Wostok (clocks)
The Russian watch factory Vostok ( Russian Восток "East", "Orient") was founded in 1942 on the orders of Josef Stalin and is now located in the city of Chistopol 800 km east of Moscow . The relocation of the Second Moscow Watch Factory became necessary in the course of the Second World War due to the approaching Wehrmacht troops .
Since then, Vostok has been one of the official suppliers to the Russian and former Soviet armies. After the end of the Second World War, wristwatches were manufactured in addition to on-board clocks for airplanes, tanks and submarines. Until recently, however, these were only available in special stores exclusively for military personnel.
The best-known models are the Vostok Komandirskije (German: Commander), which has been manufactured since 1962, and the Vostok Amphibia since 1968, which were mainly supplied as men's wristwatches to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation . Corresponding models are marked “ЗАКАЗ МО СССР” on the dial.
clockwork
The movements are based on modified Swiss Valjoux - calibers in duty structure. The automatic calibers bring it to a weight of over 50 grams due to their flywheel. There are also anti-magnetic models in which the balance wheel is shielded by a shell made of soft iron. The screw-down crown of the waterproof watch case is characteristic . The watch bottom is also screwed and consists of two parts. The actual cover is screwed together with a ring onto a rubber seal by means of a thread. For the Amphibia models, this should ensure water resistance up to a depth of 200 meters.
The Wostok automatic caliber 2416 is widely used. This mechanical movement has 31 jewels , shock protection , a power reserve of 31 hours, a ball-bearing rotor and an escapement . The balance wheel oscillates at 19,800 vibrations per hour.
The hand-wound caliber from Vostok No. 2414 is now less produced. It has 17 jewels, lever escapement, 19,800 vibrations per hour, shock protection, date display and a central second. The power reserve is 43 hours when fully wound.
Appearance
The vast majority of both the old and new dials feature military motifs. Nevertheless, there were and still are civil and advertising motifs not only from Soviet companies. The housing shapes were also subject to the change of time and availability, as these were not manufactured by Wostok itself. At times, plastic was also used for the watch cases.
Fakes
The popularity of Soviet watches has also brought counterfeiters to the scene. Typical differences to the originals are mostly a crown that is too small and a one-piece base with a plastic seal. The following pictures each show an original Vostok compared to a fake.
Original on the left, forgery on the right
Original on the left, forgery on the right
Original on the left, forgery on the right
Web links
- Official Website (Russian)