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Looking for a simple Russian watch

3K views 35 replies 4 participants last post by  Avenger Fan 
#1 ·
Hi all.

So I'm looking for a simple Russian watch.

Once upon a time my father used to wear a simple watch. No numbers on the blue watch face, and non-pointy hands. That look is really important to me (childhood memories I guess).

Must say that this was bought in the USSR (we lived in the USSR), and I vaguely remember that it might have been a "Vostok".

How much am I looking to spend on something like that now?


Quote this

 
#3 ·
These are pretty simple.

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large.IMG_20170602_191947.jpg.6b305e2508931592506a16fdd8e6ab80.jpg
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All 36mm.

All got numbers though. Possibly, you may find what you're looking for in the used listings on eBay or etsy. Remember to use the worldwide search option for more choice. Also, there are blue dialed Pobeda watches on the same sites.

56227d6ba650f248e4309e86f967a45b--deep-b


They are about as basic as you'll get.
 
#5 ·
The main reason that I bought a Rotary Avenger is because that's the aesthetic that I'm after. It looks almost identical to the watch my dad wore back in the day (most of the 90s)

not sure how to insert an image, but the one I have looks like this: https://www.houseofwatches.co.uk/rotary-mens-avenger-watch-gb02874-05?gclid=Cj0KCQjwxdPNBRDmARIsAAw-TUn5w2WQXrcYX2u8A_bR868XtfeZljJ5YYl3FYot2fmG7R_IRc0QdXAaAu9HEALw_wcB

Thsi isn't quite right, but just out of interest, what do you make of this £30 one from Russia: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RUSSIAN-VOSTOK-MILITARY-KOMANDIRSKIE-WATCH-211289-NEW/252596507216?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3Dc2b25012a8d6449fa6648ae7a0e82e7b%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D253137749554&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507 ?

Cheers

Vlad
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
Standard new Komandirskie from a decent seller who many here have used before. I'd be happy with it, though I'd prefer an automatic.
 
#14 ·
No confusion, I have this one at £48 new

100m, solid crown, auto 32 jewels and slightly wider than my Amphibia.
Ah yes! The new 350 cased Komandirskies. I forgot about them. Very nice watches.

However, the original, cheaper automatic Komandirskies (as linked to on eBay by Avenger) are still 50m, chrome plated brass and the same width as the 420 Amphibia. And the chrome plated crown sucks :D
 
#20 ·
Thanks for your input so far everyone.

The main thing that concerns me is that the faces are plastic and I scratch watches easily. My Rotary Avenger is borosilicate glass and I've managed to scratch it.

What is the model Vostok/komandirskie/amfibia that are glass faced?

Also - what exactly is the difference in the number of stones/jewels? The more the better?

And yes, I'd like it to be 200m water resistant - as every once in a while I shower with my watch on (accidentally) and that's how I trashed my first Avenger. It was returned and refnded under warranty. I got another Avenger on eBay after a thread on here and have been looking after it like the apple of me eye.
 
#21 ·
The acrylic crystals on all Amphibias (apart from a very few special editions) are easily scratched - however the scratches are very easily polished out too. Just buy some "polywatch" and a quick polish will take about 5 minutes. Far better than mineral crystals in my opinion as once you scratch them they're pretty much ruined (Admittedly I prefer sapphire crystals though).

Because an automatic movement is more complex than a manual winding movement, it has more jewels (normally synthetic sapphires or rubies) to eliminate friction in the more moving parts.

Good call on the Amphibia - certainly my favourite :thumbs_up:
 
#22 ·
#23 ·
The main issue with the Amphibia is those bloody watch hands. Why do they have to be such gaudy looking arrows with that big arrow head?

I quite like this: https://meranom.com/en/komandirskie-classic/92/vostok-watch-komandirskie-921289.html especially as the arrow heads are more sedate but we're back to chromed brass and not stainless steel as well as the waterproofing being "standard". Not sure what to do now!
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/vostok-amphibia

Information overload. :laughing2dw:
 
#35 ·
Interesting.

I must say that I have been eyeing up watches on the meranom site, especially ones that are automatic and have a glass back.

There also the 3 handed ones, with a 24 hour hand going round.

I might regret joining this forum and asking these questions when I'm crippled by credit card debt! ;P

Just kidding, so far I've only ordered the amfibia... Maybe another around Xmas...
 
#36 ·
The amfibia finally arrived!

I'm just about to shorten the bracelet length to suit me.

I nearly broke the damn thing when trying to set the date. From the diagram there seems to be a position 3 that from the diagram appears that you have to pull out really far in order to get to. I was trying to get there... It seems that in reality there is no position 3, just positions 1 and 2. The date is set by going through 24 hours or by going from 8 to 12 then back to 8.

Hopefully I didn't damage it by trying to pull so hard on the winding mechanism!
 
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