Buying modded or custom watches.
Recently I've come across an item at local platform about these watches. This is an homage to Vostok NVC-30 issued in 1967 with characterised ear-lugs for Soviet military divers. Vostok have reissued them in collaboration with Meranom in 2017. But that was a chunky boy 42 mm in diameter but about 16,5 thick including domed sapphire crystal. After that Vostok announced that they are not going to reissue this model anymore in any of collaborations. Recently Anton Yaitcky issued NVC-30 homage without collaboration with Vostok (the factory turned the idea down). Thick domed sapphire, 300 m of water resistance, unidirectional clicky bezel, a crown that is not wobbly, sandwich dial, SuperLuminova C3 at hands and indices, 41mm in diameter and 10,5mm thick. The mechanism is Vostok 2415 reassembled and regulated to +-10 seconds a day. Today I can get it for 320$.
My question is – is that proper watchmaking and should anyone go for that. It's purely what homage is, there is no historic value in this watch as it is not made by Vostok. It's kind of a great mod of the watch. What do you think of buying modded watches? Would you buy one?
Relatively inexperienced and humble watch wearer. Not much of a collector. Enjoy the design, engineering and history. 6.7 inch (17 cm) wrist. Love to look for hidden gems, especially in affordable pri...
Quality and reliability will vary a lot. But nothing wrong with the concept.
Personally I prefer stuff I know should last for decades without issues. But some people prefer the more special unique stuff.
For me it would very strongly depend on how well I knew the modder and his work. It could go either way.
For me it would very strongly depend on how well I knew the modder and his work. It could go either way.
He is kind of well known in the Russian watch community and made several customs before like this one
If you like the style, you get that style.
Seems like good value for the amount of work done on it.
lookin back at the specs you gave it sounds like a good deal. i would definitely bought one if i like the design. it is probably better than the original vostok lol
Depends on the make, mod, modder and your personal tastes I suppose. Some folks are mad for Seiko mods. For me I like ones that use old pocket watch movements or, funnily enough, the Eastern European and Russian modders like you mention. This one from a modder on Etsy.
lookin back at the specs you gave it sounds like a good deal. i would definitely bought one if i like the design. it is probably better than the original vostok lol
I love originals as well =)
Depends on the make, mod, modder and your personal tastes I suppose. Some folks are mad for Seiko mods. For me I like ones that use old pocket watch movements or, funnily enough, the Eastern European and Russian modders like you mention. This one from a modder on Etsy.
Seems like a good work. Don't like skeletons though.
Hey, thanks a lot. I am Russian and I know about those engineering novelties in Vostoks. I have nothing against them. It makes the watch much more robust, but realistically a bit less comfortable to operate, that's why it's not always praised in the watch community.
I think it's worth mentioning that Vostok isn't turning out great watches that set some standard modders might not be able to emulate. I think Vostok's are cool, but they aren't great watches. They're very Russian watches. So while I respect that they do more with less, I don't place much value of a watch being sanctioned or produced by them.
I think it's worth mentioning that Vostok isn't turning out great watches that set some standard modders might not be able to emulate. I think Vostok's are cool, but they aren't great watches. They're very Russian watches. So while I respect that they do more with less, I don't place much value of a watch being sanctioned or produced by them.
True. That said, and politics aside, I do like the old hand winding Molijna movements (as opposed to Vostok) - including the new 3603 in their Molnija Green Ray 2.0.
True. That said, and politics aside, I do like the old hand winding Molijna movements (as opposed to Vostok) - including the new 3603 in their Molnija Green Ray 2.0.
If only they could make that movement smaller.
I think it's worth mentioning that Vostok isn't turning out great watches that set some standard modders might not be able to emulate. I think Vostok's are cool, but they aren't great watches. They're very Russian watches. So while I respect that they do more with less, I don't place much value of a watch being sanctioned or produced by them.
Those are really not expensive watches. Even the one that is mentioned in the post is far from being expensive.
Hey, thanks a lot. I am Russian and I know about those engineering novelties in Vostoks. I have nothing against them. It makes the watch much more robust, but realistically a bit less comfortable to operate, that's why it's not always praised in the watch community.
I haven't experienced any uncomfortability except that the metal bracelet that it came with was worthless but I put a nice NATO band on it with the Russian flag colors!
I haven't experienced any uncomfortability except that the metal bracelet that it came with was worthless but I put a nice NATO band on it with the Russian flag colors!
Bracelets are a special topic. They are really bad. Wobbly crown is not always comfortable to use, especially when setting a date.
Not bad looking watch if they offer a good warranty and money back yeah maybe. You don't see those a lot out there you be rolling the dice on that one. And the question pops up What if... Something to consider and willing to do.
Not bad looking watch if they offer a good warranty and money back yeah maybe. You don't see those a lot out there you be rolling the dice on that one. And the question pops up What if... Something to consider and willing to do.
Thanks for the advice. However that one is already gone ))