Vostok Watches: the Stars of Soviet Vintage | Vintage Watch Inc (2024)

Vostok is part of the legendary trio of Soviet watch brands, along with Raketa and Poljot. These three account for a significant share of all vintage timepieces sold online and feature many iconic models.

Vostok (BOCTOK means “east” in Russian), sometimes spelled as Wostok, is closely linked to the Russian military sector. Not only because Vostok watches were supplied to the troops, but also considering how this brand came to be.

Table of Contents

History of Vostok watches

1941. The German army invades the Soviet Union and quickly approaches the capital. Watch factories located in Moscow have at that point shifted their production from civil watches to munitions, specifically fuses and timers. Consequently, they are considered as important military assets. In October 1941, the situation is critical and on the 15th the decision is taken to relocate key industries out of Moscow to prevent the useful equipment from falling into enemy hands.

The Second Moscow Watch Factory (2MWF) is one of the concerned plants. The machinery and 488 workers are evacuated to Kazan (720 km east of Moscow) by rail. From there, equipment was moved on barges to the small town of Chistopol, some 140 km away from Kazan. Chistopol is located on the Kama river, connected with Volga, so it made sense to use water transport even though both rivers froze during the winter, which delayed the relocation.

The Chistopol Watch Factory (or Factory 835 – its code name during the WW2), staffed with specialists from the 2MWF and with local people (some of them are just 15 years old, as older men are all in the army), started producing military equipment in spring 1942. In particular, the plant developed and manufactured delay-action mines and devices to monitor aircraft fuel consumption.

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When the Battle of Moscow was over, part of the equipment was returned to Moscow. However, Chistopol Watch Factory continued to be active. After the war (1949-1950), it produced the extremely popular wristwatches “Pobeda”, among other equipment. The first watches under the brand Vostok were produced in 1957. Finally, in 1965, the factory became the official supplier of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1969, “Vostok” was incorporated in the factory name: it became Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok” and remains a full-fledged watch factory nowadays.

Iconic Vostok watches

Vostok Komandirskie

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During the period when the Vostok factory was the official supplier of watches for the Ministry of Defense, the famous Komandirskie (Командирские: in Russian, commander’s) watches were created, characterized by their increased durability and water-resistant case.

These watches were sold to the military with the inscription “Ordered by the Ministry of Defense of the USSR” (Заказ МО СССР) exclusively through Voentorg stores, which catered solely to military personnel with identification. This exclusiveness made this model really popular and even now it is much sought-after by watch collectors especially considering its under-$100 price tag.

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Vostok Komandirskie were made in different cases and sported different dial designs throughout the years. In late 80s, military budgets were significantly cut which reduced the number of Komandirskie watches purchased by the ministry. The Vostok factory reacted by introducing additional models of Komandirskie in more modern cases and featuring dial designs with a strong military flavor (tanks, U-boats…).

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At the same time, additional model names were introduced such as Generalskie (general’s), Admiralskie (admiral’s), etc. These watches no longer carried the Zakaz inscription because they were not commissioned by the Ministry of Defense.

Vostok Amphibian

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After many years of trial and error the Vostok factory created what was to be considered one of the greatest contributions to Russian watches, it was Russia’s first reliable 200m dive watch called Vostok Amphibian.

It was the experience of developing the Komandirskie watches which allowed the Chistopol technicians to manufacture the Vostok Amphibian. The watches designers and creators were Mikhail Novikov and Vera Belova, the two chief engineers employed at Vostok in the 60s. Their goal was to come up with a sturdy dive watch that could compete with the likes of Fifty Fathoms or the Rolex Submariner.

Obviously, Novikov and Belova couldn’t just copy Blancpain or Rolex, so everything had to be developed from scratch. A special technology for glass had to be designed and special rubber manufactured.

After many years of work the Vostok Amphibian was created. It had a particular screw-down crown and a 3mm thick, uniquely shaped acrylic crystal. The case was made of unique stainless steel for which a specific technical standard (GOST) was introduced. The way Amphibian worked was not necessarily by keeping moisture out of the watch by creating a static environment like other divers but instead it used the pressure of the ocean to compress the watch in order to firmly choke any leak-points.

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The Amphibian is the real bestseller among all Vostok watches. The number of cases and dial combinations is beyond imagination, and you’ll see plenty for sale at any given time. Among popular models, we can mention the “swing lugs” Amphibian, the Desert Shield, the octagonal case Amphibian with a Sniper dial, the Radio Room, the NVCH-30 or the barrel case Sector dial.

Vostok Factory Today

As with most Russian watch factories, the fall of the USSR had taken a great toll on the production of watches leading most of them to bankruptcy, but the problems were slow to reach the Vostok factory. In the 1990’s the factory kept producing watches and exporting them to the United States and to Europe. It also helped the military with certain electrical engineering, feats and tests.

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Despite the economic difficulties Russia was facing, at the turn of the 21st century, the Vostok factory was still in large-scale production. The factory launched a line of 1940s-style replicas called the Kirovskie K-43 collection while also began producing a “luxury” line of watches called Kremlevskie. Both lines were made of stainless steel, produced in limited quantities, and aimed toward a wealthier consumer. In 2001 the Chistopol factory was proud to receive the Russian National Olympus Award in the Technology category for their work.

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Although the factory was declared bankrupt in 2010, production continued and is still going strong. New models are regularly being introduced. Furthermore, one of the official distributors – Meranom – regularly comes up with limited editions that are very successful among watch aficionados, such as the Neptune SE.

Further reading : detailed articles about Vostok watches

Vostok Watches: the Stars of Soviet Vintage | Vintage Watch Inc (9)

Vintage Watch Inc

Dennis is the founder and editor of Vintage Watch Inc. Passionate about Soviet and Japanese vintage timepieces and a finance professional by day, he proudly wears a Seiko Pogue with his suit.

Vostok Watches: the Stars of Soviet Vintage | Vintage Watch Inc (2024)

FAQs

Are Vostok watches any good? ›

Is Vostok Amphibia a good watch? Yes – it's an affordable automatic watch with iconic dive watch history and it's available in many different case styles and dial colors. Most other brands would struggle to compete with what Vostok is offering.

Are Vostok watches still made in Russia? ›

Are Vostok watches still made in Russia? Yes, they are – while some parts may be sourced from Asia, the majority of the fabrication and crafting still takes place in Russia.

Is Vostok Russian or Ukrainian? ›

Vostok Watch Makers, Inc.

(Russian: Восток; literally meaning "East") is a Russian watchmaker based in Chistopol, Tatarstan, Russia. The company produces mainly rugged military and amfibia mechanical watches. It also makes clocks and watch movements for other watch brands.

Why are Russian watches so cheap? ›

According to one expert, by the '50s and '60s its production was only outpaced by Switzerland. Given their ubiquity and their simplicity, and the general lack of interest by most collectors compared to European-made watches, they can be found easily and cheaply online.

What is the most respectable watch brand? ›

Here are the top picks:
  • Best Watch Brands Overall: Omega, Rolex, Tag Heuer.
  • Best Affordable Watch Brands: Swatch, Timex, Citizen.
  • Best Expensive Watch Brands: Patek Philippe, Cartier.
  • Best Smartwatch Brands: Samsung, Apple.
  • Best Watch Brands For Men: Panerai, Shinola, Seiko.
  • Best Watch Brands For Women: Hermès, Breda.
Mar 7, 2023

Are there fake Vostok watches? ›

Not working – A common thing with fake Vostok and other Russian watches is the fact they'll arrive dead and not work at all. Most Russian watches take a bit of use to get them started, this is done by either movement or winding, but a fake will not do anything. E.

What watches are worn by Putin? ›

Vladimir Putin with FP Journe Chronometre Bleu 1304CS​​

He also owns a vintage Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5039J in 18k yellow gold with a hobnail bezel. The market price is around $38,000.

What make of watch does Putin wear? ›

The timepiece most commonly associated with the Russian president is the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Up/Down. Putin is frequently seen wearing the platinum version of this iconic watch, presented on a 36mm case finished with a black alligator strap.

What is the best Vostok watch? ›

Summary: The Vostok Komandirskie is one of the best wristwatch values on the planet. It's a solid, highly regarded and very collectible watch that's nearing its 50-year anniversary.

What does Vostok stand for? ›

Vostok (Russian: Восток, translated as "East") was a class of single-pilot crewed spacecraft built by the Soviet Union.

What does the name Vostok mean? ›

First recorded in 1961, Vostok is from the Russian word Vostók literally, east.

What is Vostok famous for? ›

Vostok is the Antarctic research base founded by the Soviet Union in 1957. Even though the US has bragging rights to a research base at the South Pole, the (now) Russian base at Vostok is much more important scientifically. First of all it sits over one of the thickest (>4km) portions of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

What kind of watch did Stalin wear? ›

Pobeda (Russian: Победа, Victory) is a Russian brand of wrist-watches owned by the Petrodvorets Watch Factory "Raketa". The brand name was chosen by Stalin himself in April 1945, when he gave the order that the first watches be ready for the 1st year of Victory celebration.

What is the Russian equivalent of Rolex? ›

According to their site, Vostok “is the only watch company in Russia that produces watch mechanisms and mechanical watches… [The name] 'Vostok' indicates compliance with European standards of quality and Russian values.” (My translation).

What watch do the Russian military wear? ›

Classic Vostok model made by the official supplier of the Defense Department of the Soviet Union and modern Russian Army.

What is the most sold watch of all time? ›

The Most Popular Watches in the World Are the Rolex Submariners. So, the most popular watches in the world based on the search number on Google are the Rolex Submariners.

What watch is better than a Rolex? ›

RESALE VALUE: Patek Philippe's watches are known to either hold their value or even appreciate over time. Patek Philippe has one of the highest resell values among its competitors with the exception of Rolex. So there is much truth to their campaign slogan, it's an accurate description of their products.

How much is the cheapest Rolex? ›

How much is the cheapest Rolex? The cheapest Rolex for women is the Oyster Perpetual Reference 276200 that costs $5,300 MSRP. For the men is the Oyster Perpetual Reference 126000 at $5,800 MSRP.

What is the most faked watch? ›

The most common fake luxury watches

For watch brands, Rolex is easily the most faked manufacturer out there. You can find a cheap Submariner replica in just about every market from London to Bangkok and everywhere in between. Rolex Submariner, one of THE most copied watches.

Does Vostok ship to the US? ›

Free Shipping Worldwide for all items. We will ship worldwide free. No other hidden fees. Your order may be subject to customs and import duties.

Do Vostok watches have radium? ›

It was invented in 1993 by Nemoto & Co Ltd, and is one of the safest and most widely used luminescence materials in the watchmaking. The material works on the principle of “phosphorescence”. It is charged through exposure to light. It is non-radioactive and slowly decreases in brightness until recharged again.

What watch does the CIA use? ›

The CIA is composed of tribes, and timepieces are subtle indications of an officer's tribe or identity. Burly paramilitary officers with beards are seen wearing Panerai, Sangin Instruments, and Bremont.

What watch does Elon Musk wear? ›

Elon Musk Watch - Richard Mille 029

This is why the RM 029 design with an oversized date comes as no surprise to those who are fans of his genius. This modern timepiece has a curved 48 x 39 mm case made of titanium with screw slot steel parts.

What watch the Navy SEALs wear? ›

The Luminox Navy SEAL watch is the timepiece that made Luminox famous. In 1992, the Assistant RDT&E Officer for the Navy SEALs, Nick North, was asked to seek a more dependable watch for night missions and found the solution when he discovered Luminox.

What watch was Tom Cruise wearing? ›

Tom Cruise Watch Collection - Porsche Design Chronograph 1

In the recent movie Top Gun: Maverick, Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, was spotted wearing the new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 inspired by the all-black 1972 watch.

What watch did Saddam Hussein wear? ›

Saddam Hussein Iraqi Eagle 3601 Patek Philippe Calatrava.

What watch did Obama wear? ›

Barack Obama's Rolex Cellini

The Rolex Cellini was also a staple for the President. Though, never while he was in office. It's unclear how long Obama has owned the Cellini, though many have seen him owning it before his bid for presidency, and post presidency, it seems to be his go-to watch.

What is the most famous Vostok? ›

1. Vostok Amphibia. The Vostok Amphibia is probably the most popular Russian watch in the modern era. This one is absolutely legendary and is a pillar in Russia's military history.

Did Soviets make good watches? ›

As a result, they were consistently dependable and fairly unique. They were also mass-produced on an epic scale from the 1940s to the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. Today, collecting vintage Soviet-era watches and brands remains both a worthy and cost-friendly endeavour.

What watch does Ice Cube wear? ›

The weight is approximately 5.8 oz and has a proprietary quartz movement. The MTM Falcon is up for any mission that Kevin Hart and Ice Cube get themselves into. Whether it is hunting down a drug lord or hanging out and sipping a Mai Tai in South Beach, the MTM Falcon looks good no matter what scene they walk into.

How long did Vostok last? ›

After one orbit, the spacecraft reentered the atmosphere and landed in Kazakhstan (about 26 km southwest of Engels) 1 hour 48 minutes after launch. The Vostok spacecraft was designed to eject the cosmonaut at approximately 7 km and allow him to return to earth by parachute.

What is the motto of Vostok watch? ›

First Vostok Europe ambassadors and achievements

First of all, brand got new motto: “For Going to Extremes”.

How many vostoks were there? ›

The Vostok series included six launchings over a two-year period (1961–63). While the first flight lasted only 1 hour and 48 minutes, the second, Vostok 2 (Aug. 6, 1961), remained in space more than 25 hours, making 17 orbits around the Earth. The remaining Vostok missions were launched in pairs.

What Russian name means ocean? ›

Pasha is a Greek- and Russian-origin name for girls meaning “of the ocean.”

What Russian name means frost? ›

Moroz (Russian: Мороз, Ukrainian: Мороз) is a surname meaning "frost" in Ukrainian and Russian.

What German female name means ice? ›

Isbert is a Germanic name that means ice. Isbert began as a forename and eventually became used as a surname.

Which Vostok watch went to space? ›

1: A Cosmonaut Makes History With Sturmanskie

It was cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin who first took a watch into space. He lifted off from Soviet territory back in 1961. While there has been some debate about which watch he wore, the most common assumption is that it was a Sturmanskie Vostok 1.

Where is Vostok located? ›

Lake Vostok, also called Subglacial Lake Vostok or Lake East, largest lake in Antarctica. Located approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) beneath Russia's Vostok Station on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS), the water body is also the largest subglacial lake known.

What was the Vostok made of? ›

The cramped Vostok cabin was only about 8 feet (2.5 m) in diameter and made of aluminum alloy. It sported two windows: One above the cosmonaut's head in the entry hatch and one at his feet.

What watch did Trump wear? ›

Donald Trump's Patek Philippe Ellipse

The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse. The small yellow gold watch almost wears more like jewelry in its 32mm case with beaded bracelet. Trump's model in particular has a nice blue dial. It's a classy watch designed around dressing up.

What watch did JFK wear? ›

TO A FUTURE PRESIDENT 1960

In the lead up to the 1960 presidential election, Senator John F. Kennedy received a prophetically engraved OMEGA Slimline watch from his friend Grant Stockdale. Following his victory, Kennedy wore the watch during his inauguration on 20 January 1961.

What watch did Al Capone wear? ›

As one of the brand's first chronometer-certified models, at that time, Al Capone's Rolex Prince was a symbol of the company's extraordinary precision and high quality. Placed on the wrist of the top gangster, the Rolex Prince became a genuine status symbol from Rolex indicating style and luxury.

What is the most faked Rolex watch? ›

The most commonly faked watches include the Datejust, Submariner, Yacht-Master and the Oyster Perpetual – as well as the other famed series we will look at now: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona.

What is the poor mans Rolex? ›

Back in the days, Tudor solely used off-the-shelf movements with Rolex parts. This gave the Tudor watches the label “poor man's Rolex”.

What is the hardest watch to get Rolex? ›

The Rolex Submariner is probably the most requested stainless steel professional watch in Rolex's whole catalog. This includes the 124060, 126610LN, and 126610LV, with the last-mentioned being the most difficult by far.

What watch do most Marines wear? ›

The Best Military Watch 1 G-Shock Mens GG-1000-1A5CR Military Watch The G-Shock GG-1000 is another winner in what's becoming a non-stop hit factory for Casio. Since its entry into the market since 1983, Casio G-Shock or Gravitational Shock resistant watches are quite popular among the tactical military watch lovers.

What watch does the German army use? ›

This automatic self-winding classic WW2 pattern Aeschbach* military watch with a small subsidiary dial second hand is based on the typical designs used by the German Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe during World War II.

What watch did Soviet pilots wear? ›

The most significant event in the history of the Sturmanskie brand was undoubtedly 12 April 1961, the historic day when the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made his first ever space flight wearing the Sturmanskie watch made for him under a special order.

How good are Vostok Europe watches? ›

Buy a Vostok Watch

They are relatively inexpensive so shop around for the best deal. The movements are accurate and reliable, and they can easily be serviced by a reputable watchmaker. Alternatively, if it breaks you can switch the whole movement out, as most are interchangeable.

What watches do Russian astronauts wear? ›

The «Gagarin» collection is dedicated to the first human flight into space. The central place of the collection is occupied by the models-heirs of the «Sturmanskie» watches, which Yuri Gagarin took with him on a flight on April 12, 1961 and which were used by many other Soviet cosmonauts.

Who makes Vostok movement? ›

The initial goal of the new company was the creation of a new watch series combining modern watch design with Vostok movements produced by Chystopol Watch Factory.

Do Vostok watches have batteries? ›

Tritium tubes provide the watch illumination with an unreached readability in darkness. These Swiss-made components are independent of a battery or charging by sunlight, maintenance-free and have a guaranteed non-stop luminosity of at least 10 years.

What watch does Putin have? ›

Vladimir Putin with Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5039J​​

What watch did Tom Cruise wear? ›

In the recent movie Top Gun: Maverick, Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise, was spotted wearing the new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 inspired by the all-black 1972 watch. The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 was the first watch with a black PVD coating, originally launched in 1972.

What watch does the CIA wear? ›

After returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, or one of the undeclared expeditionary locations, many officers take a portion of their savings and purchase a watch to discreetly commemorate the accomplishment, often the ubiquitous Rolex Submariner or Omega Seamaster, no doubt a subtle nod to Bond.

What is the meaning of Vostok? ›

First recorded in 1961, Vostok is from the Russian word Vostók literally, east.

Did anything go wrong on Vostok 1? ›

Soon after reentry, Vostok 1 began to roll. The spacecraft's instrument unit failed to fully separate from the descent module and the whole configuration fell with the Vostok's fragile hatch exposed to the fiery reentry.

What movements are in Vostok watches? ›

Each of them will fall into one of two main categories — quartz or mechanical.
  • Mechanical Movement. Mechanical movements are often preferred over quartz for luxury watches because of the level of quality and craftsmanship involved in their creation. ...
  • Automatic Movement. ...
  • Quartz Movement.

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