I’m not a proper “watch guy,” because I don’t have the money for it, but I’ve built up a little connection of Soviet mechanical watches, several of them space-themed. It’s a really fun way to dip into that hobby.
It’s kind of you to ask. I never get to show them off. Here are some so-so photos in an album. I ordered custom bands for each–that was my “customization/personalization.” All less than $100 (probably with bands included, even). I like how they’ve turned out, so far:
The first one is a Sputnik watch (the letters on the gold center part spell Sputnik in Cyrillic and the little Sputnik spins), the second is a Raketa Moonphase (they have tons of cool color options throughout the years). The third is from 1975, commemorating the Apollo-Soyuz-19 collaborative mission or “space handshake.” The fourth is not space-themed, but is, I believe supposed to be based on a Soviet tank operator’s watch(?), but I’m not totally sure on it, as it’s listed elsewhere as a Gagarin pilot’s watch. It’s an old Soviet one, not one of the reissues they’ve started offering Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of the movements, but they’re really cool, some have visible rubies and whatnot.
I’m also not a proper “watch guy”. I have one watch I wear daily and two vintage watches that don’t run very well and I don’t have the $$ to repair so they sit in a drawer.
Soviet watches are a great rabbit hole. Thankfully, I’ve managed to stay on the sidelines for the most part. I do have a CCCP automatic that will only keep time for more than one day if I wind it, but that’s it. There are a whole bunch of interesting designs out there though.
I’m not a proper “watch guy,” because I don’t have the money for it, but I’ve built up a little connection of Soviet mechanical watches, several of them space-themed. It’s a really fun way to dip into that hobby.
deleted by creator
It’s kind of you to ask. I never get to show them off. Here are some so-so photos in an album. I ordered custom bands for each–that was my “customization/personalization.” All less than $100 (probably with bands included, even). I like how they’ve turned out, so far:
https://imgur.com/a/j2HNL9j
The first one is a Sputnik watch (the letters on the gold center part spell Sputnik in Cyrillic and the little Sputnik spins), the second is a Raketa Moonphase (they have tons of cool color options throughout the years). The third is from 1975, commemorating the Apollo-Soyuz-19 collaborative mission or “space handshake.” The fourth is not space-themed, but is, I believe supposed to be based on a Soviet tank operator’s watch(?), but I’m not totally sure on it, as it’s listed elsewhere as a Gagarin pilot’s watch. It’s an old Soviet one, not one of the reissues they’ve started offering Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of the movements, but they’re really cool, some have visible rubies and whatnot.
deleted by creator
I’m also not a proper “watch guy”. I have one watch I wear daily and two vintage watches that don’t run very well and I don’t have the $$ to repair so they sit in a drawer.
Soviet watches are a great rabbit hole. Thankfully, I’ve managed to stay on the sidelines for the most part. I do have a CCCP automatic that will only keep time for more than one day if I wind it, but that’s it. There are a whole bunch of interesting designs out there though.