirky wobbly crown when you pull it out for adjusting the time but that's the design,great shaped case. Downside is you might get a bad movement, a lot of QC issues,you either get a good one or a dog,so make sure whoever you purchase it from has a good return/ refund policy. And they're a bit tall and the straps are only 20mm width. But if you can live that go for it. They're not too expensive and if you get a good one it will be a gem,different from the rest and a watch that will hopefully last for many years.
My reef gmt, love it. Only issue I've had is slight fogging up in sub zero temps,but timekeeping and everything else,great. Oh yes the geopolitics (mind you I got mine the day before madman invaded Ukraine, now there's 'timing' for you).
Go for it,its a chunky brutal looking thing that's different from the norm. It's got a movement that's been on the go for nearly 70 years so some real history,plexi glass crystal, which is tough but will scratch but a tube of polywatch and a cloth will sort that out, might have the quirky wobbly crown when you pull it out for adjusting the time but that's the design,great shaped case. Downside is you might get a bad movement, a lot of QC issues,you either get a good one or a dog,so make sure whoever you purchase it from has a good return/ refund policy. And they're a bit tall and the straps are only 20mm width. But if you can live that go for it. They're not too expensive and if you get a good one it will be a gem,different from the rest and a watch that will hopefully last for many years.
My reef gmt, love it. Only issue I've had is slight fogging up in sub zero temps,but timekeeping and everything else,great. Oh yes the geopolitics (mind you I got mine the day before madman invaded Ukraine, now there's 'timing' for you).
What's model name and the lug to lug of that Reef GMT of yours? That looks very cool. Might get that one instead if it fits me and within the same price range as the Komandirskie.
It's 48mm lug to lug, don't know wether you can still buy it as i think they stopped this model over a year ago. You might get one off ebay. Think they were about £250 new, it's got the good old movement in it but with mineral glass and no wobbly crown, it's an amfibia reef,have a look on the web,they used to do this one gmt and a non gmt version,like I said I'm sure it's a discontinued model but you might get one off ebay or similar sites. Good luck and whatever you get do a post on here, love to see a vostok👍